Clemson Outdoor Collective to hold ‘Community in the Making’ event Feb. 24

A new collective of faculty and staff passionate about the importance of outdoor play, learning and well-being will host an informational drop-in event on Monday, February 24 from 10-11 a.m. at the Cooper Library Brown Room (Room 416). The Clemson Outdoor Collective welcomes all scholars and practitioners to learn more about building Clemson’s outdoor “Community in the Making” and create meaningful connections with colleagues.
 
The Clemson Outdoor Collective began in the spring of 2024 thanks to a meeting between Steph Dean, assistant professor of science education, and Patricia Whitener, 4-H natural resources program leader and Clemson Cooperative Extension agent. The Collective aims to bring together Clemson faculty and staff who value outdoor experiences in learning and wellness to discuss work, connect on shared interests and explore future possibilities. Since that initial meeting, the Collective has grown to include other Clemson scholars and practitioners representing a variety of colleges and departments across campus. 
 
“We are excited to position Clemson as a leader in the field through the Collective’s initiatives, advancing outdoor research and practice in the Upstate and beyond,” said Dean.
 
Thea Hagan (College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences) and Stephanie Garst (College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences) quickly jumped onboard, becoming involved in the ongoing conversations about the role and value of the outdoors within Clemson University and the broader community.
 
“As a land grant institution with a mission to educate, conduct research, and provide public service to the people of South Carolina it has been inspiring to see people from across campus unify behind the Clemson Outdoor Collective,” said Hagan.

Since Covid-19, there has been a resurgence in research pertaining to exploring and understanding meaningful outdoor experiences, and how those experiences benefit both children and adults.
 
The Collective held its first TigerSphere event in September. Topics included place-based education sustainability and pro-environmental behavior, bridging formal and non-formal learning, outdoor engagement across the age spectrum and more.
 
 “I’ve been at Clemson for over a decade and have never attended a collaborative event like this with so many representatives from all across the University,” said Patricia Whitener. “We are such a big organization and it was incredibly gratifying to be part of meaningful conversations with folks sharing their multiple perspectives.”
 
For more information about the Clemson Outdoor Collective or the “Community in the Making” event, contact Steph Dean.