Visit 6000+ foot Roan Mountain with Seth Harrison, a self-taught naturalist who enjoys sharing our unique outdoor spaces. Hike the Appalachian Trail as it runs along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina over high mountain balds which are rich in natural and cultural history. We will walk from Carvers Gap along the Trail to rock outcroppings and spectacular views. Natural history, photography and enjoying the summertime cool mountain breezes are on the itinerary. Bring plenty of water and snacks, dress in layers and wear appropriate hiking shoes. Distance from Furman: 3 hours.

In his book Being Mortal Dr. Atul Gawande reminds us that “the two big unfixables are aging and dying,” while also noting that for so many people he sees, death comes as a surprise.

How can we ensure that our death doesn’t come as a surprise to us and make peace with the fact that this life will end? One way is to become more comfortable talking about death and to start difficult conversations well ahead of when they need to happen due to a life changing event. Join us to view and discuss the Emmy-nominated documentary Being Mortal as Dr. Gawande raises some important questions around death and dying.

Leigh Berman, MA, is an end-of-life midwife and grief coach who provides spiritual and emotional support around death and dying. She helps individuals and families explore positive ways to approach the continuum of life.

Roses are not hard to grow. However, selecting the right rose for the right place is essential for an easy-care rose garden. Sheree Wright, retired Furman Horticulturist, will show you the most disease resistant roses in the Southeast, based on national rose trial data. Many of these roses can be grown in containers, planted as ground covers or used in mixed perennial borders. You will learn basic rose care, and good horticultural practices. Please bring your questions and any insect or diseased leaves you have (in a plastic bag please) for identification. A handout will be provided of the roses shown in this program. The class will take a short walking tour through the Furman rose garden during the second part of the class.

*PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WALKING TOURS. THIS REGISTRATION IS FOR TOUR "ONE" WHICH COVERS THE FOLLOWING: 

Springwood Cemetery Walking Tour is literally like walking back through time in our city's history. This tour will include the origins of the cemetery, the Confederate Park and 80 graves of unknown Confederate soldiers, plus more than 2 dozen stories about those who reside in the cemetery for eternity. During our 75-minute walk we will meet the first city leaders, the earliest mayors, those whose legends live on in the street names of Greenville, the legendary businessmen, the good guys, the legends, the scoundrels, and many surprises along the way (many historic photos will be shown during the tour). The walk begins at the ornate historic front gate to Springwood, which is the oldest municipal cemetery in South Carolina. This tour is for those who love the history of Greenville, and the stories of those who created our beautiful city.

Fee of $25 due at the time of the tour. 

*PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WALKING TOURS. THIS REGISTRATION IS FOR TOUR "2" WHICH COVERS THE FOLLOWING: 

 

On this tour you’ll learn about the pioneer beginnings of the village, its development into a resort town for Low-Country visitors, its rise to the textile giant of the world, its decades of struggle and its revitalization into one of the great success stories of America. Not only will you hear about Greenville’s past, but also about current projects and future plans that are contributing to the vibrancy of the city.

This tour primarily takes place in Falls Park, the centerpiece of Greenville’s charm and beauty. We stroll on the Swamp Rabbit Trail along the Riverwalk and cover a little bit of Main Street. You’ll see dozens of enlarged photographs shown that illustrate what the river, falls, buildings and city looked like over the last 150 years.

John Nolan owns Greenville History Tours and has been leading tours in Greenville for almost 20 years.

 Fee of $25 due at the time of the tour. 

Whether you or someone you know, have experienced a loss, each grief is unique and personal. There is no “right or wrong” way to grieve. Mourning too long or not long enough? False or unrealistic expectations can be all over the map.
So what do you do? Or how could you best support those who are grieving?
While facing grief is difficult, learning strategies and behaviors are the key to living life after loss.

This class is not about forgetting, overcoming the loss, or “moving forward.” Rather, you will learn about the complex nature of grief and gain the tools to face the uncertainty and trials of life after loss.

This class is ideal for anyone wanting to understand grief better—whether for yourself or seeking knowledge to support others.

Michele Woodall has been coaching people for over 15 years. As a Certified Life and Grief Coach, Michele's passion is to educate and help people discover there is life after loss.

This presentation explores the history and significance of Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. We will delve into the origins of Juneteenth in 1865, the cultural and historical impact, why it remained overlooked or under-taught in many educational settings and some things you might not know.

Robyn Andrews joined the Furman Libraries in 2007 as a Circulation Supervisor. She has since taken on additional roles as a Pathways Advisor for 1st- and 2nd year students, the inaugural Diversity Coordinator for the Libraries, co-chair of the President's Committee for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and member of the Shared Equity Leadership Team [SELT]

Join us for a guided kayak tour of Lake Jocassee with Level 2 ACA kayak instructors Kerry McKenzie and David White. The pace is leisurely as we use our pontoon boats to move from one remote and wild paddling location to another around the lake. There will be lots of waterfalls to see and plenty of time for refreshing swims along the way. Bring lunch to enjoy onboard. Paddling time is three hours and is considered a moderately challenging physical activity. Distance from Furman: 39 miles. Tour fee is $125 per person plus a park entry fee of $8 per adult and $5 per senior.

In my book The Keowee Trail: A Deep Map of The Cherokee Path in the History of the Carolinas. I tell the story of the Cherokee Path that connected the low country of colonial Carolina with the Cherokee Nation. The Keowee trail was a busy trading route for a burgeoning deerskin trade between the Cherokee nation and the British Colony of South Carolina. Along this same path, epidemic disease made its way inexorably from the colony toward Cherokee society, reducing their population by more than half. Along this path, warfare was waged in both directions, by Cherokee war parties determined to defend their homeland and by settlers like my Scots Irish ancestors, evermore hungry for land. Dispossession of Native peoples was the necessary prelude to the advancement of slavery across South Carolina and the Southeast and so the enslaved ancestors of African Americans will forge a significant place in this story.
I use a ‘deep map’ approach to the Keowee Trail because it opens up space for multiple viewpoints and perspectives, blending an array of genres and disciplines, including a trail journal of my own pilgrimage along the path. The concept of a ‘deep map’ will assist us in holding together multiple lines of perspective, including, memoir, family history, migration stories, religious history, indigenous wisdom, trauma theory, ghost stories, mythology, archeology, geography, the watersheds, and the flora and fauna of the Southern Appalachians. All of this brings a complex richness and depth to the construction of this deep map.

Stuart Taylor, a Native of South Carolina is a retired Presbyterian pastor who served congregations in Georgia, Arizona and North Carolina. He is co-author of St. Francis and the Foolishness of God.

The events in Margaret Mitchell's epic novel, "Gone With The Wind," were drawn from her own life and helped her create an international phenomenon bar none. We'll see how her fierce independence and determination, so characteristic of the fictional main character Scarlett, as well as the ups and downs of her short life led to her writing an American classic. Carol Nescio, leader of this event, taught high school French & German. She feels this quote describes lifelong learners so well: "When you are curious, there are lots of interesting things to learn and do."

This bonus event will be held at Rolling Green Village. 

Classroom E at Rolling Green

During this tour, The Warehouse Theatre's Director of Education and Community Engagement, Jay Briggs, will take you behind the scenes at a small regional theatre with a backstage tour of the physical space and a talk-through of the process of bringing locally-produced, professional theatre to life here in the upstate of South Carolina. Distance from Furman: 5 miles.

This is a fun, interactive and informative presentation about wolf conservation and wolves native to the United States. Learn how various wolf conservation centers work to build the foundation of support and tolerance that will allow wolves to return and thrive in their native habitat and discover their fascinating legends and behavior along with the challenges they faced years ago and continue today. Join Frank Capolupo, former volunteer with the California Wolf Center, as he leads us through the history of wolves in North America and the efforts taking place to recover this iconic species in the wild.

We live in a global society with instant communication, rapid travel access and increasing awareness of multi-national issues. How well is the U.S. performing in meeting the challenges that exist in 2025? We will discuss approximately 30 topics including the economy, environment, education, healthcare, climate change, immigration, military preparedness, safety, prosperity and personal happiness. The "Top 10" format provides a quick "snap-shot" of how well the U.S. is performing in comparison to other countries. This will be a very focused discussion and will include three "chat" breaks. A copy of the material will be available upon request at no additional charge and post-session follow-up is always welcome. Doug Stowell, the leader of this event, has experience in consumer research and political polling in the U.S.