"I loved working at this event. Coming back to my home in the upstate of SC and getting to talk to kids about the nature and animals around them was really meaningful to me.” Ari Hippensteal.
On Saturday, September 30, an estimated 2,000 youth and adults attended the annual National Hunting & Fishing Day event at Oconee County’s South Cove County Park near Seneca. This free event offers many hands-on opportunities to learn the basics of outdoor skills like fishing, archery, and shooting with an air-rifle. Traditionally celebrated the fourth Saturday in September, this day also promotes the contribution of hunters and anglers to conservation and connects hunters and anglers to programs in their state. SCWF has been a proud partner in this event for many years!
SCWF’s booth featured educational animal pelts, Ranger Rick magazines, and an art activity about wildlife! The education animals were a big draw, especially our muskrat. Ari Hippensteal, our Community Outreach Manager, talked to kids and adults who wanted to know more about the native South Carolina wildlife which might be difficult to see up close otherwise. Feeling the fur of the bobcat or the waterproof plumage of the mallard duck gave the visitors a hands-on experience that was a new experience for many. We were also grateful to the hunters who stopped by to share personal stories about the importance of habitat conservation for the future of wildlife in our state.
