Keep South Carolina Wild

Category: Conservation

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

Ticket sales close on Friday, April 3rd, 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

Golden-winged Warbler

Amuse: twice baked sunchokes with Monetta asparagus, bacon, chive

Balestri Valda Soave Classico DOC ’Sengialta’, Italy

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Oyster mushroom bisque, sherry Gouda cream

Vigna Madre Pecorino ‘Becco Reale’, Terre di Chieti IGP, Italy

Roseate Spoonbill

Local beet & strawberry salad, strawberry rose’ vinaigrette, watercress, whipped garlic-dill fromage blanc

Mas des Infermières Source Rosé, Luberon AOP, France

Green Heron

Yellowtail hamachi crudo, black lemon vinaigrette, orange & cumin-scented pickled carrot and cauliflower

Coto de Gomariz ‘Flower and the Bee’ White, Ribeiro D.O., Spain

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Hickory Nut Gap pork cheek braised with spruce tip and rosemary, Carolina Gold rice middlins, fresh peas and truffle

Aguijon de Abeja Cabernet Franc, San Juan, Argentina

Prairie Warbler

Caramel banana budino, sweet cornmeal short cookie, rum whipped crème fraiche, candied cashew

Evolucio Late Harvest Furmint, Hungary

Sponsor

Company Sponsor

Wine Sponsor

SCWF Friends

 Amie & Hunter Garrett

Melanie & Chase Samples

Allison & Anthony Quartararo

Anne & Mark Kaiser

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!

 

 

SCWF Scholarships

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is honored to be in a position to distribute educational grants to full-time students pursuing a degree in any environmental field at South Carolina schools of higher education. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible, based on their performance in academia and in related community activities.

  • Deadline:  October 31st
  • Eligibility: full-time students currently pursuing degrees in any environmental field at South Carolina schools of higher education
  • Awards: $500 scholarships are available
  • Scholarship winners will be announced in January, and awarded in February each year

The applications will need to be submitted online by October 31st, and will address the student’s educational goal and career interests, employment and volunteer experience, including leadership.

In addition, a brief note from a supporting faculty member must also be submitted electronically – please have support letter submitted through this link. Selection will be based on a balance of these factors, and determined by a committee of the Federation Board.

Environmental solutions are not only scientific–they include historical, political, economic and cultural perspectives. The environment includes buildings, highways and ocean tankers as well as pine trees and coyotes. To build a sustainable society, an understanding of social and ecological systems is crucial.

Knowledge lays the groundwork for analyzing environmental problems, resolving conflicts, and preventing new problems from arising. The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is committed to supporting future leaders by helping to provide the financial resources necessary to lay the groundwork for more responsible decision-making tomorrow.

 

These scholarships are funded by contributions from generous individual donors in addition to the ongoing support received from these funds:

  • D. L. Scurry Foundation provides educational scholarship funds for individuals attending colleges, universities and technical schools in South Carolina.
  • The Nicole Chadwick Memorial Fund honors the legacy of an endangered species biologist who made a long-lasting impact on wildlife conservation in South Carolina.
  • The Riverbanks Conservation Support Fund (CSF) provides financial assistance for conservation oriented projects/programs worldwide that promote preservation of the Earth’s biodiversity.

 

Working for Wildlife Day

Friends, volunteers, and staff of Carolina Sandhills NWR along with the SC Wildlife Federation (SCWF) will host a workday at the refuge on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Since 1998, the SCWF and the refuge have collaborated on volunteer projects. We invite you to join us for a day of learning about refuge wildlife as you help conserve and protect valuable natural resources. Anticipated projects include maintaining trails, installing trail and boundary signs, litter pick-up, and repairing boardwalks and kiosks.

If you would like to learn more about this volunteer opportunity, you can check out our blog post from last year’s volunteer day here.

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.

South Carolina Songbird Art Contest

In partnership with Wildlife Forever, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation proudly presents the South Carolina Songbird Art Contest, which is generously sponsored by Dominion Energy. This contest invites K–12 students to explore our native birds through art and creative writing. This fun competition celebrates our feathered friends while encouraging young artists to learn about their habitats and conservation.

The 2025 featured species include the black-and-white warbler, purple finch, Carolina wren, painted bunting, and white-breasted nuthatch.

The Songbird Art Contest invites you to choose a bird, learn its story, and bring it to life through your own art. If you’re in grade 4 or higher, you’ll also write a short creative writing piece to share what makes your bird special.

Judging: There will be first, second, and third place awards given to each of the grade ranges listed below.


Grades K–3

  • 1st Place: Youth Binoculars · Ranger Rick subscription · Prismacolor Art Supplies
  • 2nd Place: Ranger Rick subscription · Prismacolor Art Supplies
  • 3rd Place: Ranger Rick subscription



Grades 4–6

  • 1st Place: Youth Binoculars · South Carolina Bird Guide · Prismacolor Art Supplies
  • 2nd Place: Prismacolor Art Supplies · How to Draw Birds Book
  • 3rd Place: Bird Guide



Grades 7–9

  • 1st Place: Youth Binoculars · South Carolina Bird Guide · Prismacolor Art Supplies
  • 2nd Place: Prismacolor Art Supplies · South Carolina Bird Guide
  • 3rd Place: Prismacolor Art Supplies



Grades 10–12

  • 1st Place: Youth Binoculars · South Carolina Bird Guide · Prismacolor Art Supplies
  • 2nd Place: How to Draw Birds Book · Prismacolor Art Supplies
  • 3rd Place: South Carolina Bird Guide



Please note that all South Carolina state winners will automatically be included in the national contest.

Quick Guidelines

  • Eligibility: Open to all South Carolina students, grades K–12.
  • Artwork: Original, hand-done art only — no digital, AI-generated, or computer-edited images.
  • Writing: Grades 4–12 must include a short creative writing piece (optional for grades K–3).
  • Limit: One entry per student.
  • Deadlines: South Carolina entries due November 30, 2025



For complete contest rules and entry details, visit the Wildlife Forever Songbird Art Contest Rules