Events Archives - South Carolina Wildlife Federation

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

Presenting 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.

Featured image: Gathered Around the Plate by Liz List.

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.

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.

Banner image credit: Redheads flying by Vance Solseth.

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