Winter 2023 Residential Online Course
2023-01-30 - 2023-03-10
This Master Rain Gardener Program will teach you how to install rain gardens on a residential scale. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide feedback, which will enable you to design and install your own rain garden. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.
This five-week course is open to residents of Northeast Ohio and will be taken online. Participants are required to install their own rain garden, adopt a public rain garden, or participate in a rain garden installation field day to receive certification. Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, a yard sign, and a certificate of completion.
Recorded class webinars can be watched at your convenience with live office hours each week!
Need-based scholarships are available!
We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive program that is accessible to all Ohio residents. Please reach out to Sarah Brunot (sbrunot@crwp.org) to learn more about our scholarship opportunities.

Winter 2023 Professional Online Course
2023-01-30 - 2023-03-10
This Professional Rain Gardener Program will certify you to install rain gardens professionally on residential properties. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide feedback, which will enable you to design and install rain gardens. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.
This five-week course is open to landscape professionals and contractors that provide services to Northeast Ohio and will be taken online. Participants in the professional certification track will be required to pass a final exam and either participate in a field day (public rain garden installation) or install a residential rain garden. Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, yard sign, and a certificate of completion. Professionals will also have to option to be listed on a public website of Northeast Ohio Professional Master Rain Gardeners that will be maintained by and held on partner websites.
The Professional Certification is geared toward landscape professionals and contractors looking to install rain gardens professionally on residential properties. Your Master Rain Gardener Professional Certification can be used to promote your expertise and as a selling point for your business.
Recorded class webinars can be watched at your convenience with virtual office hours each week!

Late-Winter 2023 In-Person Course
2023-03-01 10:00 - 2023-04-05 13:00 UTC | South Euclid Community Center, 1370 Victory Dr, Cleveland, OH, 44121, United States
Learn to design, dig and plant your own rain garden! Share your knowledge and become your community’s expert on rain gardens.
This Master Rain Gardener Program will teach you how to install rain gardens on a residential scale. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by capturing rain from a roof, driveway, sidewalk or yard and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide customized feedback, which will enable you to design and install your own rain garden. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.
Cost $75.00
Scholarships Available: Based on need, the course can be offered for as low as $10. Contact Kate Chapel at kchapel@cuyahogaswcd.org for more information.
This five-class course is open to residents of Northeast Ohio and will be held in person on Wednesdays from 10am – 1pm at the South Euclid Community Center in South Euclid, OH:

March 1 – Introduction to rain gardens, stormwater, and watersheds
March 8 – Location, sizing, and soil considerations
March 15 – Digging and Drawing
March 22 – Plant selection and design
March 29 – By-week to give you time to finalize your designs and presentations
April 5 – Graduation Day! Provide your final design, option to present to the class, field trip to a public rain garden

Participants are required to install their own rain garden, adopt a public rain garden, rehab a rain garden, or participate in a rain garden installation field day to receive certification. Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, a yard sign, and a certificate of completion.

Rain Gardens 101 at Rice Library
2023-04-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Cleveland Public Library – Rice Branch, 11535 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, OH, 44104, United States
Please join the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership and Chagrin River Watershed Partners to discover how rain gardens work, how they can help with localized water issues, and what it takes to install one in your own yard. You’ll also learn more about the Northeast Ohio Master Rain Gardener program and how you can become a Master Rain Gardener! Registration isn’t required, but we’d love to know if you plan to join us! RSVP at the link below. DBWP staff will share information about the Doan Brook watershed and the class will be taught by CRWP Senior Project Manager and MRG Instructor, Laura Bonnell.

MRG Field Day at Rice Library
2023-05-05 08:00 - 15:00 | Cleveland Public Library – Rice Branch, 11535 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, OH, 44104, United States
MRG students, volunteers, and instructors will be installing a public rain garden from start to finish in one day at Rice Library in Cleveland in partnership with the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership! Participation is limited, so please reach out to Sarah Brunot at sbrunot@crwp.org if you’re interested in attending.
Rain date: May 12, 2023

Summer 2023 In-Person Residential Course
2023-07-06 10:00 - 2023-08-10 13:00 | Watershed Stewardship Center, 2277 West Ridgewood Drive, Parma, OH, 44134, United States
This Master Rain Gardener Program will teach you how to manage rain water in your own yard. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide customized feedback which will enable you to design and install a rain garden. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.
The Residential Certification is geared toward homeowners who would like to install a rain garden in their own yard and serve as the neighborhood expert on rain gardens.
2023 In-person Course Dates:
• Class 1: Thursday, July 6, 2023. 10:00 am-1:00 pm*
• Class 2: Thursday, July 13, 2023. 10:00 am-1:00 pm*
• Class 3: Thursday, July 20, 2023. 10:00 am-1:00 pm*
• Class 4: Thursday, July 27, 2023. 10:00 am-1:00 pm*
• Class 5: Thursday, August 10, 2023. 10:00 am-1:00 pm*
*Light refreshments will be provided. There will be optional field trips to nearby rain gardens and a native plant nursery after each class!
Unable to make all the classes? A hybrid option is available!
We offer an online course that follows the same content as the in-person course. If you need to miss any classes, you watch the online portion to keep up to date.
Need-based scholarships are available!
We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive program that is accessible to all Ohio residents. Please reach out to Sarah Brunot (sbrunot@crwp.org) to learn more about our scholarship opportunities.

Summer 2023 In-Person Professional Course
2023-07-06 10:00 - 2023-08-10 13:00 | Watershed Stewardship Center, 2277 West Ridgewood Drive, Parma, OH, 44134, United States
This Master Rain Gardener Program will teach you how to manage rain water in your clients’ yards. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide customized feedback which will enable you to design and install a rain garden. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.
Participants in the professional certification track will be required to pass a final exam and either participate in a field day (public rain garden installation) or install a residential rain garden. Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, yard sign, and a certificate of completion. Professionals will also have to option to be listed on a public website of Northeast Ohio Professional Master Rain Gardeners that will be maintained by and held on partner websites.
The Professional Certification is geared toward landscape professionals and contractors looking to install rain gardens professionally on residential properties. Your Master Rain Gardener Professional Certification can be used to promote your expertise and as a selling point for your business.
2023 In-person Course Dates:
• Class 1: Thursday, July 6, 2023. 10:00 am-1:00 pm*
• Class 2: Thursday, July 13, 2023. 10:00 am-1:00 pm*
• Class 3: Thursday, July 20, 2023. 10:00 am-1:00 pm*
• Class 4: Thursday, July 27, 2023. 10:00 am-1:00 pm*
• Class 5: Thursday, August 10, 2023. 10:00 am-1:00 pm*
*Light refreshments will be provided. There will be optional field trips to nearby rain gardens and a native plant nursery after each class!
Unable to make all the classes? A hybrid option is available!
We offer an online course that follows the same content as the in-person course. If you need to miss any classes, you watch the online portion to keep up to date.

Fall 2023 Online Course
2023-08-07 - 2023-09-15
Learn to design, dig and plant your own rain garden!!
Share your knowledge and become your community’s expert on rain gardens. At the end of this 5-class course, you will become a Master Rain Gardener!
This Master Rain Gardener Program will teach you how to install rain gardens on a residential scale. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by capturing rain from a roof, driveway, sidewalk or yard and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide customized feedback, which will enable you to design and install your own rain garden. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.
Cost $50.00
Scholarships Available: Based on need, the course can be offered for as low as $10. Contact Kate at kchapel@cuyahogaswcd.org for more information.
This five-class course is open to residents of Northeast Ohio and will be taken online. Participants are required to install their own rain garden or adopt a public rain garden for at least a year to receive certification. Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, a yard sign, and a certificate of completion.
Recorded class webinars can be watched at your convenience with live Q&A sessions every week Fridays at noon!
Register for class here.

Winter 2024 Residential Online Course
2024-01-29 - 2024-03-08
This Master Rain Gardener Program will teach you how to install rain gardens on a residential scale. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide feedback, which will enable you to design and install your own rain garden. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.
This five-week course is open to residents of Northeast Ohio and will be taken online. Participants are required to install their own rain garden, adopt a public rain garden, or participate in a rain garden installation field day to receive certification. Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, a yard sign, and a certificate of completion.
Recorded class webinars can be watched at your convenience with the opportunity to join virtual Q&A sessions each week!
Need-based scholarships are available!
We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive program that is accessible to all Ohio residents. Please reach out to Nicole Hildebrand (nhildebrand@crwp.org) to learn more about our scholarship opportunities.

Winter 2024 Professional Online Course
2024-01-29 - 2024-03-08
This Professional Rain Gardener Program will certify you to install rain gardens professionally on residential properties. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide feedback, which will enable you to design and install rain gardens. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.
This five-week course is open to landscape professionals and contractors that provide services to Northeast Ohio and will be taken online. Participants in the professional certification track will be required to pass a final exam and either participate in a field day (public rain garden installation) or install a residential rain garden. Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, yard sign, and a certificate of completion. Professionals will also have to option to be listed on a public website of Northeast Ohio Professional Master Rain Gardeners that will be maintained by and held on partner websites.
The Professional Certification is geared toward landscape professionals and contractors looking to install rain gardens professionally on residential properties. Your Master Rain Gardener Professional Certification can be used to promote your expertise and as a selling point for your business.
Recorded class webinars can be watched at your convenience with an opportunity to join virtual Q&A sessions each week!

Winter 2025 Professional Online Course
2025-01-27 - 2025-03-08
This Professional Rain Gardener Program will certify you to install rain gardens professionally on residential properties. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide feedback, which will enable you to design and install rain gardens. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.
This five-week course is open to landscape professionals and contractors that provide services to Northeast Ohio and will be taken online. Participants in the professional certification track will be required to pass a final exam and either participate in a field day (public rain garden installation) or install a residential rain garden. Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, yard sign, and a certificate of completion. Professionals will also have the option to be listed on a public website of Northeast Ohio Professional Master Rain Gardeners that will be maintained by and held on partner websites.
The Professional Certification is geared toward landscape professionals and contractors looking to install rain gardens professionally on residential properties. Your Master Rain Gardener Professional Certification can be used to promote your expertise and as a selling point for your business.
Recorded class webinars can be watched at your convenience with an opportunity to join virtual Q&A sessions each week!

Winter 2025 Residential Online Course
2025-01-27 - 2025-03-08
This Master Rain Gardener Program will teach you how to install rain gardens on a residential scale. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide feedback, which will enable you to design and install your own rain garden. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.
This five-week course is open to residents of Northeast Ohio and will be taken online. Participants are required to install their own rain garden, adopt a public rain garden, or participate in a rain garden installation field day to receive certification. Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, a yard sign, and a certificate of completion.
Recorded class webinars can be watched at your convenience with the opportunity to join virtual Q&A sessions each week!
Need-based scholarships are available!
We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive program that is accessible to all Ohio residents. Please reach out to Maggie Ensign (mensign@crwp.org) to learn more about our scholarship opportunities.

2025 Late Winter In-Person Course
2025-03-11 14:00 - 2025-04-01 16:00 | Highland Heights Community Center, 5827 Highland Road, Highland Heights, 44143
Train to be a Master Rain Gardener! Learn to design and install your own rain garden and become the rain garden expert in your neighborhood.
The Master Rain Gardener (MRG) course includes four (4) classes over a four-week period. All classes will be held at the Highland Heights Community Center on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The end time may extend depending on the optional field trip location(s).
March 11 – Location, sizing, and soil considerations
March 18 – Digging and Drawing
March 25 – Plant selection and design
April 1 – Graduation Day! Provide your final design and present to the class.
Classes also include homework, quizzes, individualized feedback. Light snacks will be provided.
Certification Routes This course will provide you with the information and experience to build your own rain garden and become a Certified Master Rain Gardener. We recognize that not everyone can build a rain garden on their own property though, so you can also become certified by participating in a public rain garden building, volunteering at a public rain garden, or passing along your new expertise to the public (i.e. presenting to your garden club, at a public library, etc.)
Upon certification, you’ll receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, sign, and certificate (included in the cost of registration).
The Highland Heights Community Center is an ADA accessible facility. There is ample, free vehicle parking on site. The closest RTA bus route is 7-7A, which has a stop on Highland Road, approximately 1 mile from the Community Center. Please let us know if you have any food allergies. Please let us know if you plan to bring children with you to class. Need-based scholarships are also available, with the course being available for as low as $20. If you have any concerns or questions about how accessible this program is for you, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Summer 2025 In-Person Residential Certification
2025-07-10 10:00 - 2025-08-14 13:00 | Watershed Stewardship Center, 2277 West Ridgewood Drive, Parma, OH, 44134, United States
The Residential Certification is geared toward homeowners who would like to install a rain garden in their own yard and serve as the neighborhood expert on rain gardens.
2025 Summer In-person Class Dates:
The Master Rain Gardener (MRG) course includes five (5) classes over a six-week period. All classes will be held at the Watershed Stewardship Center on Thursdays from 10:00am – 1:00pm.*

July 10, 2025: Class 1 – Watersheds, Stormwater, and Site Selection
July 17, 2025: Class 2 – Sizing and Soils
July 24, 2025: Class 3 – Digging and Planning
July 31, 2025: Class 4 – Plant Section and Design
August 14, 2025: Class 5 – Final Design Student Presentations

*Participants will have the opportunity to attend optional field trips to local rain gardens and nurseries after each class! Light refreshments will be provided.
Unable to make all the classes? A hybrid option is available!
We offer an online course that follows the same content as the in-person course. If you need to miss any classes, you can watch the online portion to keep up to date.
Need-based scholarships are available!
We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive program that is accessible to all Ohio residents. Please reach out to Danielle Dejak (ddejak@crwp.org) to learn more about our need-based scholarship opportunities. Based on need, the course can be available for as low as $20.
Completing your Master Rain Gardener Certification
This course will provide you with the information and experience to build your own rain garden and become a Certified Master Rain Gardener. We recognize that not everyone can build a rain garden on their own property though, so you can also become certified by participating in a public rain garden installation or volunteering at a public rain garden.
Upon certification, you’ll receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, sign, and certificate (included in the cost of registration).
What is a rain garden?
Rain gardens work with nature to collect and filter rainwater that runs off impervious surfaces like rooftops and driveways. Impervious surfaces lead to increases in surface runoff and often result in increased flooding and stream bank erosion. As water travels over impervious surfaces it also has the potential to pick up pollutants. Polluted stormwater runoff enters our rivers and lakes and is one of the leading threats to water quality in the U.S. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated.

Summer 2025 In-Person Professional Certification
2025-07-10 10:00 - 2025-08-14 13:00 | Watershed Stewardship Center, 2277 West Ridgewood Drive, Parma, OH, 44134, United States
The Professional Certification is geared toward landscape professionals and contractors looking to install rain gardens professionally on residential properties. Your Professional Rain Gardener Certification can be used to promote your expertise and as a selling point for your business.
2025 Summer In-person Class Dates:
The Master Rain Gardener (MRG) course includes five (5) classes over a six-week period. All classes will be held at the Watershed Stewardship Center on Thursdays from 10:00am – 1:00pm.*

July 10, 2025: Class 1 – Watersheds, Stormwater, and Site Selection
July 17, 2025: Class 2 – Sizing and Soils
July 24, 2025: Class 3 – Digging and Planning
July 31, 2025: Class 4 – Plant Section and Design
August 14, 2025: Class 5 – Final Design Student Presentations

*Participants will have the opportunity to attend optional field trips to local rain gardens and nurseries after each class! Light refreshments will be provided.
Unable to make all the classes? A hybrid option is available!
We offer an online course that follows the same content as the in-person course. If you need to miss any classes, you can watch the online portion to keep up to date.
Need-based scholarships are available!
We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive program that is accessible to all Ohio residents. Please reach out to Danielle Dejak (ddejak@crwp.org) to learn more about our need-based scholarship opportunities. Based on need, the course can be available for as low as $30.
Completing your Professional Rain Gardener Certification
This course will provide you with the information and experience to design, install, and maintain rain gardens professionally and become a Certified Professional Rain Gardener. Participants in the professional certification track will be required to pass a final exam and either participate in a field day (public rain garden installation) or install a residential rain garden.
Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, yard sign, and a certificate of completion (included in the cost of registration). Professionals will also have to option to be listed on a public website of Northeast Ohio Professional Rain Gardeners that will be maintained by and held on partner websites.
What is a rain garden?
Rain gardens work with nature to collect and filter rainwater that runs off impervious surfaces like rooftops and driveways. Impervious surfaces lead to increases in surface runoff and often result in increased flooding and stream bank erosion. As water travels over impervious surfaces it also has the potential to pick up pollutants. Polluted stormwater runoff enters our rivers and lakes and is one of the leading threats to water quality in the U.S. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated.

Winter 2026 Residential Online Course
2026-02-02 - 2026-03-14
This Master Rain Gardener Program will teach you how to install rain gardens on a residential scale. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide feedback, which will enable you to design and install your own rain garden. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.
This five-week course is open to residents of Northeast Ohio and will be taken online. Participants are required to install their own rain garden, adopt a public rain garden, or participate in a rain garden installation field day to receive certification. Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, a yard sign, and a certificate of completion.
Recorded class webinars can be watched at your convenience with the opportunity to join virtual Q&A sessions each week!
Need-based scholarships are available!
We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive program that is accessible to all Ohio residents. Please reach out to Laura Bonnell (lbonnell@crwp.org) to learn more about our scholarship opportunities.

Winter 2026 Professional Online Course
2026-02-02 - 2026-03-14

Spring 2026 In-Person Residential Certification
2026-03-10 17:30 - 2026-03-31 19:00 | Richmond Heights Community Center, 27285 Highland Road, Richmond Heights, OH, 44143, United States
The Residential Certification is geared toward homeowners who would like to install a rain garden in their own yard and serve as the neighborhood expert on rain gardens.
2026 Spring In-person Class Dates:
The Master Rain Gardener (MRG) course includes five (4) classes over a four-week period. All classes will be held at the Richmond Heights Community Center on Tuesdays from 5:30pm – 7:00pm.

March 10, 2026: Class 1 – Location, sizing, and soil considerations
March 17, 2026: Class 2 – Digging and Drawing
March 24, 2026: Class 3 – Plant Selection and Design
March 31, 2026: Class 4 – Graduation Day! Provide your final design and present to the class.

Classes also include homework, quizzes, individualized feedback. Light snacks will be provided.
Need-based scholarships are available!
Completing your Master Rain Gardener Certification
This course will provide you with the information and experience to build your own rain garden and become a Certified Master Rain Gardener. We recognize that not everyone can build a rain garden on their own property though, so you can also become certified by participating in a public rain garden building, volunteering at a public rain garden, or passing along your new expertise to the public (i.e. presenting to your garden club, at a public library, etc.)
Upon certification, you’ll receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, sign, and certificate (included in the cost of registration).
What is a rain garden?
Rain gardens work with nature to collect and filter rainwater that runs off impervious surfaces like rooftops and driveways. Impervious surfaces lead to increases in surface runoff and often result in increased flooding and stream bank erosion. As water travels over impervious surfaces it also has the potential to pick up pollutants. Polluted stormwater runoff enters our rivers and lakes and is one of the leading threats to water quality in the U.S. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated.

Late Summer 2026 In-Person Residential Certification
2026-08-06 10:00 - 2026-09-03 13:00 | Willoughby Public Library, 30 Public Square, Willoughby, 44094, United States
The Residential Certification is geared toward homeowners who would like to install a rain garden in their own yard and serve as the neighborhood expert on rain gardens.
2026 Late Summer In-person Class Dates:
The Master Rain Gardener (MRG) course includes five (5) classes over a five-week period. All classes will be held at the Willoughby Public Library on Thursdays from 10:00am – 1:00pm.*

August 6, 2026: Class 1 – Watersheds, Stormwater, and Site Selection
August 13, 2026: Class 2 – Sizing and Soils
August 20, 2026: Class 3 – Digging and Planning
August 27, 2026: Class 4 – Plant Section and Design
September 3, 2026: Class 5 – Final Design Student Presentations

*Participants will have the opportunity to attend optional field trips to local rain gardens and nurseries after each class! Light refreshments will be provided.
Unable to make all the classes? A hybrid option is available!
We offer an online course that follows the same content as the in-person course. If you need to miss any classes, you can watch the online portion to keep up to date.
Need-based scholarships are available!
We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive program that is accessible to all Ohio residents. Please reach out to Laura Bonnell (lbonnell@crwp.org) to learn more about our need-based scholarship opportunities. Based on need, the course can be available for as low as $20.
Completing your Master Rain Gardener Certification
This course will provide you with the information and experience to build your own rain garden and become a Certified Master Rain Gardener. We recognize that not everyone can build a rain garden on their own property though, so you can also become certified by participating in a public rain garden installation or volunteering at a public rain garden.
Upon certification, you’ll receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, sign, and certificate (included in the cost of registration).
What is a rain garden?
Rain gardens work with nature to collect and filter rainwater that runs off impervious surfaces like rooftops and driveways. Impervious surfaces lead to increases in surface runoff and often result in increased flooding and stream bank erosion. As water travels over impervious surfaces it also has the potential to pick up pollutants. Polluted stormwater runoff enters our rivers and lakes and is one of the leading threats to water quality in the U.S. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated.

Late Summer 2026 In-Person Professional Certification
2026-08-06 10:00 - 2026-09-03 13:00 | Willoughby Public Library, 30 Public Square, Willoughby, 44094, United States
The Professional Certification is geared toward landscape professionals and contractors looking to install rain gardens professionally on residential properties. Your Professional Rain Gardener Certification can be used to promote your expertise and as a selling point for your business.
2026 Late Summer In-person Class Dates:
The Master Rain Gardener (MRG) course includes five (5) classes over a five-week period. All classes will be held at the Willoughby Public Library on Thursdays from 10:00am – 1:00pm.*

August 6, 2026: Class 1 – Watersheds, Stormwater, and Site Selection
August 13, 2026: Class 2 – Sizing and Soils
August 20, 2026: Class 3 – Digging and Planning
August 27, 2026: Class 4 – Plant Section and Design
September 3, 2026: Class 5 – Final Design Student Presentations

*Participants will have the opportunity to attend optional field trips to local rain gardens and nurseries after each class! Light refreshments will be provided.
Unable to make all the classes? A hybrid option is available!
We offer an online course that follows the same content as the in-person course. If you need to miss any classes, you can watch the online portion to keep up to date.
Need-based scholarships are available!
We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive program that is accessible to all Ohio residents. Please reach out to Laura Bonnell (lbonnell@crwp.org) to learn more about our need-based scholarship opportunities. Based on need, the course can be available for as low as $30.
Completing your Professional Rain Gardener Certification
This course will provide you with the information and experience to design, install, and maintain rain gardens professionally and become a Certified Professional Rain Gardener. Participants in the professional certification track will be required to pass a final exam and either participate in a field day (public rain garden installation) or install a residential rain garden.
Graduates will receive a Master Rain Gardener t-shirt, yard sign, and a certificate of completion (included in the cost of registration). Professionals will also have to option to be listed on a public website of Northeast Ohio Professional Rain Gardeners that will be maintained by and held on partner websites.
What is a rain garden?
Rain gardens work with nature to collect and filter rainwater that runs off impervious surfaces like rooftops and driveways. Impervious surfaces lead to increases in surface runoff and often result in increased flooding and stream bank erosion. As water travels over impervious surfaces it also has the potential to pick up pollutants. Polluted stormwater runoff enters our rivers and lakes and is one of the leading threats to water quality in the U.S. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated.
