Nature at Work

10/23/2026

Last week, Nature at Work Founding Members gathered at Chattooga Belle Farm in Oconee County for our Fall Advisory Council Retreat, bringing together leaders from across business, conservation, health, education, government, design, sustainability, resilience, and community organizations.

The day was designed around what this network is becoming: a place to learn from one another, experience nature together, share what is happening across our organizations, and identify opportunities to connect work that too often happens in separate sectors.

Our Founding Member Advisory Council shared updates and ideas, explored Chattooga Belle Farm, and helped shape priorities for Nature at Work as we look toward 2027.

We then welcomed a broader group for Nature in Practice: Clemson Perspectives on Wellbeing, Design, and Place, featuring Clemson University leaders Kelly Bardusk, Robert Baldwin, Ph.D., Paul Russell, ASLA, and Patricia Whitener, Ph.D. Their perspectives across people and culture, natural environments and stewardship, design and place-making, and Extension and community demonstrated just how many pathways there are for integrating nature into the places where people live, work, learn, heal, and gather.

Thank you to Visit Oconee SC - Oconee County, South Carolina and Oconee County, SC for helping us bring the retreat to the Upstate, to the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor for sponsoring the Founding Member Retreat, and to Chattooga Belle Farm for providing such an incredible setting for the day.

And most importantly, thank you to our Founding Members for continuing to help shape this growing statewide network.

Healthy People. Healthy Places. Connected by Nature.

Photos: Johanna Clark + Susan Johnson. All photos shown are authentic event photography and were not AI-generated.

10/07/2026

Nature at Work is proud to support The Sophia Institutee’s upcoming symposium, Women Answering the Call: Leadership Rooted in Boundless Love, Wisdom, Creativity, Transformation, October 23–24 in Charleston and virtually.

This special gathering will explore how women are answering the call to lead with wisdom, creativity, courage, and purpose in ways that can transform relationships, organizations, communities, and ourselves.

Dr. Susan Johnson, Founder & CEO of Nature at Work, will be speaking on Rooted in Place, Connected by Purpose: Blue Zones, Nature, and Leadership for a Flourishing World, sharing how Blue Zones, nature-based wellbeing, and place-centered leadership can help create healthier, more connected communities.

Learn more and register: https://thesophiainstitute.org/events/women-answering-the-call-leadership-rooted-in-boundless-love-wisdom-creativity-transformation/

10/06/2026

As a Founding Member of Nature at Work, the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor is proud to sponsor the Fall Founding Member Retreat on October 15 in Oconee County.

The retreat’s afternoon program, Nature in Practice: Clemson Perspectives on Wellbeing, Design, and Place, will feature Clemson University leaders exploring the connections between nature, wellbeing, design, stewardship, education, and community.

October 15 | 2:30–5:00 PM Chattooga Belle Farm | Oconee County

Complimentary registration. Space is limited.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nature-in-practice-clemson-perspectives-on-wellbeing-design-and-place-tickets-2002520170737?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/06/2026

National recognition of the connection between nature and health continues to grow.

This new resolution from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies recognizes nature as a beneficial component of all six pillars of lifestyle medicine and calls for greater collaboration among conservation, healthcare, and research organizations.

For Nature at Work, this reinforces the importance of moving the research into practice. Employers and community leaders can create healthier environments through thoughtful design, nature-based wellbeing strategies, outdoor engagement, and opportunities for service and stewardship.

We are encouraged to see the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, and the Nature and Health Alliance working together to advance this movement.

Nature may be one of the most underutilized health resources we have.

A new resolution adopted by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies recognizes nature as a beneficial component of all six pillars of lifestyle medicine and highlights the growing connection between human health and the health of the environments around us.

The resolution supports collaboration among the conservation, healthcare, and research communities, including a new partnership between ACLM, AFWA, and the Nature and Health Alliance.

Why does this matter?

Because evidence continues to show that time spent in nature can support physical activity, stress management, connectedness, mental well-being, cardiovascular health, and overall quality of life.

It's a powerful reminder that some of the most accessible tools for health may already be right outside our door.

👉 Read the full announcement and explore the growing effort connecting nature, health, and lifestyle medicine: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-college-of-lifestyle-medicine-welcomes-national-resolution-advancing-nature-as-a-foundation-for-health-and-well-being-302897766.html?tc=eml_cleartime

10/05/2026

Nature at Work is bringing together Clemson University leaders for a special afternoon conversation at Chattooga Belle Farm on October 15.

Nature in Practice: Clemson Perspectives on Wellbeing, Design, and Place will explore how nature can become a more intentional part of the places where people work, learn, live, and gather.

The program will feature perspectives from:
Kelly Bardusk | Clemson University Campus Recreation
Robert Baldwin, Ph.D. | Clemson University Forest
Paul Russell, ASLA | Landscape Architecture
Patricia Whitener, Ph.D. | Clemson Cooperative Extension

The conversation will be followed by audience Q&A and a networking reception sponsored by Visit Oconee SC - Oconee County, South Carolina.

This portion of the Nature at Work Fall Founding Member Retreat is open to Nature at Work and South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition members, Clemson representatives, invited regional partners, prospective members, and others with a direct interest in the conversation.

Thursday, October 15
2:30–5:00 PM
Chattooga Belle Farm | Oconee County
Registration is complimentary, but space is limited.

Register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nature-in-practice-clemson-perspectives-on-wellbeing-design-and-place-tickets-2002520170737?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hosted by Visit Oconee SC and Oconee County, SC

Founding Member Retreat sponsored by the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor

09/21/2026

This week, the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition begins its statewide seminar series, Lifestyle Medicine at Work: Building a Culture of Prevention, with the first seminar in Columbia on September 24.

How does nature fit into this topic?

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine identifies six pillars of lifestyle medicine, and nature can help people put each one into practice:

Food and nutrition: Gardening and food-growing experiences connect people more directly with whole foods and make plant-forward eating more tangible.

Physical activity: Parks, trails, greenways, and outdoor spaces make movement more inviting, whether through a walking meeting, a trail walk, or outdoor exercise.

Stress management: Even brief contact with nature can provide a mental reset, support emotional regulation, and help the body recover from stress.

Restorative sleep: Exposure to natural light helps regulate circadian rhythms, while outdoor activity can support more consistent and restorative sleep.

Positive social connection: Shared outdoor spaces and experiences create natural opportunities for conversation, belonging, team building, and time together.

Avoidance of risky substances: Nature-based recreation can provide healthier ways to manage stress, spend leisure time, and build supportive routines that reinforce prevention and recovery.
Nature helps translate lifestyle medicine from a list of recommended behaviors into experiences, routines, and environments that support how people actually live and work.

The series begins this week: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/lifestyle-medicine-at-work-fall-seminar-series-4866041

September 24 | Columbia
September 30 | Charleston
October 1 | Greenville

Register for the Columbia seminar:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1999226851330

We appreciate the sponsors helping bring this conversation to employers and organizational leaders across South Carolina:

Presenting Sponsor: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Regional Sponsors: Gallagher, Proactive MD, and South Carolina Federal Credit Union
Workforce Technology Sponsor: Rippling
Midlands Seminar Sponsor: HopeHealth
Upstate Seminar Sponsor: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville

09/13/2026

The 2026 South Carolina Nature-Based Tourism Association Annual Conference is coming to Great Falls October 5–6.

Join tourism, outdoor recreation, conservation, and community leaders for two days of learning, networking, and outdoor experiences focused on strengthening nature-based tourism across South Carolina.

Learn more and register:

An annual event providing educational programs and networking opportunities for SC nature-based tourism businesses and organizations.

09/09/2026

The latest edition of The Landing Post is out!

Take a look back at recent member impact and momentum across the Nature at Work network, along with a look ahead to fall programming, new Founding Members, Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Communities resources, and upcoming opportunities to connect.

As we move into fall, Nature at Work continues to grow through new members, stronger partnerships, and more opportunities to connect the dots between healthy people and healthy places.

08/04/2026

July was an incredible month for Nature at Work!

Through SC7, we had the opportunity to bring our mission to life across South Carolina—hosting Trail Talks, Team Engagement Days, Blue Mind Yoga, and partnering with Founding Members and organizations that are helping create healthier people, healthier places, and stronger communities.

Our July edition of The Landing Post looks back on this remarkable journey, celebrates the partners who made it possible, welcomes new Founding Members, and shares what's next as we continue growing the Nature at Work movement.

Thank you to everyone who joined us along the way. We're excited to keep the momentum going.

Read the July edition here:

July was a remarkable month for Nature at Work as we joined partners across South Carolina for SC7, bringing our mission to life through Trail Talks, Team Engagement Days, Blue Mind experiences, and meaningful conversations about the connection between nature, health, wellbeing, and community.

08/03/2026

So true!!