Friends of the Rouge

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers that made the Stonefly Search a success! 34 sites were sampled by 80 caring volunteers who braved the winter weather and sampled for bugs. Stoneflies were found at 32% 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 (Perlodidae) found at the John2 site. Your next bug hunt will be on Saturday, April 12th. Mark your calendars - we'd love for you to join the adventure! Read the report: https://lnkd.in/g4M2xZuy Thank you to Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC for your support!

Frog and Toad Training Workshop this Saturday! 🐸 Are you ready to help your hometown Rouge River and the frogs and toads who call it home? You can join the "Frog Patrol" and be part of the collective of do-gooders who track frogs and toads throughout your watershed! As a volunteer, you will learn the frog calls and more! Your first step: Sign up today for training workshop scheduled for Saturday, February 22nd from 10am-12pm. This training is open to all who would like to learn more about wetlands and frogs. This is a great opportunity for families to volunteer while enjoy the beauty of our Rouge watershed! Thank you to Near Perfect Media for helping to share the good news about this development. https://lnkd.in/gFwjcc5c

The annual Friends of the Rouge Frog & Toad survey/training session is taking place this weekend. Lauren Eaton, monitoring manager of Friends of the Rouge, discussed the importance of the survey with WWJ Newsradio 950.

Kudos to our intrepid Trails Manager Herman Jenkins for sharing the story of the Lower Rouge Water Trail this morning at the University of Michigan Detroit Center. Thanks to FOTR Board Member Paul Draus for making this happen! 🛶🌊 🥾#LowerRougeWaterTrail

There is one more day to apply to be FOTR's next Trails Assistant! Under the direction of the Trails Manager, the TA assists in delivering mission driven coordination and programming support of Trails Program events including logjam workdays, paddling trips, and dry dock pop exhibits, as well as assisting with coordination of Trails Program social media content updates. This is a new seasonal position that begins Monday, March 10 and ends Friday, October 24, with the hope of transitioning to part-time in the next year. The position would be a good fit for someone with a knack for event coordination, program planning, and community building. Learn more and read the full job description at https://lnkd.in/gnFBmYJb Deadline to apply is February 12 at 5:00 PM.

It is an honor to recognize the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation for their watershed general operating support for your Rouge River!

FOTR is looking for our next Trails Assistant! Under the direction of the Trails Manager, the TA assists in delivering mission driven coordination and programming support of Trails Program events including logjam workdays, paddling trips, and dry dock pop exhibits, as well as assisting with coordination of Trails Program social media content updates. This is a new seasonal position that begins Monday, March 10 and ends Friday, October 24, with the hope of transitioning to part-time in the next year. The position would be a good fit for someone with a knack for event coordination, program planning, and community building. Learn more and read the full job description at https://lnkd.in/gnFBmYJb Deadline to apply is February 12 at 5:00 PM.

Check out this launch event for FOTR Board Member Paul Draus' latest book: Forging Identity! You can hear a live reading and even get your own signed copy. Congratulations Paul on your new book! 📖

Your FOTR Fall Bug Hunt Report is here! Thank you to our amazing volunteers for joining the 2024 Fall Bug Hunt and making it a success! We were able to sample 42 sites overall, and the event itself had 127 volunteer participants! Read the 2024 Fall Bug Hunt Report: https://lnkd.in/g9jPgz_y adLMUs5LX147PG23/view Thank you to the Rouge Communities that sponsored bug hunt sites: Village of Beverly Hills, City of Birmingham, Michigan, City of Farmington, Michigan, City of Livonia, Charter Township of Northville, City of Novi, Michigan, City of Plymouth, Michigan, Charter Township of Plymouth, City of Southfield, City of Troy (Michigan), and Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office. Thank you to the ALLIANCE OF ROUGE COMMUNITIES and MiCorps: Michigan Clean Water Corps. Want to join the next Bug Hunt Event? Join FOTR for the Stonefly Search on January 25th! No prior experience is necessary, but pre-registrations is required. Register today at: https://lnkd.in/gSbQU9GN

Early Bird Discount Available! 🐦 Are you ready to transform your lawn into a living habitat and stormwater solution? This is the class for you! Design your own rain garden step-by-step as you learn the A, B, C's of rain gardening. This includes lessons learned from more than 1,400 rain gardens built by homeowners just like you! Learn what works, avoid what doesn’t. This virtual class is presented live. You'll have time to ask questions and enjoy discussions with participants in your community. The course includes a visit to a rain garden in your area, discussions through the Master Rain Gardener Facebook group (or an alternate forum), and a chance to earn your certification as a Master Rain Gardener–including a t-shirt and sign. Full scholarships are available for residents in the following zip codes: Detroit (48209, 48217), Ecorse (48229), Inkster (48141), Lincoln Park (48146), Melvindale (48122), River Rouge (48218), Riverview (48193), Romulus (48174), Taylor (48180). Class Times: Thursdays, 10 am – 12 pm, January 30–February 27 Class Location: virtual classroom with in-person tours throughout SE Michigan Early Bird Pricing available until January 15th! Register today at: https://lnkd.in/gPz4_DGq