University of Illinois Extension provides training to communities interested in building rain gardens, using the Rainscaping Education curriculum developed by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Purdue University Extension. Landscape practices such as rain gardens, which direct stormwater to be absorbed by soils, are of continued interest among Extension clientele and conservation partners. Through workshops, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, and other community members learn about rain gardens and additional residential-scale green infrastructure techniques. Sessions cover an introduction to Rainscaping and rain gardens with specific modules for rain garden site selection and plant selection as well as garden design, installation, maintenance, and community engagement.
The program uses the flipped classroom model in which participants watch topic videos prior to each in-person training. The 15-hour in-person training offers deeper learning through hands-on activities, interactive discussions, and field trips to community Rainscaping projects. Participants gain hands-on experience by creating a demonstration rain garden with community partners in a public space. Custom-designed interpretive signs are available to be installed with each demonstration to promote education efforts. Participants are encouraged to attend as community teams to support public education programs and provide technical assistance for homeowners or small-scale public projects after completing the training. University of Illinois Extension offers the program collaboratively with Purdue University Extension, coordinated by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. This partnership began in 2021.
The 2023 Illinois Extension program was offered in Rock Island County with 18 participants. In 2024, it was offered in Kane County with 17 participants. Each of the Rainscaping education program sites installed a community-based demonstration rain garden.
The Riverside Rain Garden in Rock Island County is a 75-square-foot demonstration garden within a larger park plan. Installed in partnership with the City of Moline, the rain garden is located near the park building, a highly visible location. An existing sidewalk provides easy viewing for park visitors and easy access to an educational sign referencing the garden. Illinois Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists partner with Friends of Riverside to maintain a few planting beds within the park. The rain garden is maintained as a University of Illinois Extension project.
In Kane County, a 750-square-foot rain garden was established at the Illinois Extension Office located in St. Charles. This site was chosen to help mitigate the stormwater flow from impervious surfaces at the county fairgrounds and Extension office while also improving the appearance of the area. This site is visible to the public from Randall Road and will be used for educational purposes, as well.
To further collaborative efforts and program sustainability, a train-the-trainer effort occurred at the end of 2023 with Illinois Extension and Purdue University Extension staff. Ten Extension Educators attended seven, one-hour sessions to learn how to host and teach the Rainscaping sessions.
For more information, see iiseagrant.org/work/sustainable-community-planning/programs-initiatives/purdue-rainscaping-education.
