Keep South Carolina Wild

Category: Events

Pollinator Program at the Catawba Nation’s Third Annual Catawba Culture Camp

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On June 16, 2026, SCWF Habitat Education Manager Savannah Jordan led a pollinator program at the Catawba Nation’s Third Annual Catawba Culture Camp at the Catawba Cultural Center. A perfect opportunity during National Pollinator Month, recognized in June!
Through hands-on activities, campers explored the vital role of pollination, built bee hotels, learned how to create wildlife habitats, and toured a newly installed pollinator garden created by SCWF with support from our partners at Duke Energy.
Thanks to your support, programs like these will continue to help inspire the next generation of conservationists while advancing pollinator education, habitat restoration, and community partnerships in our state. Together, we can help ensure a healthier future for the pollinators we depend on!

SCWF Partners with South Carolina State Museum to Build New Carolina Fence Garden

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On May 30th, 2026, SCWF helped the South Carolina State Museum install a new Carolina Fence Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. This native garden educates visitors on local wildlife habitats and supports native pollinators. Visitors can find the new Carolina Fence Garden at the museum’s entrance at 301 Gervais St, Columbia, SC.

 

The garden features native plants like goldenrod and wild indigo that will support pollinators, birds, and other wildlife while also connecting visitors to South Carolina’s natural heritage. The Carolina Fence Garden concept is an initiative promoted by SCWF to attract native animals and celebrate the state’s natural history. It incorporates several specific cultural and natural elements such as:

  • A Fence: A traditional split-rail fence serves as the structural anchor.
  • State Symbols: Gardens typically feature the Yellow Jessamine (state flower) and a display of Blue Granite (state stone), both of which create ideal basking and foraging spots for butterflies and bees.
  • Native Plants: The garden utilizes native, local plants that provide food and nesting material for birds, pollinators, and small mammals.
  • Wildlife Housing: A mounted Carolina Wren House often provides dedicated shelter for South Carolina’s state bird.
Thank you to the South Carolina State Museum for partnering with us on their Planting South Carolina Roots initiative and to all of the volunteers who spent their Saturday morning with us to make this possible! We can’t wait to watch this garden grow! Learn more about how to support pollinators and built your own Carolina Fence Garden at: https://www.scwf.org/carolina-fence-gardens/ 

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 Wildlife Photography Contest Winners Announced

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We are happy to extend a heartfelt congratulations to the winners of our 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest! This year’s contest showcased breathtaking images of South Carolina’s wildlife, natural habitats, and memorable moments of people enjoying the outdoors. 

With more than 450 incredible entries submitted, selecting the winners was no easy task. This annual contest supports our mission by helping SCWF depict our state’s wildlife and their habitat. We are grateful to everyone who participated and shared their talent and passion for South Carolina’s natural world with the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. 

Selected photographs will be featured throughout the year on our social media channels so be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SCWildlifeFederation. You can also view all qualifying entries on our Flickr page.

Scenes of SC Winning Entry: Odd Couple Enjoying the Southern Warmth by Paul Bittinger

About the photograph:

Odd Couple Enjoying the Southern Sun’s Warmth features a great blue heron undisturbed and uninterested as a white-tail deer doe crosses a shallow narrow between an island and a wooded peninsula on the shores of Lake Murray, SC during early fall.

About the photographer:

Paul Bittinger, Heron’s Point Photography, is a nature photography hobbyist focusing primarily on Lake Murray and environs. Raised in Irmo, Paul lived all over the USA and the world during his P&G corporate career and returned to SC to retire on Lake Murray. He is a wildlife and nature enthusiast sharing his photography on Lake Murray Life Facebook, Instagram.com/heronspoint and several local magazines. Heron’s Point Photography is so named for the great blue herons who live and fish all around his home (as well as eagles, ospreys, egrets, kingfishers, white-tailed deer, beavers, and seasonal ducks/waterfowl).

Scenes of SC Category Runner-up: Caesars Head Views by Amanda Johnson

Scenes of SC Category Second Runner-up: Isle of Sky by Leslie Fried


Carolina Critters Winning Entry: Black-bellied Plover with Sea Worm by Patricia Kappmeyer

About the photograph:

Black-bellied Plover with Sea Worm was photographed this fall at Fish Haul Beach on the Port Royal sandbar. Black-bellied plovers are one of the overwintering shorebird species that rely on South Carolina’s Lowcountry beaches during the nonbreeding season.

I observed a pair of black-bellied plovers from a distance and noticed through my binoculars that they were repeatedly feeding in a particularly productive area of the tidal flat, pulling up sea worm after sea worm. After spending time watching their feeding pattern, I was able to slowly crawl along the sand to position myself at a respectful distance and capture this moment using a 400mm lens. The image reflects both the intensity of shorebird foraging and the importance of healthy coastal habitat, as well as the value of patience and observation in ethical bird photography.

About the photographer:

Patricia (Patty) Kappmeyer is a Hilton Head Island-based nature writer and bird photographer whose work focuses on ethical bird photography, observation, and the relationship between birds, habitat, and season. She is the author of Flight through the Seasons: Discover Birding and Photography in the Lowcounty of Hilton Head Island, and the founder of Lowcountry Birds and Nature, where she shares photography, writing, and educational programs that encourage thoughtful engagement with wildlife and place.

Carolina Critters Category Runner-up: Feeding Time by Greg Hammond

Carolina Critters Second Runner-up: An Owl Knows by Norm Grant


People in Nature Winning Entry: Early Riser by Thomas Laney

 

 

More about the photographer and the photo by Thomas Laney:

The photo is my grandson, John Bryant, in a flooded cornfield adjacent to the Pee Dee River near Cheraw. He was 12 years old in the photo and is now a senior at Francis Marion University. His love of fishing, hunting, and the outdoors has led him to fulfill his dream to become a game warden with SCDNR. He begins his training later this month.

People in Nature Category Runner-up, Foggy Morning Fishing by Paul Bittinger

People in Nature Category Second Runner-up, Shae at Lake Marion by Ruthie Edwards

Thank you again to everyone who entered the 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest! We are truly grateful to each photographer who shared their time, talent, and passion for South Carolina’s wildlife and natural landscapes. Your stunning submissions help bring our mission to life and inspire a deeper appreciation for conservation.

 

 

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

The photographs contained on this, and any other site under the scwf.org domain, are the property of SCWF and are protected by United States and International copyright laws. All copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights in this site, are the property of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.

All photographs on scwf.org are copyrighted.
No permission, either express or implied, is granted for the electronic transmission, storage, retrieval, or printing of the photographs contained on scwf.org, other than that which is related to the normal “caching” practices of web browsers and activities such as downloading solely for your personal enjoyment. No parties/individuals visiting or viewing images from scwf.org, may otherwise copy, modify, publish, transmit, or distribute the contents of the photographs found herein. Express written permission must be granted in order to use these photographs for any purpose that is not outlined above.

Your use of scwf.org or viewing of this statement indicates your acceptance of these conditions.

 

Banner image credit: Morning Commute by Leslie Hall.

Shucking Oysters for Conservation: A Celebration of Community and Wildlife

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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!

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Thank you to our raffle item donors!

Chris Cannon

Crosby’s Fish & Seafood Co.

SCWF

 

Sporting Clays Competition Fundraiser: A Shared Passion for Conservation

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On a beautiful fall day in October, nine four-person teams from across South Carolina competed in a friendly sporting clays competition at the Palmetto Outdoors Shooting Facility in Swansea. The challenging 15-station course offered a variety of high and low shots that a shooter  might need to make while hunting. After the competition concluded, everyone came together to enjoy a BBQ lunch from the Palmetto Pig.

This year’s competition included teams who shoot sporting clays regularly as well as some experienced shooters who were newer to clay shooting. We were also glad to have staff from several of our WAIT (Wildlife And Industry Together) partner sites join us. The Mid-Carolina Gun Club edged out the Bebber Boys by just one point to win this year’s inaugural event, with the team from Whiting-Turner coming in third place. We hope all the participants were inspired to spend time on the range with fellow shooting sports enthusiasts.

 

An important cause like wildlife conservation has a way of bringing us together, and it was great to see long-time supporters and meet new friends who came out to support our mission. Thank you to all the outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen who participated in and sponsored this fundraiser. Proceeds will directly benefit SCWF’s ongoing conservation efforts, including habitat enhancement, land conservation, and educational programs that teach South Carolinians of all ages how to responsibly enjoy and protect the outdoors.

 

 

Winning teams:

1st Mid-Carolina Gun Club – 306 points

2nd Bebber Boys – 305 points

3rd Whiting-Turner – 239 points

Honorable mention team: National Land Realty/Jim Taylor – 238 points

Highest individual scores:

1st Rich Gadbois, Mid-Carolina Gun Club – 87 points

2nd (tie) Rodney Rained, Mid-Carolina Gun Club – 82 points

               -Matt Bebber, Bebber Boys – 82 points

3rd (tie) Rick Scholz, Mid-Carolina Gun Club – 79 points

               -Tony Bebber, Bebber Boys – 79 points

 

We are especially grateful to our sponsors for helping us increase our impact.

POWR+ Inshore Fishing with Captain Tanya Dowdy: A Reel Success

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On a beautiful day at the Nemours Wildlife Foundation in Yemassee, SC, a group of passionate women anglers gathered for the POWR+ Inshore Fishing with Artificials class, led by the knowledgeable and engaging Captain Tanya Dowdy of Reel Chica Charters. This all-women event celebrated skill-building, confidence, and empowerment on the water.

 

The day kicked off with Captain Tanya Dowdy diving into everything anglers need to know. From soft plastics and hard baits to rods, reels, and all the little tricks that make fishing successful, her in-depth knowledge is impressive!

 

She walked everyone through rigging, casting, and presenting artificial lures so they’d actually catch fish. By the end of the morning, everyone was brimming with confidence and ready to put their new skills to work on the water!

 

After a quick lunch generously provided by the American Sportfishing Association, everyone headed to the water to put their new skills to the test. The afternoon was filled with casting, reeling, and, most importantly, catching fish.

 

 

This class practiced catch and release techniques. The serene surroundings of Nemours Wildlife Foundation provided the perfect backdrop for learning and building confidence in a supportive, all-women environment.

 

The event also featured generous giveaways from sponsors like AFTCO, Angling Women, Haddrell’s Point Tackle, St. Croix, ZMan, Seviin, Reel Chica Charters, Palmetto State Armory and Yeti, ensuring participants left with new knowledge, confidence, and gear to continue their fishing journeys.

A huge thank you to Captain Tanya Dowdy for her expert instruction, to our sponsors for their generous support, and to the Nemours Wildlife Foundation for providing such a pristine location. This day not only strengthened fishing skills but also celebrated the power of women supporting women in the outdoors.  It was a memorable day of learning, fishing, and community that had everyone saying—fish on!

 

This POWR+ class is part of SCWF’s Palmetto Outdoors Women Retreat or POWR series. Check out our events page for upcoming POWR+ events and more opportunities to hone your outdoor skills!

SCWF EcoLeaders: the future of conservation is here!

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SCWF held an EcoLeaders event at Sesquicentennial State Park in Columbia on Monday, July 21st, where youth planted 750 native plants for wildlife habitat, installed a nesting box for Eastern bluebirds, and installed four interpretive signs. From start to finish, this was a youth-led event.

SCWF’s Education Assistant, Mason Eslinger, planned and executed this ambitious project. At age 20, Mason is already making an impact for conservation, and we know that his passion will also inspire other young people to get involved in the stewardship and protection of our natural resources.

 

“It is truly a privilege to find myself in a position that can make such profound impacts on not only the environment, but also on communities. This event in particular carried a different gravity to it, having just become an uncle. Being able to hold the “future generations” that I work so hard for allowed me to utilize my renewed sense of purpose on this project. Thank you to all that made something of this magnitude possible and I look forward to watching that little piece of me prosper at Sesqui!” – Mason Eslinger

 

The native plant garden covers approximately 300 linear feet and will be certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. In addition to helping wildlife, these plants will also serve as carbon storage. Carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is a leading cause of climate change and plants are great at taking CO2 out of our atmosphere and storing it in the ground. Click on the “Learn More” button below to see a list of the plants that were planted and how these plants benefit wildlife. The plants for this project were sourced from Charleston Aquatic and Environmental, Creekside Native Grass & Design, and Primitive by Design.

Learn More

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to Mason for leading this effort! We would also like to thank staff from Sesquicentennial State Park, the Palmetto Trail, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for assisting with this project. 

 

Thank you to the Bloomberg Philanthropies & the City of Columbia for sponsoring this project!

 

 

SCWF holds record-breaking auction in support of wildlife conservation and education

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Thank YOU to every single person who participated in Wild Summer Nights Online auction. You were vital to making this year’s auction our best yet!

This year’s auction was record-breaking, raising $118,044 in support of our education and conservation programs—making it our most successful auction to date! We’re incredibly grateful to all our bidders, sponsors, auction item donors, and to everyone who helped spread the word by sharing our social media posts, forwarding our emails, or telling a friend.

As always, all auction proceeds will support our mission to conserve and restore wildlife right here in SC through education and advocacy. SCWF’s inspirational education classes and events connect people of all ages to nature. We hope you can join us at one – or several – in the coming year! Check out our event page here to see current offerings.

 

 

 

Image Credit: “Sleeping Alligator” by Pamela Tennant.

 

 

 

 

Thank you to all of our sponsors who help us increase our impact for local wildlife!

 

 

Families Exploring Nature Day!

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“This event was a great reminder of how much joy and connection families can find outdoors. Watching kids light up as they planted milkweed and spotted birds on the trail really shows the power of hands-on conservation.”

Allison Bugarin, Education & Outreach Coordinator

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation hosted a successful Families Exploring Nature event on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Lexington Wildlife Chapter. As part of the new 2025 Explorer series, families enjoyed a morning of fishing basics and a guided nature walk. Families also learned how to plant native milkweed seeds to understand how to support our native pollinators.

 

 

 

 

During the nature walks, participants learned how to identify some of our native trees, spiders, birds, plants, and how ecologically important native plants are to support our native wildlife. They learned tons of interesting nature facts such as the smaller male golden orb weavers are never too far from the much larger female, and that a good way to remember how to identify a water oak is that the leaves are shaped like a rain drop.

 

 

Indoors, SCWF’s Habitat Education Manager, Savannah Jordan, led a hands-on session where families built on the nature walk by learning the importance of native plants. Participants potted their own native milkweed seeds and discussed ways to support wildlife at home. Milkweed supports monarchs and their 3,000-mile migration from Mexico to Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These hands-on experiences helped participants of all ages connect with nature, build outdoor skills, and deepen their understanding of South Carolina’s wild spaces. With beautiful weather, enthusiastic attendees, and plenty of wildlife sightings, the event was a joyful way to continue our new series of educational classes focused on family-friendly outdoor exploration.

Thank you to the Tonja Ivey and the Lexington Wildlife Chapter for hosting us! We would also like to say a special thank you to Mary Rhett Davidson of SCDNR for helping teach the fishing basics portion of the event.