Keep South Carolina Wild

Category: Conservation

Earth Day at the Ballpark

SCWF invites you to join us on Wednesday, April 22 for Earth Day at the Ballpark at Segra Park in Columbia. Along with other conservation organizations, SCWF will have a table at the game where visitors can learn all about fireflies, the lightning bugs!

Tickets are just $12.67 to see the Columbia Fireflies take on the Augusta GreenJackets in this friendly regional rivalry that is sure to be fun for the whole family. When you purchase tickets through the link below, you will score a limited-edition Fireflies “COLA” hat with your ticket – a stylish nod to both your team spirit and environmental awareness.

Fireflies of South Carolina: The Natural History and Conservation of Lightning Bugs

How many types of lightning bugs are there in the Palmetto state? Where do they go during the winter? Are fireflies endangered? Join Xerces Society firefly biologist Richard Joyce for an evening presentation about the diversity, natural history and conservation of South Carolina’s lightning bugs, and learn how you can help protect and understand these magical insects.

Banner image credit: Synchronous Fireflies light up the forest at dusk by National Park Service.

2026 Wild Summer Nights Online Auction

This year’s Wild Summer Nights Online Auction runs Friday, July 24th, 9am – Sunday, July 26th, 8pm.

This is our favorite fundraiser because it truly has something for everyone. Whether you are planning your next vacation, event, outdoor adventure, or are looking for a uniquely wonderful gift, you will enjoy bidding on a variety of items for a great cause! All proceeds support our mission to conserve and restore wildlife and habitat through education and advocacy.

If you would like to donate an item or experience, please use the Make an Item Donation below.

If you would like to be a sponsor, read on!

The 2026 auction has a fundraising goal of $100,000, and we need your support to reach this goal! You can support the auction by becoming a sponsor or by donating an item. Sponsorship options:

Presenting, $2,500: featured logo ads & top billing on auction site, event webpage, and press releases. 

Full, $1,500: featured logo ads and top billing on the auction website and top billing on the event webpage.

Half, $750: logo ads and listing on the auction website and event webpage.

Quarter, $375: name listing on the event webpage.

Share your support of wildlife and habitat conservation with our 46,000+ supporters and followers!

 

 

 

Be an auction sponsor!

Make an Item Donation

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Banner Image Credit: Light the Way by Stuart Barfield.

Forks, Knives, & Spoonbills Conservation Dinner at Topsoil Restaurant in Travelers Rest

Ticket sales close on Wednesday, April 1st, or when all tickets have been sold.

Join the South Carolina Wildlife Federation at Topsoil Restaurant in Travelers Rest near Greenville on Wednesday, April 8th,  from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm for a six-course, wine-paired conservation dinner featuring dishes inspired by imperiled bird species created by Executive Chef Adam Cooke.

This year’s featured species include the Eastern whip-poor-will, golden-winged warbler, green heron, prairie warbler, yellow-billed cuckoo, and of course, the roseate spoonbill, whose conservation story inspired this dinner series. We can’t wait to see the menu inspired by these species! As each course is served, SCWF Industry Habitat Manager Jay Keck will share information about each species and the conservation efforts needed to help them thrive.

 

This convivial evening will not disappoint! Purchase your tickets early to ensure that you can join us for this deliciously informative conservation dinner. All funds raised will benefit conservation and education programs at SCWF. Vegan/vegetarian options available. Please note dietary restrictions and seating requests in the Notes field on the ticketing page.

Menu

(preliminary)

Golden-winged Warbler

Amuse: twice baked sunchokes with asparagus, bacon, celery root

 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Oyster mushroom bisque, sherry Gouda cream

 

Roseate Spoonbill

Candy stripe beet salad, strawberry rose’ vinaigrette, watercress, whipped garlic-dill fromage blanc

 

Green Heron

Chilled Broadwater shrimp, black lemon vinaigrette, cumin-scented pickled carrot and orange zest

 

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Hickory Nut Gap pork cheek braised with spruce toss and rosemary, Carolina Gold rice middlins, crisp parsnip and truffle

 

Prairie Warbler

Caramel banana budino, sweet corn sable cookie, rum whipped crème fraiche, candied cashew

 

 

Sponsor

 

 

Company Sponsor

 

 

SCWF Friends

 

 Hunter Garrett

Melanie & Chase Samples

Allison & Anthony Quartararo

Philanthropic Sponsorships


Please consider choosing a sponsorship to further support our mission!

For company sponsorships, you’ll receive two dinner tickets at the $525 level, or four tickets at the $1,050 level, and we’ll include your logo on all of this event’s marketing materials sent out to our 40,000+ supporters and followers, press releases, website, and on the printed menu. 

For SCWF Friend sponsorships, you’ll receive two dinner tickets at the $325 level, or four tickets at the $650 level, and will be recognized by name on the same formats.

 

Thank you to our sponsors for helping us increase our impact for local wildlife. 

FKS dinner refund policy: 90% of ticket price will be refunded for cancellations requested more than one week prior to the event. All refund requests must be made in writing or by email to mail@scwf.org.

Featured image credit: Gathered Around the Plate by Liz List.

Conservation Lobby Day & Oyster Roast

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Join SCWF and the SC Conservation Coalition, a statewide alliance of over 40 conservation organizations, on Tuesday, March 31st for our 23nd annual Lobby Day at the State House and Oyster Roast at 701 Whaley Street!

Be a part of making an impact at the State House while networking and celebrating conservation with fellow volunteers, staff, and elected officials. There is typically an information session beforehand to learn about the current bills, and then time spent lobbying at the State House in the morning, but the schedule is based on the legislative calendar. The oyster roast will be held that evening. Please dress comfortably for a day of walking and standing. Most people will be in business attire.

If you would like to learn more about last year’s event, please read our blog post here.

Banner image credit: The South Carolina State House by Sara Green.

Built by Fire: How Prescribed Fire Benefits Wildlife

Did you know that March is Prescribed Fire Awareness Month in South Carolina? Prescribed fire is a carefully planned and intentionally set burn that mimics the natural fire cycles many ecosystems depend on to stay healthy. In fire-adapted landscapes like the longleaf pine ecosystems of the Southeast, regular low-intensity burns help reduce hazardous fuel buildup, restore native plant communities, and create critical habitat for many species. By safely reintroducing fire under the right weather and management conditions, prescribed burning protects communities from catastrophic wildfires while supporting biodiversity and long-term ecosystem resilience.

Use this button below to register for this free webinar, which will be led by Allyne Askins, the refuge manager at Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge staff use prescribed fire to create critical habitat for species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker.

Litter Sweep at Archer’s Lake

Please join us for another impactful litter sweep at Archer’s Lake in Irmo, SC, on Saturday, March 14th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. We have picked up over 10,000 items of trash over the last 5 years in this area and we look to continue the effective clean-up efforts this year too! This pond hosts wintering waterfowl like ruddy ducks, lesser scaup, and hooded mergansers. In the spring, you can find neotropical birds like the blackpoll warbler and yellow warbler here too.

We hope you join us to help keep this area as clean as possible for the community and the wildlife we love! We will be using the SC Aquarium’s “litter journal” to record the litter we pick up. This type of data encourages data-driven decisions.  The data collected by these pickups is critical in identifying pollution trends in a particular area, as well as promoting discussions about conservation, single-item plastic use in our state, and how trash impacts wildlife.

Invasive Species Cleanup Day

Are you looking for an opportunity to protect South Carolina’s native habitats? If so, please join us at SCWF’s property in Sumter for an Invasive Species Cleanup Day from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Wednesday, February 18th. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants such as Chinese privet, nandina, and English ivy, giving native plants and wildlife a better chance to thrive. Invasive species threaten healthy ecosystems by displacing native plants, altering soil and light conditions, and limiting resources for wildlife.

Please bring water, wear sturdy footwear, and feel free to bring hand tools such as loppers, pruners, or snips if you have them.

Forks, Knives, & Spoonbills Conservation Dinner at The Willcox in Aiken

This event is SOLD OUT! 

Join the South Carolina Wildlife Federation at The Willcox in Aiken from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm for a five-course, wine-paired conservation dinner featuring dishes inspired by imperiled bird species created by Executive Chef Philip Friesen.

This year’s featured species include the Eastern whip-poor-will, golden-winged warbler, green heron, prairie warbler, yellow-billed cuckoo, and of course, the roseate spoonbill, whose conservation story inspired this dinner series. As each course is served, SCWF Industry Habitat Manager Jay Keck will share information about each species and the conservation efforts needed to help them thrive.

 

This convivial evening will not disappoint! Purchase your tickets early to ensure that you can join us for this deliciously informative conservation dinner. All funds raised will benefit conservation and education programs at SCWF. Vegetarian option available.

Menu

Welcome cocktail, inspired by the roseate spoonbill
The Roseate: vodka, elderflower, cranberry, fresh lime juice

First Course, inspired by the prairie warbler
Butternut velouté, crème fraiche

Second Course, inspired by the yellow-billed cuckoo
Frisee, fresh berries, pickled shallots, crumbled feta, citrus vinaigrette

Third Course, inspired by the golden-winged warbler
Filet Oscar, jumbo lump crab, roasted asparagus, cayenne hollandaise

Fourth Course, inspired by the green heron
Seared Sea Bass, parsnip puree, wilted spinach, chili oil, local herbs

Fifth Course, inspired by the Eastern whip-poor-will
Caramel Mocha Cheesecake, chocolate shavings


Presenting Sponsors

 

Sponsors


SCWF Friends


Dennis & Linda Hiltner

AJ & Jan Jackson

Lynn Lewis & David Hawkins

Heidi Dawn & Rick Chalmers

Jess Holm & Jon Boguski


Philanthropic Sponsorships


Please consider choosing a sponsorship to further support our mission!

For company sponsorships, you’ll receive two dinner tickets at the $525 level, or four tickets at the $1,050 level, and we’ll include your logo on all of this event’s marketing materials sent out to our 45,000+ supporters and followers, press releases, website, and on the printed menu. SOLD OUT

For SCWF Friend sponsorships, you’ll receive two dinner tickets at the $325 level, or four tickets at the $650 level, and will be recognized by name on the same formats. SOLD OUT

 

Thank you to our sponsors for helping us increase our impact for local wildlife. 

FKS dinner refund policy: 90% of ticket price will be refunded for cancellations requested more than one week prior to the event. All refund requests must be made in writing or by email to mail@scwf.org.

Featured image: Gathered Around the Plate by Liz List.

Bluebird Volunteer Workday!

Are you looking for an opportunity to help our beautiful bluebirds?  If so, please join us at Camp Discovery in Blythewood, SC, to help give these birds a better chance at being successful parents during the next breeding season. We’ll reduce the amount of vegetation around the boxes, clean out each one, and make any additional adjustments to improve their breeding habitat. We hope to see you there! Please use the button below to sign up to volunteer for this event.

Check out pictures from last year’s volunteer day here!