As we wrap up 2025, let’s look back on the impact ENGAGE GREEN has made this fall. Our mission to cultivate environmental awareness and promote sustainable practices has brought together students, community members, and local organizations in an incredible effort toward ecological stewardship.
In its third year, our partnership with Spartanburg Area Conservancy (SPACE) is designed to educate and create lasting benefits for our area. By engaging in our community, we provide our students with awareness of environmental issues and experiences that contribute to a greater understanding of sustainability practices.
In addition, we have started a new partnership with USC Upstate’s Food Forest, giving students an opportunity to support a sustainable community garden and to contribute to the Bee Campus pollinator habitat research.
Volunteerism – vol·un·teer·ism – contributing free labor to conduct community service or support a non-profit organization. Rather than receiving a financial reward, volunteers change the lives of their community members out of feelings of social responsibility and a desire to give back.
During 14 events throughout the semester, students rolled up their sleeves, put on their gloves, and joined forces to learn about and remove invasive species from the public green space at the Upper Chinquapin Greenway while embracing the time in nature and outside the classroom. Another 11 events brought students to the Food Forest for planting, weeding, and pollinator counting.
Together 17 instructors and roughly 400 students invested in beautifying our environment, enhancing the local habitat for native vegetation, and expanding healthy, local food supplies for the community.
With over 700 volunteer hours served, our students provided roughly $21,415 worth of time to Engage Green initiatives throughout 2025. These volunteer hours have helped SPACE focus on expanding efforts to create accessible and inviting entrances to the 2-mile trail at the Greenway from the Spartanburg Regional Hospice, Graham Road, and Mosspoint Circle. Just as importantly, we have introduced hundreds of students to a natural resource just around the corner from campus.
At the Upper Chinquapin Greenway, we have witnessed firsthand how collective actions can lead to meaningful change. One of the cornerstones of our initiative in 2024 was the clean-up of debris left over by Hurricane Helene. This year’s efforts have expanded the usable trails in the only public greenspace serving the 29303 zip code.
As we reflect on the achievements of the ENGAGE GREEN initiative over the past three years, it’s clear that the collective efforts of our students and community partner, SPACE, have made a significant impact. We’re not just raising awareness; we’re fostering a culture of sustainability that will hopefully inspire others to act. Engage Upstate, our faculty, students, and community partners have laid the groundwork for a more sustainable future, and we look forward to continuing this momentum into the next semester.
