TRACK 1, DAY 1
Insights from 15 Years of School Rain Gardens: Successes, Challenges, and Community Impact
Amanda Slaght, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC)
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. | Hall A
ABSTRACT
For over 15 years, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) has been constructing rain gardens at schools across the Credit River Watershed through its Students for Stormwater program. This presentation will share how the program has grown into a successful model for green infrastructure and environmental education.
We will review the school rain gardens built to date, examining their current condition, identifying which projects thrived and which faced challenges and why. Attendees will learn about the common themes that explain why some projects succeed while others struggle. They will explore effective strategies for engaging students and building community support.
Finally, the presentation will highlight how program improvements over time have strengthened outcomes and increased the long-term impact of school rain gardens.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Amanda Slaght, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC)
Amanda Slaght is a Specialist in Integrated Water Management at Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), where she applies principles of stormwater management and green infrastructure implementation.
With over 15 years of experience with the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (STEP), Amanda has advanced initiatives in monitoring, research, and the development of technical guidance, tools, and professional training to support the implementation of green infrastructure.
She also provides technical expertise for the Students for Stormwater program, supporting the design and construction of rain gardens within the Credit River Watershed.
Through these efforts, she contributes to climate-resilient urban landscapes and fosters knowledge transfer to support watershed-scale implementation of sustainable stormwater management practices.