Rouge Rundown – March 11, 2026: Film Screening | Spring Plants | It’s Paddle Time & More

The first paddle trip of the year is just around the corner! Join your Friends for the End of Winter Paddle Trip at Ford Field Park in Dearborn. This event is Saturday, March 21st from 9:30am-12pm. Come celebrate the beginning of Spring with FOTR on the Rouge River!

Paddlers have the option to rent a canoe or kayak or bring their own boat. Please note, fees are due in advance for all attendees. 

This is a self return paddle. This event is recommended for experienced paddlers, as paddling in the winter time can be challenging. Our future trips will be a great opportunity for new paddlers to experience the Rouge River!

Friends of the Rouge is looking for experienced paddlers to support the planned paddle trips throughout the 2026 season. Click the button below to learn more and sign up.

In partnership with The Penn Theater in Plymouth and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, you are invited to enjoy National Science on Screen Day!

Join your Friends for a screening of the documentary River. 

Date: Tuesday, March 24
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Penn Theater | 760 Penniman Ave, Plymouth, MI 48170 

Narrated by Willem Dafoe and set to a sweeping score, River takes viewers on a journey across continents and centuries, revealing rivers as both majestic forces of nature and fragile lifelines shaped by human hands. 

Following the film, we will explore the timeless relationship between human civilization and Earth’s rivers through a discussion and Q&A with panelists:

– Myra M. Tetteh, Ph.D., Friends of the Rouge Board President 
– Elena Past, Wayne State professor 
– Antonio Cosme, Land Stewardship Manager at Rouge Park

Complimentary tickets at the door. 

Join your fellow bug hunters for a community-wide effort to monitor aquatic invertebrates! The 2026 Spring Bug Hunt will be held on Saturday, April 11th, 2026, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Volunteers will visit sites throughout the Rouge River watershed in teams to help search for the “bugs” that live in the river. The presence or absence of these streambed creatures reflects the quality of the water and habitat. No prior experience is necessary, but pre-registration is required. Children eight and older are welcome when accompanied by a participating adult.

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers that made the Stonefly Search a success! Despite the bitterly cold weather, 61 folks came out and looked for bugs!  Stoneflies were found at 24% of the sites. All of which were found on the Lower and Middle branches. The vast majority of the stoneflies were Capniidae (slender winter stonefly), with only one other family (Taeniopterygidae) found at the John2 site.  Your next bug hunt will be on Saturday, April 11th. Mark your calendars – we’d love for you to join the adventure!  

Pre-order beautiful native plants NOW for the Spring! Save the date for the pick-up and same day Spring Native Plant Market on Saturday May 16 at Ford Field Park in Dearborn. Find what’s right for your yard today!

ORDER DEADLINES:

Order your pick-up native plant flats by April 22nd.