Keys to Our Natural World

South Carolina State Parks provide a spectacular backdrop for some of the state's most significant natural resources. State parks that represent the state's diversity -- from the rises of the Blue Ridge to the sand dunes of the Atlantic -- provide a fresh approach to environmental education. The Discover Nature tract's primary objectives are to:

• Enlighten school students on the significance and importance of South Carolina's natural resources.
• Make the connection between the natural world and themselves.
• Encourage stewardship of South Carolina's natural resources.
• Directly relate to math and science curriculum.
• Develop scientific and technological skills through local experiments and data collection.

Edisto Beach State Park - Located at the northern boundary of the ACE Basin, Edisto Beach State Park has a wide diversity of wildlife, one and a half miles of beach, abundant salt marsh, and acres of rare maritime forest for students to experience.  To protect the very existence of our fragile coast, students must gain knowledge and understanding of this environment and its processes.  Through on-site exploration, students will learn about these resources, the importance of protecting them, and the forces that threaten their existence.
Grades 3 and 5
(Colleton County - 843.869.4426)

Hunting Island State Park - Hunting Island is an island in transition. Every second of every century, barrier islands are constantly changed by nature's forces. Through hands-on activities, on-site exploration and unique encounters, students can experience and learn about these forces and how they affect the natural world, plus how the plants and animals of a barrier island must adapt to survive.
7^th Grade
(Beaufort County - 843.838.7437)

Huntington Beach State Park - With its marshes, maritime forest and beach, the educational focus of Huntington Beach fosters an understanding of how natural communities are interdependent on each other and dependent on us. To protect our natural heritage, we must learn that we are part of, not apart from, the natural world. Through observation and hands-on activities, students gain an understanding of the importance of the resources found on this park and enhance their appreciation of environmental issues facing their own communities.
Grades 4, 5 and 7
(Georgetown County - 843.237.8755)

Lee State Natural Area - The educational focus at Lee is building a foundation for long-term protection of the natural resources of the State Scenic Lynches River and its associated hardwood floodplain forest. Students who visit Lee State Natural Area sample water from the Lynches River and associated wetlands. Here they discover aquatic organisms, investigate water quality, debate water issues and develop data collection and analysis skills.
Grades 5 and 6
(Lee County - 803.428.5307 or 803.428.4988)

Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area (Jones Gap and Caesars Head State Natural Areas) - The Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area covers more than 10,000 acres of exceptional mountain habitat including Jones Gap and Caesars Head state parks. Education at this site strives to foster an understanding and appreciation of the Mountain Bridge, the Southern Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Escarpment. Through expert instruction and hands-on field experiences, students can investigate the geology, geography and ecology of the area.
Grades 3 and 4
(Greenville County - Caesars Head 864.836.6115;
Jones Gap 864.836.3647)

Myrtle Beach State Park - Even in the middle of the vast development of the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach State Park remains an oasis of green where visitors can learn to appreciate the importance of our natural coastal resources. Through exploration, hands-on activities and personal experiences, students learn about these resources, the importance of protecting them, and the need for their continued existence in highly developed areas.
Grades 2, 3 and 5th
(Horry County - 843.238.0874)

Paris Mountain State Park - One of the oldest protected areas in the state is gaining popularity as a beautiful retreat in a metropolitan area. Formerly a watershed for the city of Greenville, the 1,540-acre Paris Mountain features four stream-fed lakes, Mountain Creek, large stands of old growth hardwood forests that canopy over hiking and biking trails. The hardwoods are even more spectacular in the fall, when they produce the golds, reds and oranges of autumn. Developed from 1935-1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the park continues to display CCC craftsmanship in several buildings and structures.
Grades 2 and 5
(Greenville County - 864.244.5565)

Sesquicentennial State Park - Utilizing the park’s sand hill and aquatic ecosystems coupled with its unique location in an urban area, Discover Carolina programs will teach students the importance of urban green space and conservation of our natural resources through hands-on activities and on-site explorations.
Kindergarten, 1^st and 2^nd Grade
(Richland County - 803.788.2706 or 803.788.8332)