Event Description
Join the Environmental Professionals Network for its annual Signature Winter Program, exploring how rain garden education can serve as a powerful tool for community engagement, environmental stewardship, and Extension outreach.
While rain gardens are widely recognized for their ability to improve water quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and support pollinators, they remain underutilized in many communities due to limited public awareness and a lack of technical guidance available through traditional landowner education programs. This event will examine how educators, conservation professionals, municipalities, and community leaders can expand rain garden knowledge and adoption across Ohio, particularly in areas where green infrastructure has historically played a limited role in outreach efforts. Drawing on lessons learned from more than a decade of rain garden implementation in Columbus, speakers will share both technical insights and social change strategies for building public support, fostering long-term stewardship, and creating community momentum around green infrastructure.
The evening will also feature poster presentations from graduating Ohio State School of Environment and Natural Resources capstone students, along with a seasonal dinner and networking reception connecting environmental professionals from across the state.