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Discover "Brookgreen U", our comprehensive continuing education initiative designed to enrich both the community and our visitors. Featuring an array of classes and interactive experiences, Brookgreen U fosters lifelong learning and exploration.
Beginning in January of each year, our program offers a curated selection of lectures, demonstrations, and workshops. With four classes per month, participants can delve into the realms of our four mission areas: Art, Horticulture, Wildlife, and History.
“Brookgreen U: Intensives” allows visitors to engage in hands-on activities and classes, where learning extends beyond the standard one hour timeframe. Electives provide ongoing educational opportunities within the surroundings of Brookgreen Gardens.
Join us in unlocking the doors to knowledge and exploration at Brookgreen U.
BROOKGREEN U CERTIFICATES
Our program is designed for personal enrichment. Each completed class or elective earns one credit, culminating in a Brookgreen U Certificate upon the completion of four classes or electives per quarter- fulfilling one class in each of the mission areas.
Attend four Brookgreen U offerings in a quarter and earn a Brookgreen U certificate! Certificate recipients can enjoy a 20% discount on purchases in our Keepsakes Gift Shop.
Our quarters are:
Winter (Jan.- Mar.), Spring (April- June), and Fall (Sept.-Nov.).
To learn more about a program, please select the desired listing below.
Registration is required. Walk-ins are subject to availability.
Commit yourself to lifelong learning. The most valuable asset you will ever have is your mind and what you put into it. – Albert Einstein
f - 1 hour
Thu, Mar 6 2025, 11am - 12pm
Thu, Mar 6 2025
Medicine bags have long been used by Native American cultures as personal pouches for holding sacred items—not traditional medicines as we know them today, but objects with deep personal meaning. Owners often place items inside that represent strength, memory, or love, such as a piece of oak for resilience, a baby tooth to honor a special time, or a lock of hair from a loved one who has passed on...
f - 3 hours
Thu, Mar 6 2025, 1 - 4pm
Thu, Mar 6 2025
In ancient times, chokers were not just decorative but served as protective armor. Today, they are worn as stylish accessories with deep cultural significance. Join us to craft your own authentic, one-of-a-kind Native American choker and discover the rich history of the Waccamaw Indian People, one of the local tribes of Horry County. About the Instructor: Susan Hayes-Hatcher, born in Landstuhl...
f - 1 hour
Tue, Mar 11 2025, 10:30 - 11:30am
Tue, Mar 11 2025
Lowcountry History
Professor of African American Studies & English at the College of Charleston will discuss the value of folklore in society. Who are the folk and what exactly is lore? Focusing specifically on the origins and context of West African cultural practices that evolved into African American folklore, she will share the meaning and beauty behind many folk practices and beliefs held by various populations...
f - 1 hour
Thu, Mar 13 2025, 10:30 - 11:30am
Thu, Mar 13 2025
American alligators are an important part of the South Carolina landscape. They can be found anywhere below the fall line and are especially prevalent along the coast. As human populations and development increase in these areas, so do interactions between people and alligators. This presentation will touch on a wide range of topics, including alligator history, understanding alligator behaviors...
f - 2 hours, f - 2 hours, f - 2 hours, f - 2 hours, f - 2 hours, f - 2 hours
Tue, Mar 18 2025, 7 - 9am
Tue, Mar 4 2025, Tue, Mar 18 2025, Tue, Apr 1 2025, Tue, Apr 22 2025, Tue, May 6 2025, Tue, May 20 2025
Join Richard Costa on an informative walk through the landscapes of Brookgreen Gardens. Join him for an insightful bird walk, meandering along the creek and Gardens, where he expertly identifies various avian species amidst the lush surroundings. Don't forget to bring your binoculars and comfortable walking shoes to fully immerse yourself in this experience. After the walk, indulge in conversation...
f - 2 hours
Wed, Mar 19 2025, 10am - 12pm
Wed, Mar 19 2025
Craft a charming, versatile basket perfect for hanging on a wall or door! Using natural and hand-dyed reed, you’ll create a basket measuring approximately 6 inches wide by 8 inches tall (or 11 inches with the handle). In this hands-on session, students will master the essentials of basketry, from laying out the base and twining to shaping upright spokes and weaving in a continuous pattern...
f - 1 hour, f - 1 hour, f - 1 hour, f - 1 hour, f - 1 hour
Wed, Mar 19 2025, 10 - 11am
Wed, Jan 15 2025, Wed, Feb 19 2025, Wed, Mar 19 2025, Wed, Apr 23 2025, Wed, May 21 2025
Chair yoga is a gentle practice that can be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in elevating spinal health and flexibility, practicing mindfulness, or learning to harness the power of their breath. In this class, yoga postures are performed while seated and/or assisted by a chair. Chair yoga is also a great exercise option for individuals with mobility issues. Students of all experience levels are...
f - 1 hour, f - 1 hour, f - 1 hour, f - 1 hour
Wed, Mar 19 2025, 1 - 2pm
Wed, Feb 5 2025, Wed, Feb 19 2025, Wed, Mar 5 2025, Wed, Mar 19 2025
Inspired by historical events from the Reconstruction Era, this reader’s theater presentation by Ron Daise portrays the lived experiences, beliefs, and dreams of a Gullah man, Prince Rivers. Rivers’ life and words from before, during, and after the Hamburg Massacre, an incident of notable racial and political violence, are poignant and riveting. The presentation, moreover, showcases historical and...
f - 1 hour
Thu, Mar 20 2025, 10:30 - 11:30am
Thu, Mar 20 2025
This event will introduce three basic methods of growing mushrooms including bucket cultivation, log inoculation, and wood chip cultivation. In addition to the basic process behind each of these methods, we will also discuss the materials and supplies needed for at-home mushroom cultivation as well as where to source these supplies. Time-permitting, we will also discuss basic mycology and the...
f - 1 hour
Thu, Mar 27 2025, 10:30 - 11:30am
Thu, Mar 27 2025
Join our Horticulturists--Kerry Rapp and Devin Ravencroft--for a tour of Brookgreen Gardens’ greenhouse and nursery complex. Kerry will discuss how staff and volunteers manage the production of over 40,000 plants each year, including the warm/cool season annuals for the Garden, the fall and spring plant sales, and poinsettias for Nights of a Thousand Candles. And Devin will share a behind-the...