Empowering Communities Through Hands-On Environmental Education in Walnut Creek
- Lakeshi Satterwhite
- Mar 26
- 5 min read
In Southeast Raleigh’s Walnut Creek community, neighbors are coming together to learn how to protect their environment – not through lectures or textbooks, but with Keebler cookies for impermeable surfaces and candy “soil”. At a recent session of the Walnut Creek Watershed Learning Network (WCWLN), participants gathered around tables to build “edible rain gardens,” an innovative hands-on activity that transforms stormwater science into a tasty learning experience. This creative workshop demonstrated how rain gardens can manage stormwater runoff and improve water quality, turning a complex concept into something interactive and memorable. The result? Community members of all ages left inspired and informed, having seen (and tasted) for themselves how green infrastructure can make a difference in their neighborhoods.
Hands-On Learning: Edible Rain Gardens in Action
The Walnut Creek Watershed Learning Network – co-facilitated by Planning Ahead in partnership with Partners for Environmental Justice – believes that the best way to understand environmental challenges is to experience them. Research backs this up: environmental education works best when it emphasizes active, experiential learning, allowing participants to “learn by doing” and develop a deeper understanding and sense of responsibility. In the “edible rain gardens” activity, this principle came to life in a fun, engaging way.
Learning by Doing: Participants split into two groups, each designing a mini watershed model out of edible ingredients. One group built a permeable rain garden model – layering cookies, pretzels, and gelatin to represent soil and mulch that let water soak in. The other group constructed an impermeable surface model – using hard candies and icing to mimic pavement that water can’t penetrate. With guidance from Planning Ahead’s facilitators, each team then “rained” on their model by pouring water (tinted with drink mix) over it to simulate a storm.
What they observed was eye-opening:
Green Infrastructure in Action: On the rain garden models, the water quickly seeped down into the edible “soil.” This demonstrated how real rain gardens allow rainwater to infiltrate the ground, recharging groundwater and filtering out pollutants. In fact, rain garden plants can capture about 30% more water than a regular lawn, significantly reducing runoff and preventing fertilizer or oil pollutants from reaching streams.
The Impact of Impermeability: On the candy-pavement models, water puddled and ran off the surface, much like it does on concrete. Participants saw how, without green infrastructure, stormwater rushes away carrying sediment and contaminants with it. This can contribute to flooding and pollution in downstream creeks.
A Memorable Lesson: By comparing the two models side by side, neighbors could see and feel the value of rain gardens. The activity turned abstract concepts into a tangible experience – and even a spirited competition over whose model managed water better! Participants later remarked how this sweet simulation cemented their understanding of stormwater management far more than a slideshow ever could.
Such experiential learning is more than just a fun exercise – it’s a powerful tool for building environmental literacy. By actively engaging in problem-solving, community members gain practical knowledge and confidence to take action. “Our workshops go beyond theory. Participants engage in real-world activities… gaining practical skills that empower them to make a tangible impact,” Planning Ahead noted in a recent update. In Walnut Creek, those tangible impacts are already starting to take shape beyond the classroom.
Equity, Sustainability, and Community Empowerment at the Core
The success of the WCWLN is built on collaboration and a commitment to equity. Partners for Environmental Justice (PEJ), a Raleigh-based nonprofit, developed the WCWLN as a six-week community education and empowerment initiative to help residents address local water and environmental issues. Planning Ahead joined this partnership to co-facilitate the program, bringing expertise in environmental education and community engagement. Together, we’ve designed the WCWLN to be accessible and relevant to the Walnut Creek community – a historically under-resourced area that has faced flooding and environmental injustices in the past. The program is free for participants and even provides a stipend, ensuring that anyone with a passion for their neighborhood can take part without financial barriers. From high school students to retirees, all generations have a seat at the table, learning from each other and sharing diverse perspectives.
Community voices and local knowledge are at the heart of our approach. Planning Ahead’s mission is to empower communities through environmental education, collaboration, and advocacy, and that means prioritizing inclusivity and shared leadership in every project. “Unlike traditional consulting, we prioritize equity, shared power, and community-driven approaches, ensuring every initiative reflects local voices and creates lasting impact,” says Planning Ahead’s founder, Keshi Satterwhite.
In the WCWLN, this philosophy shows up in practice: sessions are held right in the neighborhood, materials are bilingual and culturally appropriate, and local leaders (like longtime residents and church members) co-lead discussions on the history and future of Walnut Creek. By honoring community expertise and making space for everyone to contribute, the network is cultivating environmental stewards who are deeply connected to the place they call home.
Equally important is the focus on sustainability and action. Each week of the WCWLN covers topics from watershed science to environmental justice to green infrastructure, always tying back to what it means for the community’s well-being. Participants don’t just gain knowledge – they practice skills, from testing water quality in the creek to identifying native plants for rain gardens. By the end of the program, every participant designs a small project to improve their block or community, applying what they learned in a real-world context. In past cohorts, neighbors have organized stream clean-ups, installed rain barrels, and even planted actual rain gardens at places like churches and schools, inspired by the very lessons they learned in WCWLN. This cycle of learning leading to action is how Planning Ahead and PEJ are fostering a grassroots movement for a healthier, more resilient Walnut Creek watershed.
Join Us in Making a Difference
The story of the Walnut Creek Watershed Learning Network is ultimately about empowering people. When community members have the knowledge, tools, and support to engage in environmental solutions, they become powerful advocates for change – in Walnut Creek and beyond. Planning Ahead is proud to stand alongside PEJ in this effort, and we’re excited to keep growing this network of informed, inspired residents. But we can’t do it alone.
Here’s how you can get involved and support our mission:
Connect with Planning Ahead: Follow us here on LinkedIn to stay updated on upcoming workshops and volunteer opportunities. Whether you’re an educator, local official, or concerned citizen, we welcome your collaboration in expanding environmental education programs.
Join the Next WCWLN Session: If you live in the Raleigh area (or know someone who does), consider signing up for an upcoming WCWLN cohort. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn, network with like-minded neighbors, and receive a stipend while making a difference in your community. No science background required – just a willingness to learn and share!
Partner or Donate: If you represent a local business, government agency, or nonprofit, we invite you to partner with us. Your support can help provide supplies for hands-on activities, fund participant stipends, or sponsor community improvement projects that graduates of the program undertake. Donations are also welcome to sustain and expand this work (see our website’s “Support Us” page for details). Every bit of support goes directly toward empowering communities through education and action.
Together, we are building a more equitable and sustainable future, one rain garden at a time. The enthusiasm sparked by a simple edible model in a community center can lead to rain gardens blooming across neighborhoods – reducing flooding, cleaning water, and bringing people together. That’s the ripple effect of environmental literacy and empowerment. Planning Ahead and PEJ are committed to continuing this journey hand-in-hand with the community. We hope you’ll join us – connect with us today and be part of the movement to ensure that every community has the knowledge and power to plan ahead for a greener tomorrow.
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