Keep South Carolina Wild

Category: POWR

POWR+ Quail Hunt

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On December 20, SCWF held a POWR+ Quail Hunt at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe in McCormick, South Carolina. POWR stands for our Palmetto Outdoors Women Retreat, and POWR+ classes like these are one-day workshops held across the state to help women build upon the skills learned at the retreat.

We were thrilled that our Board Member Hunter Morton and his wife Hope Morton were able to lead this hunt for us. Hunter and Hope are experienced, avid quail hunters. They are the owners of ALL IN Kennels, where they train bird dogs and offer obedience training, so we were lucky to have such knowledgeable instructors. Their friend, Colby, also joined us as a guide.

Ten women joined us for this hunt, and it was the first quail hunt for most participants. After a lunch of delicious venison burgers, a SCDNR Game Warden delivered a safety talk and answered questions. Then Hunter, Hope, and Colby demonstrated the quail hunting procedures so that everyone would feel safe and comfortable in the woods. While the birds were being placed, Hope shared her experiences growing up hunting with her family and talked about being a woman in the upland hunting space.

The group then divided up into two groups of five and headed into the woods for the hunt! It was a joy to get to watch the dogs find the quail. The teamwork with the dogs, all German Shorthaired Pointers, was a special part of the day.

 

At the end of the hunt, the groups met back up to share stories from their experience and Hunter showed the participants how to clean their harvest before everyone headed home.

 

We are grateful to our sponsor, the National Shooting Sports Foundation! Because of their support, all participants received an orange/camo Richardson hat, a safety vest, and Ear/eye protection.

 

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

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. 

 

 

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!

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.