An educational workshop was held by the Kalamazoo Nature Center Community Wildlife Program on August 2, 2003. Twenty-nine people attended, including area residents interesting in incorporating rain gardens and native plants into their home's landscaping. Workshop presenters included:

• Tom and Nancy Small, Kalamazoo WildOnes
• Patricia Pennell, Rain Gardens of West Michigan
• Steve Keto, Nesta Prairie Perennials
• Steve Allen, Kalamazoo Nature Center
• Pam Larson, area resident

The workshop included informational presentations about rain gardens, native plants, storm water management and a personal story about native landscaping at a new commercial development. A walking tour of the proposed rain garden site (the workshop was held before construction began) and two restoration projects along Axtell Creek highlighted the event. Attendees also drafted rain garden plans for their own properties.

Several attendees indicated that they planned to construct rain gardens at their homes and that the information presented and distributed in the workshop packets would help them to "do it properly from the start".