GMTRG: South Garner High Spring 2026
Urban Sustainability Solutions is proud to celebrate the completion of our first Growing More Than Rain Gardens student apprenticeship program of 2026, which wrapped up this spring on April 20. This cohort marked our second apprenticeship partnership with South Garner High School, following a successful first program last fall.
This spring’s program brought together three returning teachers and eight students, including three returning apprentices, creating a strong mix of experience, leadership, and peer mentorship. Having returning participants helped deepen learning and build continuity across program cycles.
As part of the apprenticeship, students spent a full day gaining hands-on experience at two community sites. The day began at the Walnut Creek Wetland Center, where apprentices worked alongside City of Raleigh Parks & Rec staff to refresh mulch in multiple bioretention areas. This included maintenance work on one of the site’s large front rain gardens, giving students practical exposure to how green stormwater infrastructure is maintained over time.
Returning Apprentices lead the group in mapping out a rain garden.
In the afternoon, the group traveled to the United Church of Christ for All People, where students collaborated to measure, design, and lay out a small rain garden on the church’s front, south-facing side. Apprentices applied what they had learned about site assessment, sizing, and flow paths, translating classroom concepts into real-world design decisions.
This program continues to show the value of sustained partnerships with schools, educators, and community organizations. Returning students built confidence and leadership skills, while new participants gained firsthand insight into careers in stormwater management, green infrastructure, and environmental stewardship.
We’re grateful to South Garner High School, Raleigh Parks staff, and the United Church of Christ for All People for their ongoing collaboration. We look forward to building on this momentum with future apprenticeship cohorts throughout 2026.
