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2017 Successes & Looking Toward 2018

December 27, 2017

Your tax-deductible gift today will give us an important boost as we look to make 2018 the best year in our history!


As we leave 2017, our hope for 2018 is that we can continue to grow more effective in boldly representing ALL outdoor
enthusiasts. We have been working hard to plan for the new year, and those plans center around reaching new members of
all types of backgrounds. We are working on debuting new events to bring supporters together, strengthening our forces
and making us unstoppable in the fight for conservation and advocacy.

2017 was a very successful year for SCWF – we expanded our outreach programs, and added popular and exciting new events.
We reached nearly 7,000 people this year through classes, presentations, exhibit tables, and special events. We are
already planning even more exciting programs for 2018!

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we rely on individual donors for a substantial portion of our operating budget.
Although we are affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation, all funds raised stay in South Carolina.


We need your support today as we begin to make plans for 2018!

Please click here to donate online today!

The mission of the SCWF is to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and wildlife habitat through education
and advocacy.  

Conservation & Education Program Successes of 2017:


Certified Wildlife Habitats
– 
Hundreds of new backyard habitats have been certified statewide at homes, schools,
businesses and other places throughout the community which provide food, water, cover & places to raise young for
wildlife. SC is a leader in the nation in the number of certified sites per capita!

Junior Naturalist Program – Partnered with Camp
Discovery and the Midlands Master Naturalist Association to plan nature walks and activities for kids to learn more
about wildlife.

Longleaf Pine Restoration – Through our
landowner cost-share and technical assistance program, we have already aided in the enhancement or restoration of over
10,000 acres of longleaf pine. This program fosters sustainable forestry practices and re-establishes valuable habitat
for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, as well as important habitat for deer, turkey, and quail.

Midlands Master Naturalist – The Spring
2017 class filled quickly and twenty students completed 12 days of instruction. Our graduates have now joined the
Midlands Master Naturalist Association for continuing education & volunteer service. The Spring 2018 class has also
filled, and more quickly than ever!


Milkweed for Monarchs – Distributed
over 2,000 packets of milkweed seeds for gardeners to re-establish habitat for Monarchs through planting of this crucial
food source for the caterpillars.

Naturalist Training Classes – New one-day classes
were added to give folks a glimpse of the Master Naturalist experience. We also had certified Master Naturalists from
around the state who counted these hours for Advanced Training requirements.

Community Wildlife Habitats – Two new
communities are pursuing registration along with a handful of coastal communities already registered and/or certified.

Palmetto Pro Birder – Added two new instructors
– Tim Lee & Steve Patterson – who joined Dr. Drew Lanham in leading classes about bird identification all across the
state.  Over 200 people have been trained to identify birds and participate in citizen science projects to gather data
for bird conservation programs.


Women’s Outdoor Retreat – Registration
filled super early again this year! 180 women registered in just under 1 week to participate in this annual weekend
event. We had 40 instructors who enthusiastically volunteered to come and share their passion and expertise.

Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) – Received
funding for 4 new WAIT sites during 2017, bringing our total to 33 certified industrial properties which provide quality
wildlife habitat, environmental education for employees, and outreach to their communities.

Advocacy Achievements in 2017:


Seismic blast exploration and offshore oil drilling – The
Trump Administration has put South Carolina and other South Atlantic states back on the chopping block, so our wildlife
and coastal way of life are again in jeopardy from seismic test blasting and offshore oil development. Along with
thousands of other South Carolinians, we will not rest until the southeast coast is declared off-limits to the oil and
gas industry – forever.

SC Conservation Bank – The Bank will expire in 2018 unless
we rally the troops and succeed with new legislation. The Bank has overwhelming public support, and we will remind
legislators of its merits in upcoming months.

Science-Based Conservation – We are continuing SCWF’s
legacy of insisting that science, not politics, remain at the forefront in decisions affecting our wildlife.

Clean and Abundant Water – Some of our most cherished
rivers and associated groundwater systems last summer saw large volume reductions. We will continue to insist that the
state legislature plug the loopholes in the current law that allow large agriculture withdrawals.

Public Lands – Lands owned by all of us and enjoyed by tens
of millions each year are under attack by misguided elected and unelected officials in DC. We are working with the
National Wildlife Federation and partners in-state to keep public lands in public hands and resist efforts to exploit
national forests, parks and monuments.

Your financial support is needed at this time to help us
continue these great successes and expand in 2018.
Please click here to
donate online today!
THANK YOU for your support!!
Photos courtesy of: Bill Varney, Sharon Piccione, Sue Lewis, Joan Eckhardt, Amanda Johnson, Tina
Vita/Troop 1126, Sara Green, Laurie Walden, Roberto R. Adam, and Michelle Fyles

The Mission of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation is to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and
wildlife habitat through education and advocacy. SCWF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit citizens’ conservation organization
governed by an elected Board of Directors. Although affiliated with National Wildlife Federation, SCWF receives its
support directly through its donors. Funds raised are used in South Carolina.

Invest in our state’s future,
invest in SCWF .

From planned giving to annual support, we appreciate your generous tax-deductible donations. Please join us!


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