Keep South Carolina Wild

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Irmo Middle School wins award for environmental education!

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Irmo Middle School, in Lexington-Richland 5 School District, earned their third superlative award as the 2024 Conserve School of the Year (2024). The school has a green house and a monarch butterfly garden. Last year they were named a Restore School of the Year and in 2019 were named they were named the Overall School of the Year.

“It’s an incredible honor to be named the 2024 Conserve School of the Year,” Irmo Middle School Principal Mansa Joseph said. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of amazing teachers and students. We continue to be committed to nurturing a deep connection with nature and fostering environmental stewardship in our students. Together, we will continue to inspire future generations to lead with a sense of responsibility and care for our planet. Thank you for believing in our mission and supporting our journey toward a more sustainable future. Our goal is that we continue to believe, collaborate and be consistent towards our vision.”

The Green Steps program encourages individual schools in South Carolina to take annual steps toward becoming more environmentally responsible. Developed by Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB), Sonoco Recycling (SR) and DHEC’s Office of Recycling, Green Steps began in the 2003-2004 school year with seven Midlands school participating. To compete, schools need to document model quality projects for all of the following:

·         Conserve projects include smart energy use and saving natural resources by reducing, reusing and recycling.

·         Protect projects improve air and water quality.

·         Restore projects enhance soil and habitat.

POWR + Shooting Experience

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Our POWR+ Shooting Experience participants had an incredible day at DNR’s Wateree Range in Eastover on Monday, August 19th! The participants were welcomed by BeBe Dalton Harrison, SCWF’s Director of Education. Before heading to the range, the day started with a thorough safety talk by the SCDNR officers.


The class split into two groups of four and headed out to try riflery or shotgun. At the riflery range, each participant had the opportunity to shoot three riffles. The officers were provided instruction on how to use each gun and were patient and knowledgeable instructors.






After the first shooting session, the participants headed back to the classroom to gather for lunch and a presentation by SCWF’s Habitat Education Manager, Savannah Jordan. She covered wildlife that can be seen on the range such as woodpeckers, snakes, and even songbirds. And, there is more to see than you might expect! For example, this beautiful indigo bunting was on the riflery range before the shooting started for the day.

Image Credit: Indigo Bunting by Savannah Jordan.


After the lunch break, the two groups switched. Those who shot rifles in the morning, got to move to shotguns in the afternoon and vice versa. Check out these photos of ladies shooting at clay targets!






Please check out these additional photos from the day!














August eNewsletter

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Want to be the first to know about our events, classes, and volunteer opportunties? Sign up
here to receive our monthly eNewsletter in your inbox.

Although August can be very hot, fish are still biting, and deer season opens later this month! Queen Anne’s lace and cardinal flowers bloom in August, and you can pick ripe muscadines. Many of our songbirds are undergoing the molting process, replacing their worn and damaged feathers with new ones.

SCWF is devoted to helping wildlife thrive in our state, and there are many ways you can become involved with us! Support our mission by taking a class, enjoying fine dining, joining the Plishing Challenge, by volunteering, or by donating.

Wild Summer Nights Online Auction

Thank YOU to the item donors, bidders, donors, and sponsors of the 2024 Wild Summer Nights Online Auction for making this our most successful auction yet! We raised $92,280 to support our wildlife and habitat conservation and education programs.

Forks, Knives, & Spoonbills Conservation Dinner 

Wednesday, September 25

The Willcox in Aiken

Image Credit:
Feathered Flock by Candace Thibeault.

Join us for a multi-course, wine-paired conservation dinner at
The Willcox in Aiken featuring dishes inspired by imperiled bird species created by Executive Chef Philip Friesen. As each course is served, SCWF Industry Habitat Manager Jay Keck will share information about each species and the conservation efforts needed to help them thrive. Thank you to our event sponsor, Security Federal Bank, and RNDC Wine, our wine sponsor.

POWR Up: Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreat

Santee, SC

October 4 – 5, 2024

Save the date! Registration opens
August 12 at 12:00 pm for POWR Up, an overnight retreat in Santee that offers the opportunity to learn outdoor recreation skills in a non-competitive environment. There are three class sessions, which are three hours each. Each participant will leave the classes feeling confident and ready to try their new skills on their own.

Register here: https://www.scwf.org/events/2024powr-up

POWR+ Education Classes

Due to the demand for our Palmetto Outdoors Women Retreat or POWR, we have added (+) one-day workshops across the state. POWR+ events are open to all women whether you have attended the retreat or have yet to do so. Check out our 2024 fall offerings below, and register quickly if you are interested in joining us because each class is limited to 12 participants to ensure a quality experience.


SCWF’s Plishing Challenge

through August 31

It’s not too late to register for the Plishing Challenge. This statewide conservation initiative is designed to keep the public engaged with fishing and to help keep our waterways clean by using best fishing practices, picking up litter, and, of course, catching fish! The overall Plishing Challenge winners in
each category will receive a $500 gift card to Palmetto State Armory at the end of the month, so get ready to win!

Register here: https://www.scwf.org/plishing

Spiders of September

Goodale State Park

Thursday, September 5 or Thursday, September 12

Join Austin Jenkins, who teaches and facilitates the popular Midlands Master Naturalist class, to learn about spiders! Some call them “creepy” and some call them “cool.” Either way, spiders are infinitely interesting, and this workshop is designed to help you discover some the amazing attributes that make them so. The day will include a close-up view of spider morphology, analyzing the features that make spider life a success.

Click on the links below to register!

Thursday, September 5, Spiders of September

Thursday, September 12, Spiders of September

Volunteer Day: Litter Sweep

Archer’s Lake in Irmo

Saturday, September 14, 10 am – 1 pm

SCWF is partnering with the Harbison Community Association and Keep Midlands Beautiful for a litter sweep at Archer’s Lake on Saturday, September 14. Archer’s Lake can be a great place for wintering waterfowl, but unfortunately it can also be filled with a significant amount of litter. Please join us to make Archer’s Lake a safer home for wildlife and people.

https://www.scwf.org/events/2024-9-14-archers-lake-litter-sweep

News & Notes

  • Haig Point on Daufuskie Island was recently certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat! Read about their celebration and the many ways they help wildlife in our
    blog post.

  • Camp Wildwood has an impressive seventy year tradition of inspiring conservationists and
    this year’s camp continued that legacy.

  • Savannah Jordan, SCWF’s Habitat Education Manager, recently helped the Richland Library Ballentine celebrate Pollinator Week with a
    presentation on South Carolina’s native pollinators.

  • Sara Green (SCWF Executive Director) and Rosemary Martin-Jones (SCWF Board Member & Affiliate Representative)
    attended the NWF Annual Meeting held in Washington, DC.

  • US Silica in Lexington is one of our more recent additions to the Wildlife And Industry Together or WAIT Program. SCWF would like to congratulate them on providing critical habitat for many of SC’s species in this unique part of our state, and for the educational opportunities they provide to college students.

    Support + Shop

    With fall right around the corner, you may be thinking about exploring South Carolina once the weather cools off. If so, order a signed copy of
    Wild South Carolina, compiled by a mother-daughter team of naturalists! It delves into the most intriguing outdoor destinations, offering advice on
    how, when, and where to experience the state’s ecological treasures.

WAIT Partner Update: U.S. Silica Company

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U.S. Silica, in Lexington county, SC, is one of our more recent additions to the Wildlife And Industry Together Program, or WAIT program. U.S. Silica provides excellent habitat for sandhills species. Open areas on the property provide nesting and hunting opportunities for birds like the American kestrel, painted bunting, and many owl species, including the Eastern screech owl – a declining species. Discussions were had about providing nest boxes for barn owls on the property due to giant swaths of land that would be ideal for this open-habitat specialist. Besides beautiful birds, reptiles like the Eastern glass lizard and Eastern fence lizard can be observed, sometimes quite abundantly, in sandhill habitat similar to what is found on US Silica’s property.


Image Captions L to R: Eastern fence lizard and Eastern glass lizard by Jay Keck.

Shorebirds find food on large shallow ponds on the property during migration to and from their breeding grounds. Industry Habitat Manager, Jay Keck, will be joining a group of bird experts this month to take a survey of what shorebird species are being supported on the property during fall migration. The data will be recorded and could be used to enhance the property’s habitat to help more species in the future.


Finally, during a recent field trip focused on the environment and sustainability, environmental and engineering majors from SC State University visited the plant to learn about the resources utilized for their processes and how they are managed. They also learned how US Silica reuses the water, how they recycle products such as oils and chemicals used on machinery, and how they work with DHEC on environmental reporting and testing. Thank you, U.S. Silica, for providing critical habitat for many of SC’s species in this unique part of our state, and thank you for teaching the next generation of environmentalists and engineers how a corporation can reach its production and sustainability goals through leadership and vision.

SC State University enviromental and engineering majors visting US Silica.

Why WAIT?

SCWF Partners with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities for their employees and communities. Read more about the WAIT Program, and how to join here.

2024 Wild Summer Night’s Online Auction is a tremendous success!

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Thank you for helping SCWF Keep SC Wild by bidding in our annual fundraising auction!

This year’s auction raised $92,280 in support of our education and conservation programs, making it our most sucessful auction to date. We are grateful to all our bidders and those who helped spread the word by sharing our social media posts, emails, or by telling a friend.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Auction Blog Post: A Fresh Face for Fundraising

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By Payton Potter, Fundraising Assistant.

I recently had the incredible opportunity to work on the South Carolina Wildlife Federation’s (SCWF) Wild Summer Nights Online Auction, held from July 19th to July 21st, 2024. This annual event has become a beloved tradition, raising essential funds to support SCWF’s diverse array of programs and initiatives. This year, we were able to offer an exciting array of items, from unique outdoor experiences to beautiful handcrafted goods. Seeing the community come together to support our cause was truly heartwarming.

Working on the Wild Summer Nights Online Auction was an incredibly rewarding experience! As the fundraising assistant, I had the unique opportunity to connect with many of our donors and hear their stories. One particular highlight was how enthusiastic many of our returning donors were and their willingness to contribute to our wildlife conservation mission. It was moments like this that allowed me to see firsthand the dedication and passion of our supporters. It gave me a backstage view of how much work it takes from our staff, donors, and members to help preserve South Carolina’s beautiful outdoors!

Image Caption: Payton Payton is working toward her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies at the University of South Carolina.

Image Caption: The Whistlers by Larissa Lord.

It takes a lot to organize such a large auction especially in a big state like South Carolina. There were a lot of color coded spreadsheets, emailing, phone calls, and item sorting this summer. It sounds a little silly but one of the highlights was receiving donations in the mail addressed to me and adding them to the collection. We were lucky enough to receive over 130 items from donors all over the state! Fundraising for a nonprofit is not for the faint of heart, but it was extremely rewarding to see all the hard work pay off to raise nearly $92,000!

Overall, it takes a village and it was wonderful to be a part of SCWF’s network for the summer. I feel incredibly lucky for all the opportunities this summer as a fundraising assistant and to have worked closely under strong women here at SCWF.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s event, and a special thank you to all our donors. Your support makes all the difference!

To view the list of auction item donors, click here.

Haig Point on Daufuskie Island Celebrates Certification as a Community Wildlife Habitat

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Haig Point was recently certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat! As the 15th Certified Community Wildlife Habitat in our state, Haig Point has joined over 300 other communities across the nation making a difference for wildlife. Located on the southernmost sea island of South Carolina, the Haig Point Community is set amongst the majestic moss-draped live oaks and pristine beaches of Daufuskie Island. Residents and visitors enjoy the uninterrupted sounds of nature as they travel around the island by electric golf-carts instead of cars, far from the noise of motors, horns, and traffic. This bridgeless island is a unique coastal ecosystem, and once you arrive by boat or ferry, you instantly find out why.










The island is home to a large rookery of nesting egrets and wood storks, and you can spot fox squirrels and white-tailed deer munching on acorns. As a threatened species, loggerhead sea turtles nest along the shores during the summer months. Supporting an abundant diversity of wildlife, insects, plants, and marine life, the wooded areas, lush marshes, and beaches are critical habitats that residents of the island are dedicated to protecting.

Oyster Reef Restoration

Volunteers and community members joined together with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources SCORE (South Carolina Oyster Recycling Enhancement Program) to complete the island’s first oyster reef build in 2017. These living reefs protect the salt marsh and estuaries, while also helping to naturally reverse beach erosion, improve water quality, and create habitat for marine life. After a second build in 2022, healthy waves of spartina grass have established and become a living shoreline, supporting hundreds of species from small invertebrates to blue crabs and redfish.

South Carolina contains half a million acres of salt marsh, more than any of the other Atlantic states, but many coastal residents are concerned about the heavy amount of erosion as tides rise higher with more intense storms. Oyster reefs act as natural barriers against these threats, reducing the amount of shoreline that gets washed away and creating a more resilient coast. The community of Haig Point has constructed three oyster reefs on the island and plans to install more.

Daufuskie Island Turtle Team

About 4 miles long, Daufuskie Island’s beach provides nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles. The Daufuskie Turtle Patrol staff must check the tide each morning before venturing onto the beach because at high tide, some areas are impassable. Having experienced heavy erosion, many nesting areas have washed away. Abandoned beach homes have succumbed to the rising tides, and exposed roots from large, dead oak trees make navigating the beach difficult.

The island currently has around 60 nests and several of them started hatching in July. Led by volunteers, the many tasks of the turtle patrol team include documenting turtle tracks seen in the sand, marking nests, and placing protective covering over nests to prevent predators like ghost crabs, racoons, and armadillos from eating the eggs.








An Ocean-front Celebration






The community held a celebration at the Haig Point Beach Club on July 12th with residents and many other stakeholders who were involved with the certification process. Haig Point earned this impressive certification by certifying properties including homes, parks, farms, businesses, and government buildings on the island as Certified Wildlife Habitats. SCWF staff were honored to be a part of the ceremony, and Sara Green, SCWF Executive Director, spoke at the reception. SCWF’s Habitat Education Manager, Savannah Jordan, also spoke and presented the community’s certificate to Don Hunter, CEO of Haig Point. Lauren Hunt, the Brand Manager for Haig Point, oversees communication to its residents through the publishing of community newsletters and posting to social media. Lauren has been integral in the community’s certification, having digitized huge stacks of paper notes written by former habitat team members and promoting events that bring the whole community together to help wildlife. In partnership with the Daufuskie Island Conservancy, Haig Point hosts a biannual Beach Sweep in the spring and fall to help keep litter under control. Free educational events are available to the island’s residents and visitors that engage the community in creating wildlife habitat and protecting special species, including recent presentations on loggerhead sea turtles, salt marsh habitats, manatees, and butterflies.

Haig Point earned the name “Guardian of the Sea” by the Palmetto Ocean Conservancy in 2018 due to the Beach Club’s efforts to eliminate plastic straws, incorporate recyclable and reusable cups, change lights on buildings to LED lighting, and these other “Green Initiatives”:

  • Wood duck and Eastern bluebird boxes placed throughout the community, with annual maintenance and monitoring of bluebird boxes

  • Installation of a demonstration rain garden to encourage the use of native plants in our landscapes and water conservation

  • Nature Trail educational signage throughout in several key areas throughout the property

  • Butterfly gardens and the Welcome Center, Mansion, Beach Club, and Clubhouse

  • Educational table in the Mansion to promote Environmental Committee events as well as educating Members on green practices

  • Recycling receptacles in all areas of property

To learn more about the Community Habitat Program, click here or contact Savannah Jordan at savannah@scwf.org.

Camp Wildwood 2024: Seventy years of inspiring conservationists!

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By Ari Hippensteal, SCWF Community Outreach Manager

Camp Wildwood, a conservation camp founded in 1954, continues through another year of inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards with its steadfast legacy in conservation and associated jobs. This resident-camp provides a vast variety of ways high school students can learn how to engage with the environment- whether that is continuing on with a job through affiliates of the camp such as SCDNR and the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, or simply becoming an advocate for nature in their everyday lives.

Camp Wildwood employs the best staff and counselors and allows its campers to experience a wide range of activities and career roles in ways that inspire an adventurous spirit as they explore the outdoors. From shooting to boating to wildlife, navigation and fisheries, this is a week that serves as a treasured and memorable experience. The activities, while still being incredibly fun to participate in, demonstrate real-life skills and knowledge in topics like Wildlife, Fisheries, Forestry, and Hunter Education.


The camp can be somewhat daunting in the beginning, especially for the first year campers who are in an unfamiliar setting, meeting new people, learning new skills, and navigating some of the longstanding traditions of the camp like singing Taps and kitchen duty for the first time. Campers are assigned to Niches- or assigned groups that become like families, and the bonds and friendships that are made here often carry far beyond the camp. Regardless of whether you are attending as a camper, counselor, or staff; excellence, teamwork, and a passion to be here drives actions.






“It was a privilege to be able to attend this camp and to personally get to know the next generation of environmental advocates as someone that is currently in the field. It was an opportunity I will always appreciate and will continue to hold close to my heart and gather inspiration from as I continue working. There is so much hope for the future. Places like Camp Wildwood show me that things are going to get better, and that there are so many more people across different generations who all care and are working for the same thing.

— Ari Hippensteal, SCWF Community Outreach Manager

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) is a proud sponsor of Camp Wildwood. In addition to SCWF, other sponsors include the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the Garden Club of South Carolina, the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, and South Carolina Parks and Recreation. Camp Wildwood is held annually in June at Kings Mountain State Park and you can find out more information about it by visiting https://www.campwildwoodsc.com/.

Bidding for Wildlife

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You have seen some of the amazing items and packages that are included in this year’s auction, so we wanted to take a moment to share with you WHY it is critical we reach the 2024 Wild Summer Nights Online Auction’s fundraising goal of $100,000.

Project Prothonotary photo by Tim Gray.

Did you hear the recent news that South Carolina is the fastest growing state in the nation? With such amazing wildlife and natural resources, it is no wonder that people are flocking to our beautiful state. It is now more crucial than ever that we work together to protect our state’s resources and wildlife habitats. To address these issues, SCWF must continually increase our efforts and expand our programs.

The proceeds from our auction will allow us to reach new audiences and strive to keep up with the pace of development that impacts the ability for species to thrive and survive in SC.



Beautiful Marsh by Mark Whittaker



Keck teaching a nature class



Jocassee Sunset by Ellen Haynes

All auction proceeds support our mission to conserve and restore wildlife and their habitat through education and advocacy, so get ready to place your bids to support our local wildlife. It’s free to register for the auction; use the link below to register today!

https://www.scwf.org/events/2024-wildsummerauction

Bidding tips:

  • Use the “Watch” feature to keep a close eye on items you’re interested in! Just click the star, or “Watch This Item” button on the items you’re most interested in. Then, you can click the “My Activity” button at the top of the item list to see the current bids on just the ones you want to follow.
  • Set an Auto Bid so you can go outside and enjoy nature! On any item, you can click on “Auto Bid” and enter the highest amount you want to bid. It will then bid against other bidders for you! It will only increase your bid by the next highest increment, and not go over your maximum amount. This is a great way to not stress at the end of the auction about someone outbidding you at the last minute!
  • Remember that all trips or excursions expire 1 year from now, unless otherwise specified. As a courtesy to our generous donors, please do not try to redeem an item past it’s expiration date.
  • If an item can easily be mailed, it will be sent to winning bidders shortly after the auction ends. Information to redeem trips and experiences will be emailed to you – be sure to check your junk folder also. Larger items must be picked up in our office in Columbia. Some limited delivery options may be available, based on the upcoming travels of our staff.
  • Have fun bidding! If you’re bidding with friends, send us a photo to mail@scwf.org and we may feature your group on our social media channels!

Banner Image captions: Jocassee Sunset by Ellen Haynes.

Richland Library of Ballentine Celebrates National Pollinator Week

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Banner image by Melissa Sprenne

The Richland Library of Ballentine recently held a program on pollinators during National Pollinator week that included a presentation on South Carolina’s native pollinators by Savannah Jordan, SCWF’s Habitat Education Manager and a tour of the library’s pollinator gardens. Three native pollinator gardens were installed on Earth Day last year by SCWF staff, community volunteers, and partner organizations to support wildlife and educate local citizens on how to garden for wildlife – read about it here!






While enjoying a slice of cake, attendees learned about the importance of pollinators and the challenges they face in our growing world. They also learned about species such as the Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly, different types of bees and wasps, and even other pollinators like reptiles, amphibians, and birds that can be found in the gardens. Native plants that can be found in the garden include mountain mint, coral honeysuckle, and whorled tickseed, which are all important food sources for pollinators.










Attendees were given insect identification guides using photos taken by Melissa Sprenne, Library Associate for Richland Library of Ballentine. Melissa has also taught native plant gardening classes to library visitors and holds regular programs to help the community learn more about the native wildlife in the area. Children and adults were excited to find all the species on their ID guide, plus others that haven’t been seen at the gardens before!

Interpretive nature signs accompany each garden and help to educate the thousands of visitors exploring the property. Plans are in the works to offer seeds and cuttings from the gardens in addition to the seed library that contains packets of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds for visitors to take home and plant in their own gardens. The library also has a large collection of books and field guides for those interested in learning more about how to identify insects, native plants, and how to create habitat for pollinators. Check out the library’s website to see their full collection and view upcoming events. The library will hold its first BioBlitz in September, which is a communal citizen-science effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible! Check our events page to sign up for this fun morning looking for critters in the garden with others!

We’ve observed many many customers wandering through the fences and reading the signage – actual reading and not just glancing at them. We added a bench and we have seen customers relaxing out there when it’s not too hot.

— Melissa Sprenne, Richland Library of Ballentine