Get to know us

Our Mission

Restoring Carolina’s Roots is a student-led organization that helps young people care for South Carolina’s natural spaces. Through local projects, chapters restore native plants, address invasive species, create and maintain school gardens, and help others understand the ecosystems around them.

RCR gives students practical guidance and support to improve the places where they live and learn. By connecting chapters across the state, we turn local student action into a shared effort to protect the land we call home.

Why it matters?

South Carolina’s native plants and habitats are disappearing as invasive species continue to spread. When these spaces are lost, wildlife loses food and shelter, and communities lose the benefits of healthy, welcoming outdoor spaces.

Healthy environments help build healthier communities by creating cleaner, greener places to live, learn, and spend time outdoors. RCR gives students a practical way to protect these spaces and leave their schools and communities better than they found them.

woman wearing black scoop-neck long-sleeved shirt

Aarya Sundhar Mortha

Founder

Meet our Founders

Shivam Shukla

Founder

What do we do?

RCR chapters lead student-driven projects that restore native habitats, improve school green spaces, and support healthier communities across South Carolina.

Plant native species and improve spaces that support pollinators and birds.

Restore Native Habitat

Grow and Care for School Gardens

Build a Healthier Carolina

Create and maintain native gardens, pollinator gardens, vegetable gardens, and other student-managed green spaces.

Explore how better environments with shade, clean air, green spaces, and clean outdoors contribute to healthier communities and support community well-being.

Learn what is growing locally and take part in supervised, property-approved removal projects.

Address Invasive Plants

Study and Share Local Ecosystems

Learn about native and invasive species, keep track of your chapter’s projects, and share information with our local community.