SCNPS Statewide Symposium 2025

The 2025 SCNPS Statewide Symposium will be hosted by the Grand Strand Chapter on October 17-19 in Murrells Inlet and will bring together members from across the state.

This year’s theme will be Gentians. In South Carolina, the family Gentianaceae spans a wide range of habitats from the mountains to the coast. Within the Grand Strand region, gentians can be found among riverbanks, salt marshes, and longleaf pine savannas. We are excited to celebrate the unique ecology of these plants and to highlight the conservation issues they face.

The 2025 symposium will be open to SCNPS members (from any chapter) only. If you are not already a member, please join us today!

Updates regarding the event will be added to this page in the coming months. We plan to announce more details later this summer – subscribe to get notified by email when the full agenda is announced and when tickets go on sale!

The symposium will feature several events throughout the weekend, including many opportunities to connect and collaborate with other SCNPS members!

Friday, October 17

• 7-9 p.m. Plant Prom (an evening social) at Atalaya Castle

Saturday, October 18

• 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Annual SCNPS Statewide Business Meeting, Speaker Presentations, Concurrent Field Trips and Workshops, Silent Auction, and Keynote Presentation

Sunday, October 19

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Speaker Presentations, Field Trips, and Workshops

The majority of events will be in Murrells Inlet at Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park, with several additional field trips throughout the region. More information will be shared here soon. Please note that this schedule is subject to change; please check back for updates later this summer.

The Grand Strand region is a major tourist destination and there are thousands of potential options for accommodations to suit any budget (though they book fast!). General tourism guidance can be found at HammockCoastSC.com and VisitMyrtleBeach.com.

The majority of events for the weekend will be held in Murrells Inlet at Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park. If you want to stay nearby, when searching for accommodations, we recommend searching in the 29576 zip code. 

If you are considering an accommodation and would like advice about it before booking, please email grandstrand@scnps.org with any questions.

Hotels

• The Oceanfront Litchfield Inn
• Hampton Inn Pawleys Island
• Murrells Inlet Willow Lodge
• You can also search your preferred booking platform (hotels.com, expedia, booking.com, trivago, kayak, etc.) or favorite hotel chain for hotels near Murrells Inlet (29576 zip code).

Private Vacation Rentals

• airbnb.com
• vrbo.com
• There are also many vacation rental management companies throughout the Grand Strand that you can book from directly; we recommend doing an internet search for vacation rentals near Murrells Inlet (29576).

Camping

• Myrtle Beach State Park has tent and RV spots situated in a beautiful maritime forest with easy access to the beach.
• Huntington Beach State Park campsites usually book up many months in advance and finding a spot may be unlikely.
• Ocean Lakes Campground
• Lakewood Camping Resort
• PirateLand Family Camping Resort
• Myrtle Beach KOA Resort
• There are many other private campground options located within driving distance; feel free to email us if you have any questions.