Keep South Carolina Wild

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!

 

 

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

Water for Wildlife Habitat Workshop

Beat the heat this summer by joining us on Saturday, July 12th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am at the Water for Wildlife Workshop. This is a fun, interactive, and educational workshop where you will learn about the importance of providing water for wildlife and the variety of ways to add water sources to your own yard, garden, or greenspace. Plus, learn how you can get your yard certified as a Certified Wildlife Habitat and make your own bee waterer to take home to help wildlife in your own yard!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Participants will also see a rain barrel demonstration and learn about water conservation and watershed protection from a Water Resources Agent with Sumter County’s Clemson Extension Service and Sumter Soil and Water.

 

 

Be sure to register each participant; up to six family members can be registered at once!

 

Camp Wildwood

Camp Wildwood is a high energy hands on, outdoor environmental camp sponsored by the Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc., the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, South Carolina State Parks, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Camp Wildwood is a fun-filled week during which high school students can experience the many aspects of their natural environment. It is a place to discover that we are part of nature and everything we do in some way affects the natural balance. At Camp Wildwood, you acquire the knowledge and appreciation needed for the protection and wise use of our natural resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camp Wildwood is a place for learning self reliance, self discipline and independence in an outdoors setting. It is a place to build self confidence in relationships with adults and peers, and a place to learn how to cooperate within a group. It is also a place to learn about the diversity of our natural resources and how many career choices there are in the environmental field. Scholarships are available through SCWF – inquire for more information to BeBe Dalton Harrison, SCWF Director of Education.

Plishing Challenge

Have you recently learned to fish? Are you a lifelong angler? Either way, you are in the right spot! PLISHING is a combination of the Swedish phrase “plocka upp”, meaning (litter) pick up, and fishing! Join our challenge and, as you set out on your fishing adventures, you can log your fish as well as litter you pick up and dispose of properly. Each fish caught, fish released, and bag of litter collected can earn you prizes (in addition to enjoying the outdoors and practicing conservation!) Click here to get started!

Join us at one of our events this summer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Families Exploring Nature

What is that bird? What kind of tree is this? Can we go fishing? Parents, do you get these questions all summer once school is out? We’ve got you covered! Register today for the South Carolina Wildlife Federation’s Families Exploring Nature Day in Lexington, South Carolina!

Join our staff on a leisurely nature walk, learn the basics of fishing and try your luck in the pond, plant some native milkweed seeds to take home and help pollinators in your own backyard. This event will run from 9:00-12:00 and registration is only $10 per person!  Come explore with us!

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.

 

Give It A Shot – SCWF Squirrel Hunting Fundraiser

 

Registration deadline is Monday, February 17th, 2025.

 

What: A 4-person team squirrel hunting event held annually to raise money for youth and adults interested in learning how to hunt South Carolina’s small and large game species. Awards will be presented to the winning team.

When: Saturday, February 22, 2025. Hunt begins at legal shooting time, which is customarily 30 minutes before sunrise. Lunch, team tally deadline, and award presentation begins at 12pm in Chapin.

Where: Hunt locations: Any legal hunting property in South Carolina that will allow you to arrive at the lunch venue in Chapin by the team tally deadline at noon. Teams are responsible for securing their own properties to hunt. SCWF staff member Jay Keck can offer suggestions on public land.

How: Stalk, sit, or dogs, shotgun or rifle, is at the discretion of each team and team member. Team members can hunt together, in groups of two, or individually. Just hunt, have fun, and bring back some squirrels. Only one gun per team member: four guns max per team. Please note that “extra buddies” cannot bring guns, hunt, and give you their squirrels.

Cost: Registration is $200 per team. Non-hunting assistants (dog handler, photographer, etc.) may accompany the team and attend the social/lunch for $25 per person.

Other things you need to know about this hunt:

  • Where you hunt is your business and responsibility.
  • Proper utilization of the squirrels you harvest is your responsibility (Jay will take any that you don’t want to utilize yourself).
  • If you’re looking for a strict, highly managed, professionally-run squirrel hunt with a bunch of rules and procedures (other than state or federal laws), this is not the one for you.
  • If you’re looking to spend a great day outdoors with friends or family and raise money to support the next generation of hunters, this event is for you!
  • Team scores will be tallied based on the following criteria:
    • 1 point for each squirrel harvested by a team member
    • 1 additional point for each clean head shot
    • Tie-breaker – TBD and announced at lunch if necessary
    • Legal bag limits of 10 per day per person apply
  • What do you get out of this for $200 a team? Food, fellowship, possibly an award – but most of all you get to join a lot of folks who love the outdoors and love hunting, while supporting our mission to spread this love to others around our beautiful state.
  • $500 sponsorships are encouraged from individuals and companies interested in helping us expand our hunting education presence in SC. The sponsorship will include your 4-person hunting team, lunch, and recognition at the event and events webpage.

 

Thank you to McGuinn Homes and to National Land Realty/ Jim Taylor for sponsoring this event!

 

 

Questions – Contact Jay Keck at (803) 256-0670; mail@scwf.org

Hunting is a sport enjoyed by millions of people – men, women, and children – throughout the world. It is a way to connect to nature and the great outdoors. Hunting allows people to be in the woods and observe wildlife in its natural habitat. It can be a time of peaceful reflection and a time to “disconnect” from our busy world. Squirrel hunting is one of the least expensive ways to hunt – all you need is camouflage clothing, a single-shot rifle, shotgun, or air rifle, and a small-game resident license to legally harvest squirrels. It is a fun activity to spend time with your family and friends!

Hunting is an effective wildlife conservation tool and is ethical when done responsibly and sustainably. Hunting aids in population control by removing excess animals and keeping them in balance with the habitat. When wildlife populations exceed the land’s carrying capacity, starvation and disease impacts the animals.  Hunting maintains the balance of the ecosystem by managing predator and prey populations as well as helping with disease management. Growing populations of predators like coyotes are maintained through hunting.

Hunters provide valuable information to state and federal agencies so appropriate seasons and bag limits can be determined. Hunters follow state and federal laws to ensure they are not harming nature but helping it. Hunters contribute a significant amount of revenue to states, generating billions of dollars annually through hunting licenses, taxes on firearms and ammunition. These funds support wildlife conservation efforts and state wildlife agency personnel. The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies estimates that 60% of funding for these agencies come from hunters.

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.