Education Archives - Page 2 of 5 - South Carolina Wildlife Federation

Carolina Bay Workshop

This one-day class will focus on Carolina Bays, unique anomalies present in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain. These odd depressions in the landscape have puzzled naturalists for many decades. They host an important and unique ecology because of their hydrology. While isolated from any tributaries, bays often hold water in winter and spring, then drying by mid-summer. Many plants and animals have come to specialize in these conditions. Savage Bay presents a unique opportunity for observation because of its accessibility and the beautiful pond cypress savanna within.

The trail to the bay will take us through a Sandhills scrub oak forest. We’ll explore Sandhills plants including the four scrub oaks. TLC had a song about scrubs, you know. They didn’t “want no scrub,” but I love scrubs, so we’re going to talk about them. Other common plants are poison oak, persimmon, and sandhills hawthorn. With any luck, a few fall wildflowers will still be blooming.

Before entering the bay, we’ll discuss various hypotheses for the formation of these features before narrowing down the explanations to the one currently most supported by scientific evidence. I’ll hold you in suspense until then. I will also explain the ecological importance of Carolina bays, with examples from the scientific literature and a discussion of their current level of protection.

Along the bay border, we will explore a pocosin plant community, host to species such as redbay, sweetbay, fetterbush, titi, and gallberry. The middle of the bay opens up into a picturesque plant community known as the pond cypress savanna. In addition to the pond cypress and water tupelo, we’ll see honeycup (Zenobia) and pondspice (Litsea), a rare shrub in South Carolina.

While the Sandhills grow more silent in the fall, animals will also be addressed, especially those unique to this ecoregion. Bird species associated with these Sandhills include brown-headed nuthatches, chipping sparrows, and pine warblers.

We’ll travel around the block to Goodale State Park for a late lunch, some prize giveaways, and a walk by the water before our day concludes.

This training will begin at Savage Bay Heritage Preserve. We will email more specific directions before the trip. In the meantime, more information about the site can be found here: Savage Bay Heritage Preserve.

When: Tentative date is Wednesday, June 17, 2026; We will start at 9 AM. The day will conclude between 2 and 3 PM.

Who: This training is open to the public. No prior knowledge is required. Minimum age is 16. Participants will receive city info of other participants to encourage carpooling.

This class will be taught by Austin Jenkins, who teaches and facilitates the popular Midlands Master Naturalist class for the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. Jenkins teaches Natural History of South Carolina at USC Sumter.

IMPORTANT: Participants should be in good physical shape. Savage Bay has relatively flat terrain, but we may cover some distance. Savage Bay does not have trails, so we will be walking through vegetation and on uneven ground. You should be prepared to possibly encounter briars, mosquitoes, chiggers, and ticks. Poison ivy is present in the bay.

Cost: The cost is $75.00 per person.

To ensure a quality experience for all, space is strictly limited to 15 participants. Classes fill quickly, register today! After registration, you will receive an email with lodging recommendations, directions, and any other details pertinent to the class.

Other Important Notes:

• If available, bring binoculars.
• Restrooms are not available at Savage Bay Heritage Preserve. It is best to leave early enough to stop at a restroom before 9 AM. Otherwise, the woods are available. There are restrooms at Goodale State Park.

• Participants should bring a bag lunch and water and be prepared for a day in the field.

• There is no rain date for this event. I will make every effort to hold it, even in a few rain showers. If the weather or conditions necessitate cancellation, I will notify you and refund your money.

• After registering, you will receive important correspondence via email. If you change your email between now and then, make sure to notify me.

• The bay is typically dry this time of year, but the soil could be mucky in some parts of it.

Day of the Dragon

This class is full! Please add yourself to the waiting list here.

Join us for an investigation into the exciting natural history of dragonflies and damselflies! These majestic creatures grace our waters on the wing throughout the summer in South Carolina, where we boast over a hundred species that come in all shapes, sizes, and incredible colors.

Goodale State Park, in the heart of the South Carolina Sandhills, is bursting with a bountiful regiment of these regal creatures. During our day, we’ll analyze each part of the dragonfly, from the eyes to legs to the wings to the tail, investigating the related biology of each aspect. We’ll mosey down to the aquatic habitats the dragons call home. This includes a large millpond that hosts a large number of skimmers, pennants, and pond damsels. We’ll also investigate the backwoods, where the running water gives rise to a completely different assemblage of dragons and damsels, to include jewelwings, rubyspots, and several dancer species.

In addition to surveying the sky, we’ll use the dip nets to capture larval dragonflies and damselflies, examining their differences and underwater lifestyles along with the associated biota with which they coexist. Dragonfly life also demands diverse aquatic vegetation, and we’ll discuss several of these plant species and the important strata they form upon the water.

By the end of the day, you’ll be able to:
1. Discuss the connections between form and function of dragonfly anatomy
2. Successfully identify several species of dragonflies and damselflies
3. Understand the variety of ecological requirements needed to support dragonfly life
4. Predict species assemblages associated with particular aquatic habitats

Where: This training will take place at Goodale State Park just outside of Camden, South Carolina. Meet at Picnic Shelter 1. Enter the park and just keep driving. Go past the community building, past the ranger station, and around the bend where dragonflies dwell. The website, which includes directions, can be found by clicking here.

When: Wednesday, June 10. We will meet at 9:00 AM. The day will conclude sometime around 2:00 PM.

Who: This training is open to the public. No prior knowledge is required. Minimum age is 16. For SC Master Naturalists who have not taken a dragonfly course, this event can count as Advanced Training (4.5 training hours) and towards your statewide certification if you need a Sandhills component. If you are not a Master Naturalist, just come have fun with us. Participants will also receive contact info of other participants to allow for carpooling to the park.

IMPORTANT: Participants should be in good physical shape. We will be outdoors during the whole class, and it may be HOT. In addition, we will be on our feet most of the day.

Cost: The cost is $75.00 per person.

To ensure a quality experience for all, space is strictly limited to 20 participants. Classes fill quickly, register today! After registration, you will receive an email with lodging recommendations, directions, and any other details pertinent to the class.

Other Important Notes:

Restrooms are available at the park.

Participants should bring a bag lunch and water and be prepared for a day in the field.
There is no rain date for this event. We will make every effort to hold it, even in a few rain showers. If we can’t make it happen due to weather or some other situation, we will refund your money.

After registering you will receive important correspondence via email – if you change your email between now and then, make sure to notify us.

If available, please bring binoculars and a hand lens. If you have a dragonfly book, bring it, but this is not required or necessary. Otherwise, we will have several copies of field guides so that you can choose one for future studies. Feel free to bring an insect net if you have one. Otherwise, we will have some available.

SCWF reserves the right to cancel any event, due to unforeseen circumstances, extreme weather, low registration, or guidance from local/state officials. Any cancellation by SCWF will result in a full refund for all registrants.

Featured Image Credit: Amanda’s Pennant by Allison Bugarin.

Banner Image: Eastern Pond Hawk by Allison Bugarin.

Field Herpetology

This class is full! Please add yourself to the waiting list here.

Spend a day in the field discovering what it means to be a herpetologist! This hands-on program focuses on reptiles and amphibians—some of the most fascinating and elusive species in our region. Both groups play key roles in ecosystem health and serve as excellent environmental indicators. During the day, you’ll learn about field methods researchers use to monitor these species and gain experience applying techniques such as aquatic trapping and coverboard surveys. Along the way, we’ll encounter the incredible diversity that defines our local herpetofauna.

The workshop takes place at Salleyland, a private property owned by the Gibbons Family. The site features a rich mix of habitats, from flowing blackwater creeks to managed upland pine forests. The Gibbons Family generously opens the property to environmental groups and educational programs as part of an ongoing effort to document the species found there. All species observations from this course will contribute to that inventory.

Be prepared for a true field experience—expect hot, muddy conditions and several hours of walking (approximately 2+ miles) through varied terrain. Long pants and knee-high boots or shoes that can get muddy are required. Bring plenty of water and snacks, and consider packing a change of clothes. We’ll wrap up the morning with a group lunch and discussion of our findings. Please pack your own lunch if you plan to join for this portion of the day.

Instructor: This class will be led by Jake Zadik, a naturalist and biologist based in the South Carolina Lowcountry with a lifelong passion for herpetology. Jake collaborates with local communities to provide natural history programs, conduct field research, and offer guidance on land and habitat management. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with the region’s diverse reptile and amphibian species—as well as many other taxa—with current projects focusing on Copperheads and Diamondback Terrapins.

Jake is an active instructor with the Charleston Master Naturalist Program, where he leads the herpetology portion of the course. In 2018, he co-founded the South Carolina Herpetological Society—an effort that has since grown into South Carolina Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (SCPARC), where he continues to serve as co-chair.

IMPORTANT: Participants should be in good physical shape. We will be outdoors during the whole class, and it may be hot. In addition, we will be on our feet most of the day.

Cost: The cost is $75.00 per person.

To ensure a quality experience for all, space is strictly limited to 12 participants. Classes fill quickly, register today! After registration, you will receive an email with lodging recommendations, directions, and any other details pertinent to the class.
Other Important Notes:

Participants should bring a bag lunch and water and be prepared for a day in the field.
There is no rain date for this event. We will make every effort to hold it, even in a few rain showers. If we can’t make it happen due to weather or some other situation, we will refund your money.
After registering you will receive important correspondence via email – if you change your email between now and then, make sure to notify us.

Featured Image Credit: Southern two-lined salamander by Jake Zadik.

Banner Image Credit: Timber rattlesnake by Jake Zadik.

Women’s Turkey Camp

Registration will start at 12:00 pm on Friday March 6, 2026.

Join the South Carolina Wildlife Federation and the women of Artemis South Carolina for 2 days of turkey hunting and camping in the Sumter National Forest Sunday, April 5 – Tuesday, April 7, 2026. All experience levels are welcome. Space is limited so that our group remains safe and manageable.

Featured image credit: Tom Turkey by Teresa Kopec.

Banner image credit: Path to Nowhere by Andrew May.

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.

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.

POWR+: Women’s Fly Fishing Day

This class is full! Please add yourself to the waiting list here.

Join other like-minded outdoors women and take part in this incredible fly fishing experience in upstate South Carolina on Friday, April 17, from 9 am to 3 pm. This event is designed for women to connect with each other and feel confident on the water. All levels are welcome and space is limited. We will have several instructors for those who need a refresher, but experienced anglers will be able to hit the water upon arrival with an experienced guide. Having your own gear is encouraged but not required.

This is a POWR+ event. Due to the demand for our Palmetto Outdoors Women Retreat (POWR), we have added (+) one-day workshops across the state. POWR+ events are open to all women whether you have attended the retreat or not.

To ensure a quality experience for all, space is strictly limited to 10 participants. Classes fill quickly, register today! After registration, you will receive an email with directions and other details pertinent to the class.

Check out pictures from the 2023 Fly Fishing event here.

Location: The meeting location is Chattooga River Fly Shop; 6832-A Highlands Hwy, Mountain Rest, SC 29664.

Cost: The cost is $100 per person and limited to the first 10 people that register.

POWR+ Spring Hike at Forty Acre Rock

This class is full! Please add yourself to the waiting list here.

Join us for a POWR+ Spring Hike at Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve in Kershaw. This guided hike will be led by Tara Boone and Heather Bock, certified Midlands Master Naturalists, who will share their knowledge of the preserve’s unique geology, native plants, and seasonal wildlife.

Participants will explore multiple areas of the preserve, including the iconic 14-acre granite outcrop, while connecting with nature and other like-minded women in a supportive outdoor setting. If you would like to see pictures from a previous spring hike, please check out this blog post.

This hike costs $40 and is limited to 20 women, so please sign up quickly if you would like to join us. Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of water.

This class is part of our POWR Series. Due to the demand for our Palmetto Outdoors Women’s Retreat (POWR), we have added (+) one-day workshops across the state. POWR+ events are open to all women whether you have attended the retreat or not.

Palmetto Pro Birders: Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center

This class is full! Please add yourself to the waiting list here.

Spend the day birding and exploring one of South Carolina’s most important coastal conservation areas at the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center for our ducks & birding day. This immersive field experience highlights the role of managed wetlands, brackish marshes, and longleaf pine forests in supporting waterfowl, migratory birds, and diverse wildlife communities.

This class will be led by Jamie Dozier, wildlife biologist at the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center. Jamie received a BS and MS in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Clemson University and is a Certified Wildlife Biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for the past 26 years. He currently serves as Project Leader at the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center near Georgetown and prior to that he worked as a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program. Jamie also serves on the Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences Alumni Advisory Board, the Career and Technology Advisory Board for the Georgetown County School District, and on the Board of Directors for Georgetown County Farm Bureau.

Participants will travel by pontoon boat across the Intracoastal Waterway and board a bus to visit multiple habitats selected based on seasonal bird activity. Species observed may include ducks, herons, egrets, shorebirds, and woodland birds, depending on conditions and timing.

The trip includes several short walks on a relatively level ground. Please bring binoculars, a bag lunch, and a drink. If you have a scope or camera, feel free to bring those as well. The program runs from 9:45 am to approximately 2:00 pm. Early arrival is encouraged for anyone interested in birding the parking area and adjacent marsh habitats prior to departure.

Where: Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center.

Who: This training is open to the public. No prior knowledge is required. Minimum age is 16. This training will count for one day toward Palmetto Pro Birder certification (8 days needed total). For SC Master Naturalists, this event can count as Advanced Training and towards your statewide certification. If you are not a Pro Birder or Master Naturalist, just come have fun with us.

Other Important Notes:

If available, please bring binoculars & your favorite field guide to Eastern birds.
Restrooms are available, and pink and blue bushes are along the trail…
After registering, you will receive important correspondence via email. If you change your email between now and then, make sure to notify us.

Cost: The cost is $75.00 per person and limited to the first 12 people that register.

IMPORTANT: Participants should be in good physical shape. Birding involves a lot of standing, and we may cover some distance in our field work.

PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOU CAN HANDLE THESE CONDITIONS.

Banner image credit: Redheads flying by Vance Solseth.

Featured image credit: Northern Shovelers (male and female) by Charles Rucinski.

iNaturalist 101: Documenting South Carolina’s Biodiversity

Would you like to learn more about iNaturalist? If so, join us on Thursday, January 22 at noon for a webinar with Phil Harpootlian, who is a retired electrical engineer and lifelong naturalist with a deep focus on South Carolina’s biodiversity. He is the author of two Clemson University publications on South Carolina scarab and jewel beetles, as well as several peer-reviewed journal articles. A longtime member of the South Carolina Association of Naturalists, Phil currently concentrates on documenting species across the state through iNaturalist. He has created over 100 iNaturalist projects covering South Carolina’s state parks, heritage preserves, state and national forests, and local parks, helping make biodiversity data more accessible to researchers and the public.