Keep South Carolina Wild

Category: Events

POWR+ Fly Fishing Experience

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On a perfect morning recently in March, nine women set out on an epic POWR+ Fly Fishing Experience with guides from the Chattooga River Fly Shop in Mountain Rest, South Carolina. After being fitted for waders and boots, shop owner Karl Ekberg and his crew gave these lady anglers some pointers as they set out on their adventure. There were women of all skill levels on this trip from novice to experienced. Standing there in the chilly river under the bright sunshine made for an absolutely perfect day of fishing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the guides led these ladies down the river, they gained confidence in their casting and ability to read the water. Several species were caught including rainbow trout, brown trout, redbreast sunfish, and a river chub. Not everyone caught a fish, but they all caught the passion for fly fishing from truly passionate volunteers.

Winners of the 2024 Wildlife Photography Contest

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Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Wildlife Photography contest! It is always hard to select a winner because we have such talented photographers, and this year’s contest was no exception. You can go to our Flickr page here to see all the photos entered in this year’s contest.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered our photo contest this year! We are grateful because your photos help us showcase the beauty of our state and help us illustrate South Carolina’s wildlife and their habitats. Please stay tuned to see your photos featured on social media, our website, and in our eNewsletters.

Carolina Critters 

Winner: Trey Wardlaw, Emergence

About the photograph:

This photograph, captured in April 2024 during the cicada outbreak in South Carolina, depicts a newly emerged cicada on a low-hanging branch. I deliberately included the exoskeleton behind the cicada to enhance the composition of the scene. To achieve a steady shot, I held the branch with one hand. To me, this image of a freshly molted cicada and its exoskeleton symbolizes the emergence of the cicadas during the 2024 invasion.

About me:

I am a wildlife photographer located in Laurens, South Carolina and I have been interested in anything nature related since I was a kid. My goal with my photography is to highlight the beauty of animals and bugs that are rarely ever seen up close.

Carolina Critters

Runner-up: Gina Sanders, Golden-crowned Kinglet

 

About the photograph:

The little golden-crowned kinglet was in a field behind my house, where I frequently walk. It was during fall migration and kinglets were moving through the area in large numbers. I went for a walk that morning and was excited to see and hear so many in the area. They don’t sit still for long but this little one seemed curious as he perched on a weed and watched me watching him! I was thrilled he came so close and I was able to get his photo, it’s one of my favorites!

About me:

I’m 61 years old, and an avid birder and nature photographer. Photography was my hobby back in the film days, but got put on the back burner thanks to my career and life in general. Once I started birding a few years ago I decided to get back into photography to help me identify the birds I was seeing. Now, I spend as much time as I can outdoors with my camera, watching birds and wildlife in general.

Scenes of SC 

Winner: Kailey Bugarin, Kingfisher’s Stumpfest 

About the photograph:

Lake Moultrie’s water gets lowered a couple times a year by Santee Cooper. It is usually lowered in the winter, some years lower than others. This photo was taken in late December of 2020, and it was the lowest the lake had been in many years followed by the recent 2024 water drop for the hurricane flooding. I was exploring the floor of the lake and capturing the many birds who were taking advantage of the low water with puddles of fish. A belted kingfisher I had been chasing landed in the most perfect spot. I was able to capture it and the reflection of the many stumps right as the sun was going down.

About me:

Born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. Started nature photography in 2018 while attending college at USC, and continued birding as a hobby when I came home to Moncks Corner. I enjoy capturing the Lowcountry’s scenes and wildlife.

Scenes of SC

Runner-up: Stuart Barfield, Light the Way

About the photograph:

I live in the Midlands of SC, but I have a lot of family in the Lowcountry and I spend a lot of time in Charleston. I especially love Folly Beach and the mix of nature and history found there. On one trip down, I noticed the Morris Island Lighthouse was actually lit and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to capture a glimpse of the past shining over the beauty of the marsh. For me, it was a wonderful way to illustrate my sense of nostalgia and admiration for what I consider my second home.

About me:

I didn’t have a huge interest in photography until 2017, when my wife was gifted a nice DSLR camera. I got more confident using it over time and a couple years later, I began flying drones for my job. I was amazed at the potential for landscape aerial photography and have tried my hand at it on and off since then.

People In Nature 

Winner: Jennifer Brown, Forest Blessings

About the photograph:

The August morning captured along Cedar Creek was a mere glimpse into the magic that is hidden amongst the vast expanse of Congaree National Park. Nature photography is often about being in the right place at the right time, and having the patience to wait for the ideal shot. As the sun permeated the late morning fog, its rays beckoning the paddlers to continue exploring and maybe even linger a little longer. The otherworldly feeling was palpable  as the mist swirled along the forest floor and flowing waters, enveloping all in its embrace.

About me:

I consider myself a very lucky person to have the pleasure of having Congaree National Park as my “office.”  Several times a week, I get the opportunity to introduce guests from around the world to South Carolina’s only National park. As a Kayak Guide for Carolina Outdoor Adventures, I have seen many beautiful sunrises, stunning sunsets, misty mornings, and even the occasional  eerie moonlit night while paddling through the old-growth forests of Congaree NP.  As a mother and a military spouse, I find being outdoors to be extremely rejuvenating for the mind and body and make it a goal to enjoy as many opportunities as possible.

Scenes of SC

Runner-up: Judy Fairchild, Now and Then

 

About the photograph: I was looking at American oystercatchers along the Intracoastal Waterway, and thought the juxtaposition of the wooden sailboat against the modern fishing boat was the quintessential South Carolina landscape.

About me: I run Nature Walks with Judy, whose goal is to get people to appreciate the amazing nature right outside their doors. I started that blog and social media accounts in March of 2020; it was my response to everyone’s need for nature during the pandemic! You can follow me on Instagram here and on Facebook here.

Working For Wildlife Volunteer Day Was A Huge Success

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Thank YOU to our volunteers who showed up and worked together to make a difference for wildlife on December 7th despite the chilly weather! Our annual Working for Wildlife Day at the Carolina Sandhills NWR was a huge success thanks to the volunteers and the knowledgeable refuge staff who joined us. SCWF is proud to have collaborated with the refuge on workdays since 1998.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Projects that were completed included trail marking and maintenance, sweeping around the trees marked as nesting sites for the red-cockaded woodpeckers, repairing boardwalks, leaf blowing and litter pick-up.



 

Carolina Sandhills NWR hosts an incredible range of biodiversity and is a leading site in conservation efforts. Everyone worked incredibly hard, and all work done here is going right back to a keystone location for many of our unique state species and habitats. – Ari Hippensteal, SCWF Community Outreach Manager

If you haven’t yet visited the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, we encourage you to do so. Founded in 1939, the refuge contains rolling sand hills dominated by the longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem. Along with the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, the refuge is home to more than 190 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 41 species of reptiles, and 25 species of amphibians. More than 800 species of plants have been identified on the refuge, including rare species of pitcher plants, Well’s pixie-moss, and the white-wicky.

SCWF at National Hunting & Fishing Day

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“I loved working at this event. Coming back to my home in the upstate of SC and getting to talk to kids about the nature and animals around them was really meaningful to me.” Ari Hippensteal.

On Saturday, September 30, an estimated 2,000 youth and adults attended the annual National Hunting & Fishing Day event at Oconee County’s South Cove County Park near Seneca. This free event offers many hands-on opportunities to learn the basics of outdoor skills like fishing, archery, and shooting with an air-rifle. Traditionally celebrated the fourth Saturday in September, this day also promotes the contribution of hunters and anglers to conservation and connects hunters and anglers to programs in their state. SCWF has been a proud partner in this event for many years!

SCWF’s booth featured educational animal pelts, Ranger Rick magazines, and an art activity about wildlife! The education animals were a big draw, especially our muskrat. Ari Hippensteal, our Community Outreach Manager, talked to kids and adults who wanted to know more about the native South Carolina wildlife which might be difficult to see up close otherwise. Feeling the fur of the bobcat or the waterproof plumage of the mallard duck gave the visitors a hands-on experience that was a new experience for many. We were also grateful to the hunters who stopped by to share personal stories about the importance of habitat conservation for the future of wildlife in our state.






Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreat (POWR) Series Opens the Door to Outdoor Adventures

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For media inquiries contact: BeBe Dalton Harrison, South Carolina Wildlife Federation, bebe@scwf.org, (803) 256-0670

“Small group size, amazing instructors, absolutely fantastic!  Lots of staff for our small groups so our instructors were able to pinpoint issues and help us improve.” Comments like these from POWR Series participants inspire the South Carolina Wildlife Federation to continue to provide quality instruction for women and their outdoor adventures.

This educational program has grown, from a weekend of introductory outdoor activities, to a progression of topics that help participants build knowledge and confidence in outdoor skills.  After learning the basics with patient and knowledgeable instructors at POWR, participants are ready to build on what they learned at POWR Up and in POWR+ events. These longer and more in-depth programs foster their newfound skills and build on those they already have, giving them the confidence to participate on their own or with like-minded women they may meet at the events.

Registration for the October 4-5 POWR Up is open to anyone wanting to build on their outdoor skills. Set in beautiful Santee State Park, participants will have the opportunity to register for up to 3 classes including topics like Boating and Trailering, Bass Fishing, Outdoor Photography, Hunting in South Carolina, Pine Needle Basketry, Kayak Fishing, and more. All gear and equipment is provided for this event and the small class sizes make this such a valuable experience for the instructors and the participants. As one participant described, “POWR keeps me connected to like-minded women in an atmosphere that brings me back to my beloved Girl Scout days. (It is) A way to experience the outdoors without having to own all the equipment needed for all the activities I want to experience.”

BeBe Dalton Harrison, Director of Education at the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, organizes POWR and wants to invite women who want more experience in the outdoors to join in this year’s event. “POWR Up builds on basic skills to help women feel more confident spending time outdoors.” says Harrison. “We want women to not only learn outdoor skills, but to take what they learn and continue it with friends and family, and in some cases develop a passion for it,” Harrison explains. She continues, “We want women to move from awareness of these amazing opportunities to participation in their own outdoor adventures. Women can confidently invite others to go fishing, boating, birding, and more.”

In addition to the fall POWR Up event, two POWR+ events are scheduled for the month of September. POWR+ events are one day sessions that run from 10 am to 2 pm offering an in-depth look at a specific topic. Registration is also open for these two POWR+ events.

●  The first is POWR+ Inshore Fishing with Artificial Lures with Captain Tanya Dowdy where participants will learn techniques to fish with many different types of artificial lures including hard baits, soft plastics, floats, and more.  Participants will get the chance to meet at one of South Carolina’s newest State Parks, May Forest. There will be an instructional portion along with the opportunity to fish using their new skills.

● The second is: POWR+ Beach Ecology with Naturalist Amber Von Harten will introduce participants to our coastal environment at the beautiful Botany Bay.  Participants will learn about the beach environment, flora and fauna, and shell identification.

The POWR Series is presented by the South Carolina Wildlife Federation with generous support from organizations and volunteers.  Supporters who help make these events possible include the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Bass Pro Shops (Greenville Store),  Nature Adventure Outfitters, Angling Women,  Chattooga River Fly Shop, and Three Sisters Essentials. These partnerships enable us to provide a wide variety of activities conducted by a diverse group of expert instructors.

To learn more about the POWR Series, we invite women to visit www.scwf.org for more information. We suggest that you register early for these fun and educational experiences.

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!














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 mail@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/.