Outdoor Heritage Institute
Outdoor Heritage Institute Mission
The Outdoor Heritage Institute exists to pass on our Outdoor Heritage through conservation education and the promotion of sustainable outdoor recreation.
Outdoor Heritage Institute Vision
An America where conserving natural resources and preserving the legacy of our Outdoor Heritage are shared national values, embraced by every community and championed by every citizen.
Conservation Education & Outdoor Recreation Public Awareness Campaign
SCWA is working to educate the general public, nonprofit organizations, corporations, state and federal natural resource agencies about SCWA conservation education programs and the need to replicate these successful programs across the nation in order to create the next generation of natural resource conservationists. SCWA staff also work to increase public awareness of the benefits of outdoor conservation education. These benefits include significant improvements in the mental and physical health of youth who participate in outdoor conservation education programs and outdoor recreation. Public awareness initiatives include:
Mega Conservation Education Raffle
Social media and email marketing for
the Mega Conservation Education Raffle reaches over 22 million people on an annual basis generating interest and awareness of the benefits of conservation education programs and outdoor recreation.
National Conservation Conference & Presentations on SCWA's Conservation Education Programs
SCWA CEO, David Wielicki was a
featured speaker at the 2023 National R3 conference highlighting the Nation’s leading wildlife conservation education center and its conservation education programs. David has also made presentations to key committees in the South Carolina legislature to promote conservation education.
SCWA staff will attend several upcoming
events to promote the OHI mission. These
include attendance at the September Washington, D.C. meeting of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, meetings with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and operation of an OHI booth at the December 9 – 12 2025 National Assembly of Sportsmen’s caucus meeting in Memphis.
Conservation Education and Outdoor Recreation Policy Education
In 2025, SCWA worked with conservation minded legislators in the South Carolina General Assembly to pass the South Carolina Conservation Education Act (S.165). The act was introduced by Senators Chip Campsen, Jeffrey Graham and Ed Sutton. The act was signed in to law by SC governor Henry McMaster creating the SC Conservation Education Fund. The fund will be administered by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and will provide funding for thousands of 4th grade students to annually attend accredited 1 to 3 day outdoor conservation education camps across South Carolina. The SCWA Wildlife Education Center and our Camp Leopold school year conservation education camp will be listed as one of the certified programs schools can choose to attend. Other conservation education program providers include the Clemson University Learning Institute, Nemours Wildlife Foundation and Interlaken Wildlife Foundation.
South Carolina Conservation Education Act
OHI will promote the South Carolina Conservation Education Act as a model for other states to replicate across the country. Joining us in this effort is the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation who will work with their 50 state Sportsmen’s Caucuses to introduce a similar bill in each state. This initiative will have a major impact on conservation education and youth development across the nation.
Hosting Conservation Organization and Agency Meetings at theSCWA Wildlife Education Center
The facilities at the 1,342 acre SCWA wildlife education center provide an excellent location for conservation leaders and educators to meet to help advance the OHI mission and the mission of each nonprofit conservation organization, state and federal natural resource agency utilizing the facility. Visiting the nation’s largest wildlife education center increases public awareness of SCWA conservation education programs and motivates people to develop similar programs in their home state. These collaborative meetings also help to improve SCWA education programs.
Recent Events
Recent events have included hosting the 2024 Professional Outdoor Media Association conference, the annual “Conservation Educators Round Table Conference”, the April 2025 Board of Directors meeting of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the South Carolina Waterfowl Advisory Committee meeting.
The future completion of the 22 room J.M. Smith Conservation Center (September 2026) and the 20,000 square foot SCWA Conservation Education/Conference Center will enable SCWA to host large conservation conferences for up to 500 people.
Outdoor Heritage Cultural Events
These events help to introduce people from across the country to the Nation’s largest Wildlife Education Center and SCWA conservation education programs. Key events include the annual BirdFest Blue Grass Festival which annually occurs the first weekend in May (May 1-2, 2026) and the Outdoor Heritage Expo that will launch March 5-6, 2027.
BirdFest
BirdFest is a family oriented event that features top talent blue grass bands and youth outdoor activities including fishing, live animal exhibits, canoeing, zip lines, climbing tower and high ropes skypark activities for all youth who attend. The event is a wonderful celebration of our Outdoor and Blue Grass Music Heritage. The Steep Canyon Rangers are the annual host band.
The Outdoor Heritage Expo
The Outdoor Heritage Expo will feature the nation’s leading outdoor industry companies with lead Sponsors like Honda Powersports, Palmetto State Armory, Rather Outdoors and TrueTimber Camo. Attendees will be able to try out the latest and greatest in outdoor equipment with guidance and how to seminars from leading industry experts from across thecountry.
Outdoor Heritage Research
OHI will participate in future research projects to analyze the impact of SCWA conservation education programs. Research will study the impact of Camp Leopold and Camp Woodie on the mental and physical well-being of campers along with the development of conservation literacy among campers. Long term research will track outdoor recreation participation, hunting, fishing and recreational shooting sports participation of campers as they age to determine the effectiveness of the Camp Woodie and Camp Leopold program. Parent and camper survey research will also help SCWA to improve programs for greater outcomes.
SCWA & Local Duck Clubs' Economic Impact
A recent OHI study was completed in
2024 to analyze the economic impact of Clarendon and Sumter county waterfowl
hunting clubs that have been developed with the assistance of SCWA staff since
1994. Results from the research survey
are listed is the provided graphic.
