RainScapes for Schools

Students planting raingarden on school grounds.

Are you interested in having a rain garden, conservation landscape, or other stormwater garden practice at your school? Do you want to educate and involve students in learning about clean water, watershed restoration, and using gardens for stormwater management? Here are several options for working with RainScapes:

If your school is part of the Montgomery County Public School System (MCPS), the first step is to reach out to MCPS. Send an email to [email protected] to discuss your project idea. RainScapes occasionally partners with MCPS on stormwater management projects and school workdays.
High schools in the Montgomery County Public School system are eligible to apply for the RainScapes Growing Program.
If you are affiliated with a private school, your school can apply for a RainScapes Rewards Rebate or Tree Montgomery.
Use our RainScapes for Schools Environmental Stewardship Report Card to find out how well your schoolyard helps to protect local water sources within our watershed.

students propagating plants in classroom

students holding plants outdoors

RainScapes for Schools Growing Program

The RainScapes growing program is a voluntary program whereby MCPS high school horticulture and environmental science classes are supplied with plants, pots, soil, and guidance for the educational propagation of native plants in their greenhouses. Plants are grown in the second semester and can be used in watershed restoration projects. A portion of the plants are returned to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for outreach and stormwater management plant replacements. Schools can then use the balance for a native plant sale or other environmental project.

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Who is eligible?

Any high school horticulture and/or AP environmental studies programs in Montgomery County public schools with greenhouse access are eligible for this program.

How to apply?

Participation is by invitation based on previous participation or by a request from a teacher by March 30th, for the following academic year. Email: [email protected] for program invitation or to get more information on how the program works.

Application Deadline

All pickups are at Pope Farm Greenhouses (pick up date to be provided after application is processed and approved). Teachers are responsible for collecting their materials and coordinating with Pope Farm for pickups; details and contact information will be provided at the time of acceptance into the year's program. The RainScapes staff will pick up plants from the schools in the spring, usually before Spring Break but no later than the first week in May for use in projects.

Reporting Requirements

While there is no charge to the school for the plants or growing media, a one-page assessment survey of the project and at least 33% percent of the plants provided are to be provided back to RainScapes for spring planting projects by mid-spring. The balance of plants produced is for the classes to use on community-based projects or as part of the entrepreneurial component of green job education in the horticulture curriculum such as organizing a native plant sale.