The South Carolina Waterfowl Association takes pride in working closely with a large number of conservation partners ranging from state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, corporations, and individuals. These partnerships focus on furthering SCWA’s mission to enhance and perpetuate our wildlife heritage through education and habitat conservation.
— Camp Woodie Scholarship Partners —
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR)
Children’s Homes
SCWA Chapters
Individuals
Foundations
Corporate Donors
175 Camp Woodie scholarships funded in 2022
30 scholarships distributed for SCDNR’s Take One Make One (TOMO) program
Other scholarships are distributed on a needs basis to children across South Carolina and to children’s homes, including Connie Maxwell, Croswell Center, Alpha Center, & Children’s Attention Center.
The mission of Camp Woodie is to “pass on our wildlife heritage to the next generation.”
— Camp Leopold Corporate Partners —
Bass Pro Shops – 563 student days
Duke Energy – 375 student days
Dominion Energy – 563 student days
Wells Fargo – 469 student days
Nucor Steel – 300 student days
Ward & Vessel – 188 student days
Zeus Industrial Products, Inc. – 94 student days
South Carolina Farm Bureau – 188 student days
Berkeley Electric Cooperative Inc. – 94 student days
O’Dell Corporation – 188 student days
Marshall Air Systems – 57 student days
House of Raeford – 188 student days
Omaha Community Foundation – 94 student days
Energy Solutions – 28 student days
International Paper – Program Supplies Donations
Walmart – 38 student days
Brooks Engineering – 38 student days
ESSER Fund District Partners:
Clarendon 2 School District
Sumter School District
Lexington 2 School District
SC Charter Schools
Greenwood 51 School District
Over 5,375 Camp Leopold scholarships will be provided to schools across South Carolina in 2022
The mission of Camp Leopold is “to create an ecologically literate citizenry by heightening student awareness of the natural world, fine-tuning the skills necessary to read the landscape, and instilling a love, respect, and admiration for the land so that each individual might develop a personal land ethic.”
— Ring-necked Duck Research Partners —
Delta Waterfowl
United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
University of Georgia
SCWA provided $33,000 to fund tracking radios for 10 Ring-necked ducks and provided staff labor and land to catch 30 ducks for study.
— South Carolina Wildlife Partnership (SCWP) Partners —
SCDNR
Private Landowners
SCWA annually provides $10,000 to SCWP to help generate additional private land hunts for public hunters. SCWA also donates waterfowl hunting opportunities for over 50 public draw hunters. SCWA Chief Executive Officer, David Wielicki and SCWA Board member Buford Mabry are founding board members of SCWP.
— Pintail Partners Partners —
SCDNR
Ducks Unlimited
Delta Waterfowl
Private Landowners
SCWA provided use of the Wildlife Education Center, waterfowl impoundments, volunteer and staff guides, $3,000 in funding, and annual staff labor to coordinate youth hunts that provide hunts to up to 80 youth annually.
— Gary Dietrich Wildlife Management Apprentice Program Partners —
Gary Dietrich Family Foundation
Interlaken Wildlife Foundation
David Belk Cannon Foundation
Andy Quattlebaum and Blackwell Family Foundation
Orton Foundation
Fredrick C. Hamilton Family Foundation
Harry and Stephanie Oxner Family Fund
Blanchard Machinery
New Holland Agriculture
Four Oaks
Black River
Chicora Wood
Dover
Friendfield
Milton Hall
Whitehouse
Weymouth Plantations.
Thanks to partner support, SCWA has developed the Nation’s leading wildlife management apprentice program for graduates of associates, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in wildlife and natural resources. During the two-year program, Apprentices learn hands-on wildlife and fisheries management skills equipping them to make a large-scale impact on habitat management.
In 2022, the program will fund 9 Apprentices. The program has a graduate hiring rate of 100% with a starting salary and benefits package of $60,000.
— Future Wildlife Professionals Camp Partners —
Boone and Crockett Club
Bass Pro Shops
Cabela’s Outdoor Fund
$80,000 in funding from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund allow SCWA Camp Woodie campers who are interested in pursuing a career in the wildlife conservation field to attend an intensive 2-week career awareness camp at the SCWA Wildlife Education Center and the Boone and Crocket Club Teddy Roosevelt Ranch in Montana.
— “Super Flats” Restoration Project on Lake Marion Partners —
Santee Cooper
SCDNR
Ducks Unlimited
The project will enhance fish and waterfowl habitats along with enhancing public waterfowl hunting opportunities. SCWA has committed funding of $15,000 per year for the next three years to help fund the project. Santee Cooper will annually provide herbicide treatments, by helicopter, on 580 acres of giant cutgrass and giant Salvinia around areas in Lake Marion throughout each August. The treatment is intended to improve public access to fishing, boating, and duck hunting, enhance fish and wildlife habitats and reduce the further spread of giant Salvinia to other areas of the Santee Cooper Lakes system. Giant Salvinia is an invasive plant from Brazil. It was found in the lakes in 2017 and has since rapidly spread from upper Lake Marion to other areas of both Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie. Giant cutgrass has also created dense stands restricting public access in the area known as the ‘Super Flats.’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved aquatic herbicides will be used for the application and pose no water-use restrictions in the areas treated.” (Santee Cooper)
— Wintering Waterfowl Surveys —
Lead Partner: Jim C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center
Clemson University
SCWA provided $2,000 to help fund the survey along with many other donors.
— American Camping Association (ACA) Partnership —
Camp Woodie and Camp Leopold are certified under ACA.
We are expanding our collaboration with ACA to enhance and improve both programs.
— Sylvan Heights Bird Park Partnership —
Collaboration on the SCWA Mike and Jennifer Smith Waterfowl Aviary, conservation education programs, and marketing of education programs.
— SCWA Wildlife Education Center Meeting Space Partner —
SCDNR
SCWA provided the use of WEC facilities for biologist and law enforcement meetings.