Southeast Raleigh Fall 2026
After completing a successful spring program and an ambitious series of three consecutive summer programs, students and teachers from Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School wrapped up the fall season with three tracks of the Growing More Than Rain Gardens program: Introduction to Rain Gardens, Cisterns, and Advanced Rain Gardens.
For their field day, students gathered at the United Church for All People, where each group had the opportunity to apply the skills they developed throughout the program. The Intro to Rain Gardens and Advanced Rain Gardens students worked together to measure two sections of roof area and calculate potential rain garden sizes. While these were mock designs, the exercise gave students valuable experience collecting real-world measurements and laying out projects in the field using the same process professionals use when evaluating a site.
Students also had the opportunity to meet Fernando Aguilar of Aguilar Landscaping, who was joined by both his father and young son, representing three generations. Fernando spoke with students about the landscaping industry, sharing advice on what he looks for when hiring employees, the steps involved in starting a business, and the types of education, training, and experience that can help young people succeed in the field. It was a valuable opportunity for students to learn directly from a local business owner and community partner.
Following the discussion, the rain garden students assisted Aguilar Landscaping in completing a rain garden installation at the church. They helped finish mulching and planting the garden and placed stones for the weir and berm stabilization, gaining hands-on experience with the final stages of construction and seeing how a design becomes a functioning stormwater practice.
Meanwhile, the Cistern Course students were hard at work on the opposite side of the property installing a complete rainwater harvesting system. Working as a team, they assembled and connected the various components of the cistern, including the pump, overflow piping, drip irrigation lines, and gutter connections. By the end of the day, students had helped put together a fully functioning system capable of capturing and reusing rainwater from the church roof.
The program concluded back at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School, where the Advanced Rain Garden and Cistern students presented site design work from earlier in the program. Their presentations showcased not only their technical knowledge but also their ability to communicate solutions, work collaboratively, and engage with community partners.
From site assessment and design to installation and presentation, the fall program provided students with meaningful, hands-on experience in stormwater management and green infrastructure. We are proud of everything the Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School students accomplished and grateful for the continued dedication of the teachers, contractors, and community partners who help make these opportunities possible. We look forward to seeing these students continue to grow as environmental stewards and future community leaders.
