Your tax-deductible gift today will give us an important boost as we look to make 2018 the best year in our history! 

As we leave 2017, our hope for 2018 is that we can continue to grow more effective in boldly representing ALL outdoor enthusiasts. We have been working hard to plan for the new year, and those plans center around reaching new members of all types of backgrounds. We are working on debuting new events to bring supporters together, strengthening our forces and making us unstoppable in the fight for conservation and advocacy.

2017 was a very successful year for SCWF – we expanded our outreach programs, and added popular and exciting new events. We reached nearly 7,000 people this year through classes, presentations, exhibit tables, and special events. We are already planning even more exciting programs for 2018!

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we rely on individual donors for a substantial portion of our operating budget. Although we are affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation, all funds raised stay in South Carolina.

We need your support today as we begin to make plans for 2018!

Please click here to donate online today!

The mission of the SCWF is to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and wildlife habitat through education and advocacy.  

Conservation & Education Program Successes of 2017:

Certified Wildlife Habitats – Hundreds of new backyard habitats have been certified statewide at homes, schools, businesses and other places throughout the community which provide food, water, cover & places to raise young for wildlife. SC is a leader in the nation in the number of certified sites per capita! 

Junior Naturalist Program – Partnered with Camp Discovery and the Midlands Master Naturalist Association to plan nature walks and activities for kids to learn more about wildlife. 

Longleaf Pine Restoration – Through our landowner cost-share and technical assistance program, we have already aided in the enhancement or restoration of over 10,000 acres of longleaf pine. This program fosters sustainable forestry practices and re-establishes valuable habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, as well as important habitat for deer, turkey, and quail.

Midlands Master Naturalist – The Spring 2017 class filled quickly and twenty students completed 12 days of instruction. Our graduates have now joined the Midlands Master Naturalist Association for continuing education & volunteer service. The Spring 2018 class has also filled, and more quickly than ever!

Milkweed for Monarchs – Distributed over 2,000 packets of milkweed seeds for gardeners to re-establish habitat for Monarchs through planting of this crucial food source for the caterpillars.

Naturalist Training Classes – New one-day classes were added to give folks a glimpse of the Master Naturalist experience. We also had certified Master Naturalists from around the state who counted these hours for Advanced Training requirements.  

Community Wildlife Habitats – Two new communities are pursuing registration along with a handful of coastal communities already registered and/or certified.

Palmetto Pro Birder – Added two new instructors – Tim Lee & Steve Patterson – who joined Dr. Drew Lanham in leading classes about bird identification all across the state.  Over 200 people have been trained to identify birds and participate in citizen science projects to gather data for bird conservation programs.

Women’s Outdoor Retreat – Registration filled super early again this year! 180 women registered in just under 1 week to participate in this annual weekend event. We had 40 instructors who enthusiastically volunteered to come and share their passion and expertise.  

Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) – Received funding for 4 new WAIT sites during 2017, bringing our total to 33 certified industrial properties which provide quality wildlife habitat, environmental education for employees, and outreach to their communities.

Advocacy Achievements in 2017:

Seismic blast exploration and offshore oil drilling – The Trump Administration has put South Carolina and other South Atlantic states back on the chopping block, so our wildlife and coastal way of life are again in jeopardy from seismic test blasting and offshore oil development. Along with thousands of other South Carolinians, we will not rest until the southeast coast is declared off-limits to the oil and gas industry – forever.

SC Conservation Bank – The Bank will expire in 2018 unless we rally the troops and succeed with new legislation. The Bank has overwhelming public support, and we will remind legislators of its merits in upcoming months.

Science-Based Conservation – We are continuing SCWF’s legacy of insisting that science, not politics, remain at the forefront in decisions affecting our wildlife.

Clean and Abundant Water – Some of our most cherished rivers and associated groundwater systems last summer saw large volume reductions. We will continue to insist that the state legislature plug the loopholes in the current law that allow large agriculture withdrawals.

Public Lands – Lands owned by all of us and enjoyed by tens of millions each year are under attack by misguided elected and unelected officials in DC. We are working with the National Wildlife Federation and partners in-state to keep public lands in public hands and resist efforts to exploit national forests, parks and monuments.

Your financial support is needed at this time to help us continue these great successes and expand in 2018.

Please click here to donate online today!

THANK YOU for your support!!