Nature at Work

06/24/2026

What makes a place healthy by design?

We’re excited to kick off the Nature at Work Trail Talks Series as part of SC7 with a special event at Clemson University.

Healthy Places by Design: Nature, Innovation, and the Built Environment will explore how nature, forestry, materials, design, and leadership can shape healthier people, workplaces, and communities.

The afternoon will include a guided preview tour of Clemson’s new Forestry and Environmental Conservation Building, followed by a panel discussion and networking reception.

Moderated by:

Susan Johnson, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO, Nature at Work

Panelists include:

Trip Chavis
President & CEO, Milliken Advisors

Kyle Barrett, Ph.D.
Department Chair and Professor of Wildlife Ecology,
Clemson University

M. Soledad Peresin, Ph.D.
Director, Clemson University Wood Utilization + Design Institute, Clemson University

Robert Baldwin, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Clemson University Forest,
Clemson University

Thursday, July 2
4:00–6:00 PM
Clemson University

Space is limited, so advance registration is encouraged.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sc7-nature-at-work-trail-talks-healthy-places-by-design-at-clemson-tickets-1990017444747?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hosted by Clemson University and sponsored by Clemson University Wood Utilization + Design Institute, Clemson Forestry and Environmental Conservation and Milliken Advisors in partnership with Nature at Work, the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition, and South Carolina 7.

06/22/2026

Please join us in welcoming The Sustainability Institute as a Founding Member of Nature at Work!

For more than two decades, the Sustainability Institute has been helping communities, organizations, and individuals create healthier, more sustainable futures through education, leadership development, and community engagement.

Their work reflects many of the same values that guide Nature at Work: creating places where people can thrive, strengthening connections between health and environment, and building resilient communities for generations to come.

We're especially excited to welcome Executive Director Bryan Cordell and the Sustainability Institute team to our growing network of Founding Members and look forward to collaborating in the months and years ahead.

Welcome to Nature at Work, Sustainability Institute!

06/16/2026

Please join us in welcoming The Big Red Barn Retreat as a new Founding Member of Nature at Work.

Located in Blythewood, South Carolina, Big Red Barn Retreat provides nature-based therapeutic programs that support healing, reflection, connection, and resilience for veterans and first responders.

Their work reflects a core belief of the Nature at Work movement: that nature can be a powerful tool for supporting wellbeing, recovery, and human connection.

We're excited to welcome Executive Director Mitch Ray and Director of PTG Training Lamont Christian to our growing network of leaders, organizations, and partners committed to advancing healthier people and healthier places across South Carolina.

Welcome to Nature at Work. We look forward to learning, collaborating, and growing this movement together.

06/15/2026

We're proud to continue our Founding Member Spotlight series by recognizing Pickens County and County Administrator Ken Roper.

Pickens County demonstrates the important role local governments can play in creating healthier, more vibrant communities. Through leadership, outdoor recreation, conservation, placemaking, and investments in quality of life, the county continues to show how healthy people and healthy places go hand in hand.

As a Founding Member, Pickens County has supported this movement from the beginning. Through engagement with Nature at Work, SC7, the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, and other statewide initiatives, the county has helped advance important conversations around community wellbeing, connection to place, and the value of our natural assets.

We're especially grateful for the leadership of Ken Roper, whose vision, collaboration, and commitment to community have helped make Pickens County an important partner in this work.

Thank you to Ken and Pickens County for helping advance a future where healthy people, healthy places, and thriving communities are connected by nature.

06/11/2026

Founding Member Spotlight

As we continue our Founding Member Spotlight series, we're proud to recognize the South Carolina Aquarium, a founding partner helping advance the connection between nature, health, education, conservation, and community wellbeing.

Through education, conservation, environmental stewardship, and community engagement, the South Carolina Aquarium inspires people to better understand and appreciate the connection between healthy ecosystems and healthy communities.

The Aquarium's work also reflects an important aspect of the Nature at Work movement: the connection between water and wellbeing. From our coast and marshes to rivers and waterways across the state, water has a unique ability to inspire reflection, reduce stress, and strengthen our connection to place. This concept, referred to as The Blue Mind Movement, aligns closely with the Aquarium's mission and impact.

As a Founding Member, the South Carolina Aquarium has actively supported this movement from the beginning. From hosting one of our inaugural Nature at Work launch events to engaging through the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition, South Carolina 7, the South Carolina Resilience Conference, and other statewide initiatives, the Aquarium has been a valued partner in advancing this work across South Carolina.

We are especially grateful for the leadership of Brian Thill, Chief Experience Officer and Senior Vice President of Education, whose engagement, expertise, and partnership have helped strengthen this movement from the very beginning.

Thank you to Brian and the South Carolina Aquarium for helping advance a future where healthy people, healthy places, and thriving communities are connected by nature.

06/09/2026

Happy World Ocean Day from the Florida Keys. 🌊

Today’s view from the boat is a beautiful reminder that water has a powerful way of helping us slow down, reset, and feel connected to something bigger than ourselves.

Marine biologist and author Dr. Wallace J. Nichols described this connection as Blue Mind, the sense of calm and clarity we often feel in, on, or near water.

At Nature at Work, we talk often about the connection between healthy people and healthy places, and few places make that connection feel more immediate than the ocean. Time on or near the water can support wellbeing, inspire awe, and deepen our responsibility to care for the natural systems that sustain us.

Whether you’re out on the water, walking along the shore, visiting a local river, or simply pausing to appreciate the role water plays in your life, World Ocean Day is an invitation to reflect, reconnect, and protect.

Healthy People. Healthy Places. Connected by Nature. 💙

06/07/2026

Happy National Trails Day! 🌿

At Nature at Work, we believe trails are more than places to walk, hike, or explore, they are pathways to healthier people, stronger communities, and deeper connection with the places we call home.

We’re proud to support South Carolina 7 as we travel across South Carolina during the month of July, highlighting the natural places, community partners, and everyday opportunities that help us connect with nature.

As part of SC7, we’ll be hosting and promoting several Trail Talks — conversations and experiences that explore how nature, movement, design, water, and outdoor spaces can support wellbeing at work and in community life.

Explore the SC7 Field Guide and our Trail Talks collection to learn more and register:

The SC7 Expedition is a 30-day journey along South Carolina’s 350-mile Palmetto Trail, spotlighting the state’s natural wonders and the efforts to protect them.

06/02/2026

We're excited to continue our Founding Member Spotlight series by recognizing the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University.

The Shi Institute exemplifies the kind of leadership Nature at Work seeks to elevate. Through its work in sustainability, education, research, and community engagement, the Institute demonstrates how healthy people, healthy places, and strong communities are deeply connected.

Under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Predmore, the Shi Institute has been an important partner from the beginning. From hosting our Upstate launch event to participating in our Advisory Council and supporting the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition, the Institute has helped create opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and innovation.

Thank you to the Shi Institute and Dr. Predmore for helping advance this movement and for demonstrating how higher education can serve as a catalyst for healthier communities and a more sustainable future.

05/27/2026

As we approach one year since launching Nature at Work, we’re excited to begin a new Founding Member Spotlight series recognizing the organizations helping build this movement across South Carolina.

We’re honored to begin with our very first Founding Member, the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor.

From helping bring Nature at Work to life during South Carolina 7 last summer, to collaborating through events, presentations, leadership conversations, and statewide initiatives, SCNHC has been a true partner from day one.

Special thanks to Michelle McCollum, President & CEO, and Abbey Crocker, Vice President, for their leadership, encouragement, and collaboration as this work continues to grow.

As we look ahead to SC7 this summer, we’re excited to continue building this movement alongside incredible partners across South Carolina.

We hope you’ll join us somewhere along the trail this July and experience the connection between nature, health, wellbeing, and community that inspires this work every day.

05/04/2026

May Newsletter | Nature at Work

It’s been a full and energizing spring, and this month’s newsletter reflects the momentum. We're grateful for the opportunity to spotlight members and partners driving this work forward across South Carolina.

Check out our May newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/natureatworksc/the-landing-post-march-edition-15666930