Mount Pleasant, S.C. – The South Carolina 7 (SC7) Expedition has arrived in the Lowcountry, marking the first coastal stop on its 30-day journey. This initiative, a collaboration between the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), GEA (Creating Global Environmental Awareness), and the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, highlights conservation and connects the public with nature.
So far, the expedition has attracted over 2,500 participants who have joined in the journey, which began on July 1 in Oconee County. The expedition covers a wide range of activities, including hiking, rafting, kayaking, and climbing, with the goal of traversing the state from the mountains to the sea.
A Record-Breaking Event in Mount Pleasant
In Mount Pleasant, the expedition set a new participation record, with 134 people joining the hike across the iconic Ravenel Bridge. Tom Mullikin, director of SCDNR, shared that the group has already traveled over 250 miles, “We’ve hiked, rafted, kayaked, climbed the highest place in South Carolina. Now to the most beautiful coastline in the world.”
Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette emphasized the importance of these events, saying, “When we make this walk across the Ravenel Bridge, it just shows we need to go all across our state and be connected and work together – and make sure that we’re spreading the message everywhere.”
Encouraging Local Conservation Efforts
While exploring South Carolina’s natural beauty, the leaders of the expedition hope to inspire more people to engage in local conservation efforts. They encourage simple, everyday activities such as recycling or planting native species to help preserve the environment.
“The meaning of SC7 is to get public awareness and participation in the small steps we can do – you don’t have to be a superhero to do local conservation,” said Will Haynie, mayor of Mount Pleasant.
Lt. Gov. Evette also spoke about the economic benefits of maintaining a healthy environment, particularly for the state’s coastal areas that depend heavily on tourism. “What do we want to do as responsible citizens of this state – don’t we want to leave this better than we found it? That should’ve always been the goal. We want to make sure we keep things pristine and healthy for the next generation,” she said.
Upcoming SC7 Adventure: Tubing the Edisto River
The next public event in the SC7 Expedition will be tubing the Edisto River on July 27, offering participants another opportunity to engage in outdoor activities while promoting conservation efforts.
