On December 20, SCWF held a POWR+ Quail Hunt at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe in McCormick, South Carolina. POWR stands for our Palmetto Outdoors Women Retreat, and POWR+ classes like these are one-day workshops held across the state to help women build upon the skills learned at the retreat.
We were thrilled that our Board Member Hunter Morton and his wife Hope Morton were able to lead this hunt for us. Hunter and Hope are experienced, avid quail hunters. They are the owners of ALL IN Kennels, where they train bird dogs and offer obedience training, so we were lucky to have such knowledgeable instructors. Their friend, Colby, also joined us as a guide.
Ten women joined us for this hunt, and it was the first quail hunt for most participants. After a lunch of delicious venison burgers, a SCDNR Game Warden delivered a safety talk and answered questions. Then Hunter, Hope, and Colby demonstrated the quail hunting procedures so that everyone would feel safe and comfortable in the woods. While the birds were being placed, Hope shared her experiences growing up hunting with her family and talked about being a woman in the upland hunting space.
The group then divided up into two groups of five and headed into the woods for the hunt! It was a joy to get to watch the dogs find the quail. The teamwork with the dogs, all German Shorthaired Pointers, was a special part of the day.
At the end of the hunt, the groups met back up to share stories from their experience and Hunter showed the participants how to clean their harvest before everyone headed home.
We are grateful to our sponsor, the National Shooting Sports Foundation! Because of their support, all participants received an orange/camo Richardson hat, a safety vest, and Ear/eye protection.
SCWF lost a dear friend over the weekend – Dan Turpin was the founder of the Women’s Outdoor Recreation Retreats (now known as Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreats/POWR) and was our fearless Retreat leader for decades.
Dan was passionate about the program because he knew many women didn’t otherwise have the opportunity to learn outdoor skills. The program had such demand that we’d fill 200 spots in a matter of hours and have a long waiting list. With his meticulous caring effort over the years, thousands of women were introduced to outdoor recreation and gained valuable skills, in a fun and inclusive setting.
For all his work on the Women’s Outdoor Recreation Retreats, SCWF presented him with the 2006 Outdoor Ethics Conservation Award.
He will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure to know him, and by all who have benefitted from his many many hours of work for this program.
His service will be held Friday, January 9th at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home in Lexington, SC. Visitation will be at 10am, with the service at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, our family asks that you consider donating to two causes close to his heart:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research www.michaeljfox.org
and
the South Carolina Wildlife Federation www.scwf.org
I recently opened the door to my garden shed and encountered a squirrel, busily chewing away on a support beam. We were both quite surprised to see each other, and she panicked and started zigzagging all over the shed, knocking things over everywhere she went. I opened the door wider for an escape route, but she eventually escaped through the hole that she had made that morning to gain entry. As I was picking up all of the tools now strewn about, I thought about her trying to find a warm safe shelter and how all wildlife are constantly dealing with new threats while just trying to survive.
Clear-cutting with noisy machinery causes wildlife to have to venture away from their normal range, crossing dangerous roadways, with no guarantee they will find another suitable habitat. Waterways carry runoff chemicals, sediments and litter across our state. Wetlands are being filled in and built upon, and many amphibians and reptiles aren’t able to move to another area as easily as birds and mammals. Meanwhile, regulations meant to protect habitat are being dismantled.
It all seems overwhelming, but we constantly meet people who are very passionate about making a positive impact for wildlife. People like you who join with us to continue working hard to increase our impact. It might be planting native plants in your backyard, picking up litter, participating in citizen science activities, calling your representatives at the state or national level, drinking shade-grown bird-friendly coffee, using reusable grocery bags and water bottles, or other small actions which are amplified when we all work together. Of course, donating to SCWF helps us continue upholding protective regulations and working to conserve lands and waterways for wildlife habitat.
Please consider a donation now to help us continue our mission to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and their habitat through education and advocacy.
All donations stay in South Carolina, are tax-deductible and fully support our mission.
For 94 years, SCWF has offered many ways for you to connect with nature, learn new skills, and take action in your community. We hope you will join us in the coming year to increase our impact for wildlife together.
Sara Green Executive Director
Our Impact
5,000 packets of free native milkweed seeds distributed to SC households for monarch butterfly habitat conservation!
3,040+ learners reached through educational classes and trainings.
100,000+ people reached when we presented our conservation message at large-scale events such as the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic and other outreach events.
500 newly certified habitats in our state, which enhance wildlife habitat and increase connectivity, making our state #2 in the nation per capita.
142 volunteers showed up and helped with hands-on conservation projects, planting native plants, and litter sweeps.
100 high school students reached at Camp Wildwood, a summer camp that inspires the next generation of environmental stewards with its steadfast legacy in conservation and jobs in the field.
94 women acquired outdoor skills through our Palmetto Outdoors Women Retreat (POWR) series.
48 scholarship applications were received in 2025. With the help of generous donors, four were awarded to very deserving students.
49,000+ followers reached through our eNewsletter, communications, and social media posts.
6 demonstration pollinator gardens installed this year through grant funding.
Conservation
To ensure that future generations can enjoy our state’s wildlife and their habitat, every program, event, and class is imbued with our conservation message. We completed the fourth year of our Plishing Challenge, our conservation initiative designed to encourage anglers to help keep our waterways clean and use best fishing practices. This year’s challenge featured several in-person surf fishing events and litter sweeps that helped amplify our conservation message. Thanks to this increased participation, we achieved our highest fish total yet: 1,525 fish were caught (with most released for bonus points!). Participants also removed 307 bags of litter from local waterways, creating a cleaner, healthier environment for both fish and people.
2025 Plishing Challenge.
Advocacy
SCWF works with state legislators to conserve, restore, and protect land, water, and wildlife habitat from the mountains to the sea. With our support, bills were passed this year that will safeguard shorebird habitat, protect birds migrating through urban areas, and greatly increase the use of native plants for landscaping. With partner organizations, we’ve challenged developers wanting to fill in wetlands, and also challenged policy-makers to use scientific data to update regulations. We also partner with the National Wildlife Federation on issues of national significance, and are currently working together to defend the Endangered Species Act from significant changes which would strip away critical habitat protections.
Red-cockaded woodpecker by Savannah Jordan.
Restoration
SCWF helps to enhance wildlife habitat and connectivity through our habitat restoration programs, which are increasingly vital as human development expands. We support those needs through our Certified Wildlife Habitat® programs, where individuals, schools, businesses, and communities enhance their properties by planting native plants, installing nesting boxes, and making other habitat improvements to help wildlife thrive. South Carolina has 15 certified communities, 12,479 certified backyard habitats, and 27 industry habitats. Please consider creating your own to increase habitat for wildlife!
A demonstration pollinator garden was installed at the Lancaster County Library this year!
Education
To encourage outdoor recreation and a deeper appreciation of South Carolina’s incredible natural resources, SCWF proudly offers a wide range of educational programs across the state. This year, we added new statewide habitat workshops to our impressive array of naturalist courses, Palmetto Pro Birder classes, and hands-on youth education experiences. Our first Families Exploring Nature Day introduced fishing basics, birding, and nature walks to those who may be newer to outdoor experiences. This spring, we hosted our popular Palmetto Outdoors Women’s Retreat (POWR) near Clemson and continued to offer POWR+ classes statewide to build on acquired skills.
Palmetto Pro Birders at Huntington Beach State Park.
The Colleton County Zoning Board of Appeals will be considering a request this Thursday to allow a new data center on an 850+ acre property south of Walterboro off of Green Pond Highway in the ACE Basin Project Area.
SCWF, along with our partners at the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and other conservation organizations, are opposed to this request due to the impact it will have on sensitive wildlife habitat on the site as well as in the surrounding waterways.
The ACE Basin is one of the East Coast’s largest undeveloped wetland estuaries and it serves as vital habitat for migratory birds, sea turtles, and other wildlife, and offers opportunities for birding, hunting, fishing, and exploring unique natural beauty. This proposed data center, and other similar projects which may be proposed in the future, would drastically change the landscape and available habitat in the ACE Basin due to its potential water and electricity usage.
SCWF and our conservation partners are encouraging Walterboro area residents to attend the public meeting on Thursday, December 18th at 5:30 PM at the Colleton County Civic Center. The Civic Center is located at 494 Hampton Street in Walterboro.
The Zoning Board of Appeals needs to see the large number of residents who are paying attention to these decisions, and hear comments about how this project would impact your community. Please feel free to share these materials with your neighbors and encourage them to attend as well!
It will take all of us working together to protect habitat for wildlife as they face more and more threats every day across our beautiful state. Thank you for considering how you can protect wildlife and their habitat in your own community!
Blog post by Allison Bugarin, SCWF Education and Outreach Manager.
We had an incredible day exploring Huntington Beach State Park together! Winter birding along South Carolina’s coast never disappoints, but this trip delivered something truly special.
From the moment we stepped onto the woods to the last views leaving the park, we were surrounded by nonstop wildlife activity and unforgettable moments. Birds may have been our focus, but the park treated us to an outstanding mix of species—both feathered and not. We enjoyed amazing looks at saltmarsh sparrows! Some other species that we got great looks at were common loons, American white pelicans, green-winged teal, and a beautifully camouflaged Wilson’s snipe.
Image caption: Saltmarsh sparrow taken by a class participant.
Image caption: American white pelican taken by a class participant.
Beyond the birds, we were also lucky to encounter several fantastic non-bird species. A green sea turtle surfaced near the jetty, offering an unforgettable moment for everyone watching. A couple of minks darted in and out of the rocks along the jetty, and one of the largest Atlantic ghost crabs I’ve seen made an appearance on the beach on our walk back from the jetty.
Image Caption: Wood stork by John Martin.
Image caption: Great blue heron photo taken by a class participant.
As if the day needed anything more, a few participants even caught a glimpse of a roosting Eastern Screech-Owl on their way out of the park! This was a perfect ending to an already magical outing.
Thanks to everyone’s sharp eyes and enthusiasm, we wrapped up the day with 79 species for the day. From waterfowl to songbirds, the diversity of habitats at Huntington Beach State Park gave us an incredible variety to enjoy.
Image caption: Wilson’s snipe by John Martin.
SCWF would like to say special thank you to Irvin Pitts for sharing his expertise and guidance throughout the trip. Birding alongside him was a rare treat, and we were incredibly fortunate to have his knowledge and sharp eyes with us for the day. Thank you to everyone who joined this trip. Your energy, curiosity, and camaraderie made the day truly memorable. I hope you enjoyed the experience as much as I did, and I can’t wait to see you again on our next adventure!
Image Credit: Atlantic ghost crab by Allison Bugarin.
This trip is part of our Palmetto ProBirder Program, which is at the heart of what we do at the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. By combining outdoor adventure, connection with others, and hands-on learning, we hope to inspire more people to become advocates for healthy wildlife habitats. Each time someone logs a bird sighting, plants a native plant, or supports conservation through a Duck Stamp or donation, it adds up to real and lasting change for the landscapes and species we love.
SCWF and other conservation groups are working to ensure that new housing developments conserve critical wildlife habitat and protect residents from increased flooding. The commentary below by Coastal Conservation League founder, Dana Beach, describes the almost 10,000-acre proposed Cainhoy development in Charleston, near the Francis Marion National Forest. Not only will it significantly increase traffic headaches, it will destroy nearly 200 acres of wetlands which offer critical habitat as well as protection from flooding.
One of my first experiences visiting the Cainhoy community was in the mid-1980s when I drove out to eat supper at a Cajun restaurant called La Tasha’s. The trip took more than an hour from downtown Charleston — across the old Cooper River Bridge, through Mount Pleasant, up Highway 41, across the Wando River, and then down Cainhoy Road to a modest white building beside a peaceful road in the forest.
At the time, I could not have imagined that within a few decades the Cainhoy peninsula would be practically destroyed — paved over by sprawling development enabled by the city of Charleston.
Thirty-five years ago, this peninsula, just to the northeast of historic Charleston, was a remote, authentic and beautiful place: Its people and culture were carefully documented by Charleston journalist and author Herb Frazier in “Behind God’s Back,” a collection of historical notes and personal interviews. Picture majestic live oaks and longleaf pine forests, farm fields, marshes and creeks, interspersed with historic Gullah communities such as Yellow House, St. Thomas and Jack Primus.
For more than a century, Cainhoy residents had made their living mostly from the land and water, farming and raising livestock, or fishing and oystering in the creeks and marshes of the Cooper and Wando rivers. Despite the challenges of life in those days, Cainhoy residents built strong families and resilient communities that have contributed to the Charleston area in countless ways.
Sadly, Charleston has not repaid the favor. Today’s Cainhoy peninsula would be unrecognizable to anyone whose last visit was in 1990. The historic Clements Ferry Road is now a five-lane highway lined with strip malls, gas stations and subdivisions.
Instead of navigating rivers, creeks and familiar roads, residents wade through immobilizing traffic congestion every weekday morning and afternoon.
If today’s traffic problems on the Cainhoy peninsula seem almost intolerable, they don’t begin to approximate the disruption that will plague the area in the coming years. As development progresses on Cainhoy Plantation — now called Point Hope — it will add 9,000 more houses to the peninsula. Clements Ferry Road and Highway 41 will be further burdened by 45,000 to 60,000 additional vehicle trips daily, tripling the number of cars on these roads now.
The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments transportation model of the road system is bleak and unequivocal: When Point Hope is built out, these roads will operate at what transportation planners call “Level of Service F.” In lay terms, this means gridlock.
It didn’t have to turn out this way.
In 1991, Charleston Mayor Joe Riley moved to annex Daniel Island into the city. Five years later, the owners agreed to let the city annex the considerably larger Cainhoy Plantation, extending to the border of the Francis Marion National Forest.
The owners were enticed with lavish public subsidies. According to a spokesperson from Daniel Island, “In excess of $250 million has been committed (in the area) by city, county and the state in terms of schools here, the roads, the bridges, water and sewer, public safety and all of those things.”
Perhaps most importantly, Charleston signed a contract with the Guggenheims that restricted the city from substantially modifying the Cainhoy Plantation plan for 50 years. The agreement included the right to build 18,000 houses and condominiums on the property. Thus, the stage was set for the wholesale transformation of one of the most beautiful and historic places in the Southeast.
While the future of Daniel Island was the subject of years of public hearings and benefited from the expertise of some of the nation’s most talented land planners, Cainhoy was afforded no such careful attention. Unlike Daniel Island, the Cainhoy owners began dismembering the property, selling it piecemeal to national tract homebuilders such as Pulte Homes.
For more than two decades conservation groups, along with courageous residents of the Cainhoy community, have advocated for improvements to the development plan that would reduce the crush of traffic and lessen some of the environmental and cultural damage.
The recent protection of Blessing plantation, just up the river, provides an inspirational example of land owners working collaboratively with the community, local government and environmental groups to secure a beautiful destination for centuries to come. In contrast, the Guggenheim family and their development company have consistently rejected virtually every conservation proposal.
It is critical that citizens understand that the unfolding Cainhoy catastrophe was not inevitable nor is it irreversible. There is still time for City Council to make substantial changes to the Cainhoy-Point Hope project — changes that are justified by the threat the development poses to public health, safety and welfare.
But time is of the essence. The fate of the Cainhoy peninsula hangs in the balance.
Dana Beach is a longtime conservation leader who lives in Charleston.
On the hunt: South Carolina is wild about game by Becky Lacy was published in the Charleston City Paper on November 13, 2025.
Be it deer, duck or quail, hundreds of thousands of South Carolinians hunt annually. It’s a way of life for many. And the vast majority of those who hunt do so for the meat.
Whether preparing duck in a restaurant kitchen or raising birds at the country’s largest quail farm, hunting is intrinsic for many in South Carolina.
A lifelong love of duck
River Hill, executive chef at Charleston’s Honeysuckle Rose, grew up in Florence where he spent a lot of time outside. Whether exploring the woods behind his house or fishing and camping at one of the area’s rivers, he loves the land.
“Connecting with nature has always been an integral part of my life,” he said. “My love of duck hunting started at a very young age as it was something that my dad and I did together. It almost felt like a special event.”
Image Credit: Early Teachings by Donna Brookshire.
Since duck season in South Carolina only lasts for about two months each year, he recalls spending most of the year looking forward to the next season. He and his dad would wake up at 4 a.m. and be in the woods an hour later, waiting for the ducks to fly over. Sometimes they would bring home ducks and prepare them for breakfast with bacon and cheddar grits. And sometimes they wouldn’t see a single bird fly. But the outcome didn’t matter.
“There’s something truly humbling about being immersed in nature, especially when everything is dark and quiet around you,” Hill said. “Even more so when you’re experiencing the moment with people you love. I learned it’s more important to appreciate the time spent together than what you’re trying to hunt.”
Image Credit: Minding our Business by Tammie Miller.
Now at the helm of the Honeysuckle Rose kitchen, he said he feels a great responsibility serving duck.
“I think, if you are going to take an animal’s life, you should pay it the respect it deserves by using every part of it,” Hill shared. “Since I started cooking, butchery has always interested me. Using technique and knowledge of anatomy, you can turn every part of an animal into an ingredient in a recipe that not only feeds people, but makes them happy.”
While breast and leg meat are the most frequently used parts of a duck, Hill said he finds creative ways to use the whole animal to make sure nothing goes to waste. One of his favorite parts of being a chef is getting imaginative with parts that people aren’t really used to eating.
He takes the liver and sweats it down with aromatics like shallot, garlic and thyme. He emulsifies it with cream and butter for a duck liver mousse. He then serves the mousse with a watermelon rind mostarda, grilled sourdough and fresh herbs. He also uses the neck to make a roulade and the feet and wings as the base of a flavorful stock in his duck confit and buttermilk dumplings dish.
While Hill can make magic out of any part of a duck, it is duck breast that he loves cooking most. He starts it in a cold cast iron pan and slowly renders the fat. Once the fat is mostly out and the skin starts to brown, he turns the heat up to crisp the skin before basting the duck in its own fat.
“Cooking duck breast is similar to cooking fish,” Hill said. “You want to do about 90% of the cooking on one side then flip it right at the end. After flipping, I throw in a good knob of butter, some thyme and a couple of smashed garlic cloves. As the butter browns and gets foamy, I keep basting. It adds so much flavor.”
Hill’s love of game is lifelong, both in the woods and in the kitchen. “I absolutely love working with wild game,” he said. “You can really taste the terroir and what the animal’s diet consisted of. A lot of people have certain preconceived notions about what wild game animals are going to taste like, and I love the challenge of presenting a wild game dish in a way that is approachable and delicious.”
Quail yeah
Manchester Farms outside of Columbia was founded in 1974 by Bill Odom. It was the first quail farm in the United States and today remains one of the largest quail producers in the country. The second-generation, family-owned farm is now owned and operated by Odom’s daughter and her husband, Brittney and Matt Miller.
Manchester raises Pharaoh quail, a breed that originated in Asia. These birds are adaptable to a farm environment and are less susceptible to disease. They grow from chick to full-sized adult in just five weeks, and the females can produce up to 300 eggs per year. Manchester breeds, hatches, raises and harvests around 3 million birds annually.
Image Credit: Someone Call Bobwhite by James Edwards.
“When my dad was asked to interview with a company in the early 1970s, they flew him to New Jersey,” said Brittney. “At the end of the interview, he asked ‘how long is your hunting season?’ They responded, ‘two weeks’ and he replied, ‘Thank you for your time and flew home.’
“That’s when my dad started Manchester Farms. He is an avid quail hunter and started dressing quail in our backyard for neighbors almost 55 years ago. Game and South Carolina are yin and yang. Much of South Carolina’s population is largely hunters or their family members hunt.
“Protecting the land from being overdeveloped to protect the nature and game of South Carolina is critical. Manchester Farms is deeply rooted with game as that is our heritage and our love for hunters and DNR (the S.C.Department of Natural Resources).”
Today, food service companies are big buyers of quail meat. Top-tier distributors like Sysco, US Foods, Shamrock and smaller specialty businesses carry Manchester Farms quail.
Due to the health benefits of quail eggs, there has been huge mainstream growth for the product. Quail eggs are rich in protein, vitamins (A, B12 and D) and minerals like iron, selenium and zinc. They also have antioxidants and essential fatty acids. All these components help boost immunity, strengthen bone health, regulate blood sugar and improve brain function and eye health. Quail eggs and meat truly are superfoods.
Quail season in South Carolina lasts from late fall and into winter, starting the Monday before Thanksgiving and running until March 1. While people still hunt wild quail, there are very few wild birds in the state. Manchester often ships frozen quail to hunting camps to serve to guests so hunters can take home any wild birds they shoot.
Quail is versatile in the kitchen. While fried quail is very popular, you can also grill, bake and sauté it, similar to how you would treat other poultry. And if cooking quail at home isn’t for you, Manchester Farms product can be found at some of Charleston’s best restaurants including The Glass Onion, Halls Chophouse, Husk and Lowland.
Conservation, education and licensing
Sara Green is the executive director of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF), founded in 1931 by hunters and anglers who were concerned about the impact that humans were having on wildlife habitat. It’s the state’s oldest conservation group. Green worries that that the decline of any wildlife population is habitat loss. The clear-cutting of land as well as air and water pollution contribute to habitat loss, and SCWF actively works to conserve land and enhance wildlife habitat.
Photo of Sara Green by Ashley Medlin.
“In South Carolina, and across the country, sportsmen were responsible for starting the conservation movement and pressing for hunting regulations based on science to protect game species from over-harvest,” Green said. “Ensuring that future generations would also be able to hunt and fish was a major motivating factor.”
Green noted hunters still play a significant role in conservation efforts. They buy hunting licenses and tags, and pay taxes on related equipment, which means considerable funding for state wildlife management. This, in turn, supports habitat restoration, research and land acquisition for wildlife preservation. The impact from conservation dollars from hunters for habitat management far outweighs the harvests of individual animals, she said.
“Most South Carolina hunters are hunting for game species to use the meat to feed their families,” she said. “Deer, turkey and ducks are the main species hunted. [Hunters] greatly appreciate the opportunity to carry on a tradition that often goes back several generations, and also to connect with the land, notice the birds, squirrels and plants, observe the mist on the lake as the sun rises, and just experience the peace and serenity of nature.”
Duck and dumplings
Recipe by River Hill, executive chef, Honeysuckle Rose
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
3 cloves garlic, minced (reserve scrapes for stock)
In a cold, dry cast iron pan, add the duck breasts and place over medium-low heat, allowing the fat to render slowly.
When the skin begins to crisp, turn the heat up to medium high. Using a spoon, baste the breast in its own fat.
Flip the breast. Add butter and fresh herbs and baste until the internal temperature of the duck is around 135 degrees Fahrenheit, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy to
the touch.
Remove the duck from heat. Allow to rest until internal temperature reaches
145 degrees Fahrenheit. While the breast is resting, make the dumplings.
Chef’s note: 90% of the cooking will be done on the skin side. Once flipped, pay careful attention as to not overcook.
To make the dumplings
1 cup self-rising flour
¾ cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
In a large mixing bowl, add flour, buttermilk, chives, salt and pepper. Mix until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
To finish the dish
2 tablespoons Canola oil
2 Vidalia sweet onions, small diced
3 large carrots, peeled and small diced
3 ribs celery, small diced (reserve celery leaves for garnish)
In a stock pot or Dutch oven, add oil and put over medium heat.
Add diced onion, carrots and celery and sweat until onions are translucent,
but not browned.
Add garlic and sweat until soft, add chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
Using 2 spoons, scoop a spoon full of the dumpling dough and carefully place it into the simmering duck stock. Repeat this step, one dumpling at a time, until the surface of the pot is full and there’s no more space to drop the dumplings in.
Cover the pot and let the dumplings simmer for about 8 mins or until the dumplings are slightly firm but still pillowy.
Using a spoon, push dumplings to the side and make a hole to add pulled duck confit meat into the duck stock.
Remove pot from heat. Add salt and pepper, hot sauce and fresh lemon juice to taste.
To plate and serve
Using a ladle, spoon out some of the dumplings and duck confit from the pot into desired serving bowls.
Thinly slice the duck breasts. Layer four to five slices on one side of each bowl.
To finish, roughly chop the fine herbs and celery leaves and garnish your bowl of duck and dumplings to your liking.
We are happy to welcome four new members to the SCWF Board of Directors! Jim Lee, Rebecca Dominici, Brandon Dodson and Chris Heintze gathered recently with our staff and board leadership at the SCWF office in Columbia for board orientation. We are excited about the passion, experience, and skills that this group brings to our board!
More details about our newest board members (pictured, left to right):
Jim Lee, Georgetown – recently retired from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources after 42 years of service, most recently as the education and outreach coordinator at the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center in Georgetown.
Rebecca Dominici, Kingstree – former director of marketing and foundation director at Williamsburg Regional Hospital, with years of experience in fundraising, marketing and community relations.
Brandon Dodson, Charleston – healthcare executive and strategic leader with experience in business development, stakeholder engagement, and operational growth.
Chris Heintze – district extension director for the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, oversees the Piedmont District staff and nine county offices and has experience in both public and private industry throughout his career.
This past Sunday, we gathered at Bowens Island for our annual Oyster Roast Fundraiser, and it was a wonderful afternoon! Thank you to everyone who joined us to eat fresh, delicious oysters, have good conversations, and to support our mission to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and their habitat through education and advocacy. Because Bowen’s participates in SCDNR’s oyster shell recycling program, our used oyster shells will be returned to the environment to build new reefs.
Our staff was delighted to get to meet new friends of all ages and connect with long-time supporters who all came together for this important cause: wildlife conservation in our state.
Since Bowens Island is right on the marsh, our guests were treated to a beautiful backdrop filled with wildlife. During the afternoon, guests were able to see a bevy of birds including wood storks, boat-tailed grackles, ring-billed gulls, brown pelicans, snowy egrets, little blue herons, and white ibis, while anglers were fishing in the background. A few lucky attendees even spotted a family of dolphins! This picturesque day was a great reminder of the need to keep working together to protect South Carolina’s 350,000 acres of marsh because of its incredible biodiversity and the opportunities it provides for recreation and connection to nature.
We are grateful to our sponsors for helping us increase our impact for wildlife. All donations made to SCWF, including the proceeds from this event, stay right here in the state to help our local wildlife. We hope to see everyone again next year!
On Monday, October 13, fifteen women gathered at the Wateree Range for the POWR+ Handgun Orientation, a full day of learning and hands-on experience. This one-day workshop is part of the expanded Palmetto Outdoors Women’s Retreat (POWR) program, whose mission is to offer programs that provide women of all ages with the skills needed to participate in outdoor recreation. This class fits right into that mission to help women feel confident, capable, and connected to the outdoors. Whether learning to handle a firearm, identify native wildlife, or explore new outdoor skills, every POWR+ class builds community and self-assurance.
Designed for women with little to no handgun experience, the class provided a supportive, low-stress environment to learn safe firearm handling, basic techniques, and responsible range practices.
SSgt Ray Lewis and his fellow SCDNR Conservation Officers offered classroom instruction first. SSgt Lewis’ expertise and enthusiasm helped participants feel comfortable and confident.
After learning the fundamentals, participants had the opportunity to practice on the range, exploring different handguns and putting their new skills into action.
During lunch, SCWF’s Habitat Education Manager, Savannah Jordan, shared an engaging presentation on the native wildlife and plants found around the Wateree Range. Her talk highlighted the unique connection between conservation and recreation. This reminds everyone that being outdoors safely also means being aware of and appreciating the natural world around us.
A big thank-you also goes to the SCDNR Conservation Officers whose professionalism and encouragement made this class such an unforgettable experience.
The POWR+ Handgun Orientation was more than just a pre-CWP class. It was an empowering, hands-on introduction to firearm safety, confidence, and community. Events like this capture the heart of the POWR initiative: helping women build skills, confidence, and a lifelong connection to the outdoors.
Thank you to the National Shooting Sports Foundation for sponsoring this event! All participants received a safety vest, ear and eye protection, a stylish orange/camo Richardson hat, and lunch.
SCWF lost a dear friend over the weekend – Dan Turpin was the founder of the Women’s Outdoor Recreation Retreats (now known as Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreats/POWR) and was our fearless Retreat leader for decades.
