Keep South Carolina Wild

Category: Education

Columbia’s Downtown Pollinator Garden

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By Arlene Marturano

Published in the Columbia Star on May 28, 2026 – https://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/columbias-downtown-pollinator-garden/

Volunteers with the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) planted a native plant pollinator garden in their wildlife habitat in front of their downtown office at 1519 Richland Street. As spring transitions to summer, the plants are flowering and fruiting. In a relatively small space there are over 20 species attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The garden also features the four basic wildlife habitat elements: food, water, cover, and places to raise young.

Three natives planted for monarch larvae are swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata; common milkweed, A. syriaca; and butterfly weed, A. tuberosa.

Passionvine, Passiflora incarnata, is deliberately planted in containers to keep it from spreading across the landscape via its underground rhizomatous roots and taking over the garden. The vine hosts the eggs and larvae of gulf fritillary and variegated fritillary butterflies.

A striking blue flowering perennial plant is false indigo, Baptisia australis. Native Americans and early colonists used the flower to produce a blue dye before the Asian indigo, aka true indigo, Indigofera tinctoria, was introduced to America.

False indigo is a host plant to many butterflies such as orange sulphur, clouded sulphur, frosted elfin, eastern tailed blue, hoary edge, and wild indigo duskywing.

Common yarrow, Achillea millefolium, is a flower attracting an incredible number of pollinators because of the design of the flower face. The nectar that bees and butterflies need is easy to access on the broad flat flower face making for perfect landing and feeding platforms. Insects can stay still and sip from the many tiny florets. American lady, checkerspots, fritillaries, hairstreaks, skippers, and sulphurs visit yarrow for nectar.

Common St. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum, is a host plant to the larvae of the gray hairstreak butterfly. Female azure butterflies lay their eggs on the flower buds and the caterpillars eat the flower parts and developing fruits. The plant also hosts moths like the wavylined emerald, scallop moth, and gray half-spot moth.

Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam,’ Coreopsis verticillata, will start blooming from mid-summer all the way until the first hard frost. Something to consider when planting a pollinator garden is to select a palette of plants for spring, summer, and autumn bloom.

Two varieties of blueberries grow in the pollinator garden: Vacinnium darrowii ‘Rosa’s Blush’ and Vacinnium x Perpetua. Planting blueberries in the garden creates a mutually beneficial relationship between the plants and pollinators. Blueberry flowers provide spring nectar for native bees and the bees perform “buzz pollination” to ensure a large, healthy harvest.

Visit the SCWF downtown pollinator garden to view the entire garden and take home ideas for your landscape.

Published in the Columbia Star on May 28, 2026 – https://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/columbias-downtown-pollinator-garden/

Whole Foods Volunteer Day

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We had a great time earlier this month with a group of nature-loving employees from Whole Foods! Seventeen Whole Foods employees from their Columbia, SC location built ten eastern bluebird boxes which will be installed at schools, churches, or corporate sites around the state.

The group also went on a nature walk with SCWF’s Industry Habitat Manager, Jay Keck, who taught them about the local ecosystem as they listened to wood thrush and prothonotary warblers in the background.

Whole Foods purchased the materials from the South Carolina Bluebird Society, who makes pre-cut versions of the boxes for those interested in having an event of their own. (Lean more at: https://southcarolinabluebirds.org/sales/)

Thank you to the Whole Foods employees who took time out of their busy schedules to learn about conservation and wildlife!

Spring Habitat Workshop

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SCWF and the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) hosted a Spring Habitat Workshop on May 6th at Harbison State Forest. During this interactive workshop, participants learned how to create and enhance wildlife habitats by planting native plants, providing a water source, and adding feeders and nest boxes from SCWF Habitat Education Manager Savannah Jordan.
SCFC Environmental Program Manager Matt Schnabel led everyone on a tour of Harbison State Forest’s certified wildlife habitat garden and gave an overview presentation about SCFC. The event ended with a short hike, led by Manchester State Forest Director Daniel Tew, that included stops at three forested stands that show different management objectives and practices to teach people how forestry practices can affect and benefit wildlife populations. Learn more about how to certify your yard here!

2025 – 2026 Scholarship Recipients

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A committee of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation board is proud to announce the selection of the 2025/2026 scholarship recipients. Congratulations to Ella Michel, Lily Addicot, and Anna Chobot for their selection as SCWF scholarship winners and to Hsuan Hsieh for being selected for the Nicole Chadwick Memorial Scholarship. These impressive young conservationists are all motivated to use science-based solutions to make an impact on the world around them.

Ella Michel is a senior at the South Carolina Honors College studying Environmental Policy and Conservation. Ella is passionate about innovating our energy systems to be more sustainable, with a specific focus on energy efficiency. Increasing energy efficiency has a wide range of benefits, reducing energy bills and emissions simultaneously. She plans to leverage her interdisciplinary degree to approach energy efficiency improvements from a multidimensional perspective, including policy, industry, utility, and community-based solutions. It is through this work that she envisions a future where people can access the energy they need, while our environment is protected.

 

Lily Addicott is a master’s student in the Environmental Studies and Sustainability program at the College of Charleston, with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Clemson University. Since arriving in Charleston, she has shown a particular passion for geospatial science and wildlife conservation. Her thesis project will focus on quantifying the anthropogenic disturbance on local bottlenose dolphin populations. In the future, she hopes to make her impact on the world by working for a non-profit organization focused on ecology and conservation. Lily spends her free time teaching the sport of orienteering and trying to get people outside reading maps and connecting with nature!

 

Anna Chobot is a senior Wildlife and Fisheries Biology major at Clemson University with an interest in herpetology and contaminant research. She has worked on two Clemson research projects so far: one studying microplastic abundance in the diet of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) across the Southeastern United States, and the other analyzing the genetic demographics of patch-nosed salamanders (Urspelerpes brucei) within the Tugaloo River Basin. Over the summer, she developed and conducted an independent research project studying microplastic abundance and diversity in water, sediment, fish gastrointestinal, and alligator diet samples across four coastal South Carolina sites. She plans to publish these results and continue to pursue a career in research by attending graduate school after graduating from Clemson in the spring.

 

Hsuan Hsieh is a PhD candidate in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University, where her research focuses on forest therapy and nature-based approaches to improving health and well-being. She enjoys guiding forest therapy walks and believes in the idea of “healthy forests, healthy people,” hoping that forest therapy practice can foster greater environmental care and nurture a reciprocal relationship between humans and nature.

 

SCWF is honored to be able to distribute educational grants to full-time students pursuing a degree in any environmental field at South Carolina schools of higher education. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible, based on their performance in academia and in related community activities. These scholarships are funded by contributions from generous individual donors in addition to the ongoing support received from these funds:

  • D. L. Scurry Foundation provides educational scholarship funds for individuals attending colleges, universities and technical schools in South Carolina.
  • The Riverbanks Conservation Support Fund (CSF) provides financial assistance for conservation oriented projects/programs worldwide that promote preservation of the Earth’s biodiversity.
  • The Nicole Chadwick Memorial Fund honors the legacy of an endangered species biologist who made a long-lasting impact on wildlife conservation in South Carolina.

Banner Image Credit: Piedmont Sandwort by Allison Bugarin

2025 South Carolina Songbird Art Contest

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We are delighted to celebrate the talented students who participated in the 2025 South Carolina Songbird Art Contest, presented in partnership with Wildlife Forever. Congratulations to this year’s winners, and thank you to everyone who participated! This statewide contest invited K–12 students to explore South Carolina’s native songbirds through art, encouraging creativity while deepening students’ understanding of local wildlife and the habitats on which the birds depend.

By blending art with environmental education, the Songbird Art Contest helps students learn about bird identification, migration, and habitat conservation while fostering a sense of stewardship for South Carolina’s natural resources. These early connections to nature play a crucial role in building the next generation of conservationists and informed environmental leaders.

With 163 incredible submissions, selecting the winners was no easy task. Each piece reflected a unique perspective and a shared appreciation for South Carolina’s songbirds. We are grateful to every student, teacher, and family member who helped make this contest possible and  joined us in advancing our mission to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and their habitats through education and advocacy.

Selected artwork will be featured throughout the year on our website and social media channels. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SCWildlifeFederation to see these incredible works and help us celebrate the next generation of conservation-minded artists. 

Grade Winners: Kindergarten – Third

 

Grade Winners: Fourth – Sixth

Grade Winners: Seventh – Ninth

 

Grade Winners: Tenth – Twelfth

 

 

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Dominion Energy for their generous support of the 2025 South Carolina Songbird Art Contest. Their commitment to education and environmental stewardship made this program possible, and helped connect students across South Carolina with wildlife conservation in a meaningful and creative way.

 

 

 

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WAIT Partner Update: GE Vernova

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GE Vernova in Greenville, SC, is one of our newest Wildlife And Industry Together or WAIT partners, and they have gone above and beyond to support wildlife on their campus, educate their employees about wildlife and wildlife conservation, as well as connect with their community through quarterly litter sweeps with Adopt-A-Highway.

 

Habitat creation began during Earth Week in 2023 when they installed a pollinator garden with native plants – increasing the insect biodiversity on the property. In addition to the garden, they have installed 105 native trees like; sourwood, persimmons, oak, tupelo, maples, and several other native trees and shrubs. These plants will have a dramatic effect on increasing the biodiversity of insects, birds, and some reptiles like the anole.

 

They have also installed bird boxes for multiple cavity nesting species, and have allowed unused outdoor areas to grow wild, which again, increases the diversity of both the flora and fauna on site.

GE Vernova has also done a great job opening up employees eyes to the amazing world around us. They host a quarterly lunch and learns with respected naturalists and organizations around the state. Topics have ranged from birds of prey and invasive species, to conservation through native plant habitat creation. They also take employees on quarterly nature hikes, which included walks at yellow branch falls in Sumter National Forest and Paris Mountain State Park in 2025. A fun addition to educating their staff is the Earth Week Photo contest where they encourage employees to take pictures of things that represent their sustainability impact, community connection, and creativity.

SCWF applauds the efforts at GE Vernova for taking steps to increase biodiversity on campus, educating its employees, and making their community a cleaner place to live for both people and wildlife!

 

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.

 

Remembering Dan Turpin

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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

Protect Wildlife Together!

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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.

Donate Here!

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.

 

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. 

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!

 

 

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.

 

Banner Image Credit: Wings by Bradford Andrews.

Palmetto Pro Birders at Huntington Beach State Park

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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.

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!

 

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.

POWR+ Handgun Orientation: Building Confidence, Competence, and Connection to Nature

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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.