Keep South Carolina Wild

Category: Fishing

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!

2025 Plishing Challenge Winners Announced

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We are very excited to announce the winners of the 2025 Plishing Challenge! For the second year in a row, Cyrus Rouggly was the winner for the overall number of fish caught. Taylor Campbell came on strong to win the litter portion of the challenge. Adam Mosher was this year’s random winner. Each of these grand prize winners will receive a $500 gift card to Palmetto State Armory!

 

We are truly grateful to everyone who participated in this year’s challenge. A combined total of 1,525 fish were caught (and most were released for extra points!), and 307 bags of litter were removed from waterways, creating a cleaner habitat for fish – and us humans! All those who logged fish or litter in the 2025 challenge will receive a small token of appreciation in the mail from SCWF.

 

We are very grateful to all of our sponsors for supporting our conservation initiative for the fourth year in a row! Thank you to Palmetto State Armory, Palmetto Pride, Angling Women, Local Boy Outfitters, FishRazr, AFTCO, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Your commitment to conservation allows SCWF to offer this wonderful event to promote clean waterways, conservation of our natural resources, and fishing fun.

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.

 

Camp Wildwood

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The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is proud to have been one of the sponsors of Camp Wildwood for more than 70 years! This annual event is an outdoor environmental camp that is a fun-filled week during which high school students can experience the many aspects of their natural environment. This year’s Camp was held June 15th through the 21st.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These pictures from this year’s camp show how Camp Wildwood helps the campers to  discover that we are part of nature and everything we do in some way affects the natural balance. At Camp Wildwood, you acquire the knowledge and appreciation needed for the protection and wise use of our natural resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, Camp Wildwood is also sponsored by the Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc., the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, South Carolina State Parks, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 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/.

 

 

SCWF Invites You to Explore with Us!

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The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is known for many things: being the voice of residents who love wildlife, an advocate for our state’s outdoor spaces, and amazing wildlife education programs. There is an incredible line-up of classes we offer including Palmetto Pro-Birder, Naturalist, and Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreat events. New for 2025, SCWF is introducing our “Explores” programming. The “Explores” series is a new line of classes designed to introduce the outdoors to folks who may be new to outdoor experiences. BeBe Dalton Harrison, SCWF Director of Education says, “We want to welcome even more people to the outdoors.  These classes and events will be beginner friendly, lower cost, and a great way to step outside in a safe environment.”

The Explores Series will consist of a variety of topics across the state and will change yearly. This inaugural year includes programs to introduce families to fishing and hiking, backyard wildlife habitats, winter wildlife, and more! In addition to being “beginner friendly”, these classes will be offered at a low price point and in some cases will be free for the public. Once each Explores classes is open for registration, it will be listed on our events page at www.scwf.org/events.

SCWF Explores Series

Create a Wildlife Habitat-Anderson County (Tuesday, June 10th)
Families Exploring Nature-Lexington Wildlife Chapter, Lexington (Friday, June 27th)
Water for Wildlife-Sumter (Saturday, July 12th)
EcoLeaders for Youth-Sesquicentennial State Park, Columbia (Monday, July 21st)
Backyard Habitat-North Myrtle Beach (Monday, October 20th)
Fall Backyard Habitat-York County (Date TBD)
Winter Wildlife-Location TBD

 

Banner image credit: Salty Serenity by Stuart Barfield.

Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreat was a huge success!

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“This (POWR) retreat made me realize the areas I had a good foundation in, filled in some other knowledge gaps, and gave me confidence to do these outdoor activities by myself.”

 

This comment and others like it, is why the SC Wildlife Federation continues to offer their signature Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreat or POWR.  This retreat, POWR, has been introducing women to the outdoors for nearly 30 years. During the event, women can select a variety of classes ranging from water sports to shooting sports to other outdoor recreational activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each class is led by patient instructors who introduce participants to the topic in a very safe and non-intimidating environment.

 

 

 

 

“Our goal with POWR is to do just what that participant said.  We want them to gain the confidence to do the outdoor activities by themselves or with friends and family members,” said BeBe Dalton Harrison, director of Education for the SC Wildlife Federation.  Harrison adds, “Once women feel confident, they can get gear that they are most comfortable using and set out on their own adventures”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through partnerships with Comporium, Quantum Fishing, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the Chattooga River Fly Shop, and several supportive volunteers, SCWF is proud to offer women this hands-on approach to learning outdoor skills.

 

In addition to the weekend event, SCWF offers several one-day events called POWR+ for women including our upcoming POWR+ Coastal Kayaking Experience on June 9 in Mt. Pleasant, SC.

 

 

Thank you to our partners and sponsors!

The Retreat is presented by the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. We are especially grateful to our sponsors, Comporium and the SC Department of Natural Resources. We are pleased to have the support of several outfitters and organizations including Angling Women, Chattooga River Fly Shop, Clemson Extension, and Quantum Fishing. These partnerships enable us to provide a wide variety of activities conducted by a diverse group of expert instructors. A special thank you is due to the numerous individual volunteers who so willingly donate their time to share their knowledge and expertise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCWF Partnership Gives Calhoun County Fourth Graders Outdoor Experience

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“I’ve got one! It’s my first fish!” SCWF recently partnered with the Calhoun County Soil and Water Conservation District and Interlaken Wildlife Foundation to engage all fourth graders in Calhoun County in an outdoor experience that included many students catching their first fish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four schools in Calhoun county were able to participate in this program allowing fourth graders to learn about aquatic ecology, local wildlife habitat, and even get a chance to catch a fish! Conservation district staff visited the schools to help them prepare for their onsite visit to Interlaken by teaching them how to cast a fishing rod and introducing them to the aquatic habitat.

 

 

During the field trip to Interlaken, SCWF staff and volunteers joined conservation district staff, Interlaken staff, and a wonderful group of supportive volunteers to help these fourth graders have an amazing time in the outdoors. Students were briefed on fishing safety and fish handling and then had the opportunity to try and catch a fish at the pond.

In addition to this, SCWF Midlands Master Naturalists also led students on a nature walk where they learned about many native plant and animal species in the area that they can look for near their home and school. Interlaken also provided a fun wagon ride across the property where they were able to see even more wildlife and plant species.







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with these incredible organizations as we introduce more students to the outdoors and hopefully spark their interest in conservation.

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.

SCWF Partnership Gives Calhoun County Fourth Graders Hands-on Nature Experiences

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“I got one!” exclaims an excited fourth grader from Calhoun County holding the line with a beautiful bluegill glistening on the end. A quick photo, a gentle release, and there are smiles and high fives all around and a healthy fish returned to the pond. This is thanks to some incredible partners and volunteers recently at the Interlaken Wildlife Center in Cameron, SC. SCWF staff partnered with the staff at Interlaken Wildlife Center and the Calhoun County Soil and Water Conservation district to provide a hands-on fishing and nature experience at the center.

Volunteers from SCWF, SCDNR, SC Conservation Districts, and several from the local community, joined together to help make this happen. Fourth grade students from Calhoun County had a lesson on flora and fauna in the midlands, a nature hike, a fishing lesson, and all had a chance to catch a fish.









BeBe Dalton Harrison, SCWF Director of Education shared “We can talk about fishing or loblolly pines or fox squirrels with these students in the classroom but giving them a chance to actually see it can sometimes flip a switch and help them develop a deeper appreciation for their environment”.  This program headed up by Mary Dixon with the Calhoun County Soil and Water Conservation District is providing the opportunity for all fourth graders in the county to have this outdoor experience. Harrison adds, “We look forward to continuing to partner with this program for the rest of the fourth graders this spring.”

For more information on this program or to volunteer for an upcoming event, please email mail@scwf.org.

WAIT Partner Update: Martin Marietta

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The team at Martin Marietta’s Berkeley Quarry goes above and beyond to educate local students and the community about the natural history of the Cross, South Carolina area, and how the quarry functions while respecting our natural resources.

Combined with numerous field trips, which include visits with local schools, gem and mineral clubs and community organizations, Berkeley Quarry’s crew educates close to 1,000 people annually, sharing information about a little known underground world that is normally hidden from view. Fossil collecting, geode breaking stations, a child mining area, quarry tours and geology lessons are among the activities that visitors enjoy while learning from the site’s knowledgeable and talented team members.

In addition to the geological interests of the area, habitat creation and preservation is important to Martin Marietta as well. Working with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and American Forest Management, the Berkeley Quarry team has set aside several hundred acres of forested land that is intended to preserve habitat for both birds and animals. Wood duck boxes have also been installed on the grounds, and the area is regularly patrolled by a bald eagle that glides through the skies in search of prey.

Through community education, wildlife habitat creation and sustainable practices, Martin Marietta exemplifies how a large corporation should operate in an ecologically responsible way.

We hope this approach continues for years to come!

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.