South Carolina Wildlife Federation is sponsoring our 22nd Annual Wildlife Photography Contest. Send us your best photographs that capture the natural beauty of South Carolina’s wildlife and their habitats - in your own backyard or anywhere in the state.
Come count pollinators with us! Join SCWF staff at the Richland Library of Ballentine for a BioBlitz in the pollinator gardens.
Get ready for a fantastic class on caterpillars, butterflies, and other insects at the beautiful Rocky Branch Natural Area in Little Mountain, SC, on Thursday, September 19th. Dr. David Coyle will talk about all things Lepidoptera (fancy talk for moths and butterflies) before we begin exploring the native trees, shrubs, and perennials in search of caterpillars.
Join Captain Tanya Dowdy to learn about “Amping up your Artificial Arsenal”. Tanya is a passionate angler and absolutely loves catching fish on artificial bait. And fall is one of the very best times to do it!
Join the South Carolina Wildlife Federation at The Willcox in Aiken for a five-course, wine-paired conservation dinner featuring dishes inspired by imperiled bird species created by Executive Chef Philip Friesen.
National Public Lands Day is back! Join the Palmetto Trail and South Carolina Wildlife Federation in a day of appreciation for our public lands! Together with Palmetto Trail, we will be hosting a nature hike along the Awendaw Passage.
Join Amber Von Harten, certified SC Master Naturalist and marine scientist, for a natural history excursion through some of the coastal habitats of SCDNR's Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve/ Wildlife Management Area.
Black bellies, yellow throats, and blue wings - all in one amazing place! You are invited to sign up for a bird walk at Phinizy Swamp led by Jay Keck, SCWF’s Industry Habitat Manager. This birding paradise is located in Augusta, Georgia, and holds many species of migratory warblers, waterfowl, and shorebirds. Twenty-two warbler species have been recorded during the first week of October in this park!
The Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreat (POWR) is a weekend event designed for women to experience nature and outdoor recreation with like-minded ladies in a non-competitive environment. POWR Up will offer longer classes to allow for in-depth instruction on each topic. Each participant will be able to leave the classes feeling confident to try their new skill on their own!
Come feast on delicious wild oysters with SCWF and help raise funds for coastal wildlife conservation! Natural habitat is disappearing at an alarming rate, and local wildlife need our help to conserve and restore the woods, waters and wetlands on which they depend.
Join the South Carolina Wildlife Federation at Between the Antlers in Georgetown for a five-course, wine-paired conservation dinner featuring dishes inspired by imperiled bird species created by Executive Chef Chelsea Cribb and Chef Scott Dwyer.
You are invited to join us for SCWF's holiday drop in! This is a great chance to start your holiday shopping early, and enjoy light refreshments while chatting with our staff. Check out our merchandise page to see which items you would like to purchase for yourself or the outdoor enthusiasts in your life!
The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is partnering with the Harbison Community Association and Keep Midlands Beautiful for a litter sweep at Archer’s Lake in Irmo on Saturday, September 14.
Oconee County’s South Cove County Park near Seneca will again be celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day this fall, with a FREE family event which is open to the public. Learn the basics of fishing: how to bait a hook and cast a line into the lake! Shoot an air-rifle, learn the basics of archery, fly-tying and fly fishing. All gear is provided!
Get ready for a fantastic class on caterpillars, butterflies, and other insects at the beautiful Poinsett State Park in Wedgefield, SC, on Friday, September 13th. Dr. David Coyle will talk about all things Lepidoptera (fancy talk for moths and butterflies) before we begin exploring the native trees, shrubs, and perennials in search of caterpillars.
Some call them "creepy" and some call them "cool." Either way, spiders are infinitely interesting, and this workshop is designed to help you discover some the amazing attributes that make them so. The day will include a close-up view of spider morphology, analyzing the features that make spider life a success. We’ll have opportunities to distinguish the sexes of spiders, surely a skill you've long desired to acquire. Through our discussion and discovery you’ll gain a better understanding of the different types of webs spiders spin, including how and why they are spun. Their silk is symbolic of the many connections they make in nature, and we'll have conversations about that too.
Some call them "creepy" and some call them "cool." Either way, spiders are infinitely interesting, and this workshop is designed to help you discover some the amazing attributes that make them so. The day will include a close-up view of spider morphology, analyzing the features that make spider life a success. We’ll have opportunities to distinguish the sexes of spiders, surely a skill you've long desired to acquire. Through our discussion and discovery you’ll gain a better understanding of the different types of webs spiders spin, including how and why they are spun. Their silk is symbolic of the many connections they make in nature, and we'll have conversations about that too.
Join SCWF at the Chapin Town Hall pollinator garden on Friday, August 23rd as we celebrate the 2024 Great Southeast Pollinator Census! We will be counting the number of pollinators that land on pollinator plants, all while learning about the differences between different species of bees, butterflies, and more.
Join the staff from the South Carolina Wildlife Federation and officers from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for a POWR+ Shooting Experience at Wateree Range in Eastover, SC.
SCWF’s Wild Summer Nights Online Auction - one of our favorite annual fundraising events - supports SCWF’s mission of Keeping SC Wild through Conserving, Advocating, Restoring, and Educating! Bidding opens Friday July 19th and runs through Sunday July 21.
Join the South Carolina Wildlife Federation at The Hollow in Columbia for a five-course, wine-paired conservation dinner featuring dishes inspired by imperiled bird species created by Executive Chef Danté Serra.
Road trip! By late June, many birds have migrated from SC, so let's migrate to the birds! With a higher elevation, the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC are home to many neo-tropical species like the Canada Warbler and Cerulean Warbler during the breeding season. Other birds we only see in the winter, like the Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, and the Hermit Thrush, also breed there and sing their sweet songs, which we don't get to hear during the non-breeding season. Along with those spectacular birds, we will also have the chance to see an amazing bird called the Red Crossbill, a species only found in the Blue Ridge Mountains in our part of the country. Irvin Pitts and Jay Keck will be guiding a group of ten at various lookout spots and parks along the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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.
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.
You are invited to come see our new office location at 1519 Richland Street. Come hang out with the SCWF staff, enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, and check out our new native plant pollinator garden. This is also a great time to pick up coffee or any other merchandise that you have been eyeing. We hope to see you soon!
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!)
Join us for a celebration of cicadas and spider lilies at Landsford Canal State Park. This year is a momentous one because it includes the emergence of the 13-year, periodical cicadas. These are not your everyday cicadas. Instead, members of this “Great Southern Brood” have been hiding underneath the ground, sucking on tree roots for over a decade.
You are invited to join us for a planting volunteer day at our new office on Monday, May 13! Please bring your planting implements but lunch will be provided by SCWF. Sign up using the button below and list “Planting Day” as the opportunity you are interest in.
Join the South Carolina Wildlife Federation at The Club at Keowee Key for a six-course, wine-paired conservation dinner featuring dishes inspired by imperiled bird species created by Chef Shane White. 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!
Spring birds and mountain views at the beautiful Hotel Domestique! Come explore the lively grounds of the hotel with Jay Keck, SCWF's on-staff bird enthusiast, to find many of the eye-catching migratory birds arriving to SC from their wintering grounds in Central and South America! Birds like the scarlet tanager, yellow-billed cuckoo, and the indigo bunting will be singing to attract mates, making it a great time to practice your birding-by-ear skills with Jay.
Join the South Carolina Wildlife Federation at Hotel Domestique’s Restaurant 17 in Travelers Rest near Greenville for a six-course conservation dinner featuring dishes inspired by imperiled bird species created by Chef Haydn Shaak, the 2022 South Carolina Chef Ambassador Winner . 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.
We are thrilled to offer POWR (Palmetto Outdoors Women’s Retreat) at the Clemson Outdoor Lab. This event is designed for women to experience nature and outdoor recreation with like-minded ladies in a non-competitive environment. Archery, nature walks, kayaking, fishing, outdoor cooking, and photography are just a few of the 20 or more classes from which to choose. Participants will have the opportunity to select up to 8 classes and be introduced to many outdoor activities.
Did you know that over 30 Warbler species can be seen in the Midlands during the last week of April? Join Jay Keck, SCWF's bird guide, and admitted Warbler addict, to search for these tiny and beautiful songbirds at Rocky Branch Natural Area in Little Mountain, SC. This is one of Jay's favorite places to walk during spring migration.
The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is partnering with the Harbison Community Association and the South Carolina Aquarium for a litter sweep at Archer’s Lake in Irmo, SC. on Saturday, March 9th. Archer’s Lake can be a great place for wintering waterfowl, but unfortunately it can also be filled with a significant amount of litter.
Join the South Carolina Wildlife Federation at Napa at Kingsley in Fort Mill for a six-course, wine-paired conservation dinner featuring dishes inspired by imperiled bird species created by Chef David Sears. 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!
Join SCWF, SC DNR, and SC Audubon as they discuss how light pollution impacts migratory birds and what we can do to help them.
On April 28, 2023, over 21 million birds crossed South Carolina in a single night! Every year, billions of birds migrate north in the spring and south in the fall, the majority of them flying at night, navigating with the night sky. The dark skies allow the migrating birds to avoid predators, take advantage of calmer air, and utilize the moon and stars for navigation.
Would you like to learn more about snakes, while having the opportunity to see several SC species? Come walk with local expert Brandon Eargle to hear about the variety of snakes we have in the Southeast, what habitats support which species, and which species are in your area.
Inspired by our popular Palmetto Women’s Outdoor Retreat (POWR), this guided spring hike at Forty Acre Rock is an outing for women to enjoy the vast beauty of one of the state’s most unique heritage preserves, featuring a large granite outcropping that provides habitat to the endangered Pool Sprite and countless wildflowers such as Elf Orpine, Piedmont Sandwort, and Puck’s Orpine just to name a few.
Established in 1939, Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge is celebrating is 85th anniversary this year! You are invited to celebrate with us on March 16.
Students learn identification skills, ecological concepts, and natural history of the plants, animals, and ecosystems encountered. Students will see how this knowledge can be applied to manage for wildlife and to ensure that human impacts on our Earth are sustainable. Through the established connections, participants will develop the skills necessary to become lifelong students of nature and environmental volunteers in their community.
In celebration of World Wildlife Day, join SCWF staff and friends for a fun evening celebrating our local wildlife right here in South Carolina! Our soiree will have a delectable spread of food by Scott Hall & Paella South as well as an open bar by Twist. All proceeds will support our conservation, advocacy, restoration, and education programs.
This winter module will take us to the "ends of the earth"-well almost--at least as far as South Carolina is concerned! We will visit the Palmetto State's ACE basin where birds abound in one of the east coast's premiere birding areas. We'll concentrate on wintering waterfowl and the wetlands they require. Bear Island and Donnelley WMA are featherful destinations that should not be missed! Join Instructor Irvin Pitts for a full day of wandering and winter waterfowl!
