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Pinewood, S.C. — The South Carolina Waterfowl Association (SCWA) was one of eight organizations to receive funding via the Hunting Heritage Trust Grant from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to expand outdoor education, conservation learning, and shooting safety programs for underserved communities across the South Carolina midlands. This funding supported the Outdoor Heritage Community Conservation & Shooting Safety Event on August 23rd, as well as the Outdoor Heritage Community Involvement Family Camp Weekend held November 14–16 at the SCWA Wildlife Education Center.
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm and shooting sports industry. The organization works to promote firearm safety, outdoor recreation, responsible hunting participation, and the long-term preservation of America’s outdoor heritage. Through the Hunting Heritage Trust Grant Program, NSSF supports efforts that reduce barriers for new participants and strengthen the future of recreational shooting and conservation.
John McNamara, NSSF’s Managing Director Member Services, said “The competition for funding was tough this year, and we were delighted to help fund SCWA’s project as it works directly towards the Trust’s goal of engaging a diverse group of new participants to hunting and shooting sports.”
SCWA’s grant application was selected for its focus on residents of Sumter, Clarendon, and Orangeburg counties, communities that have historically had limited access to outdoor recreation and where more than half of the population identifies as a minority. Through this program, 150 participants received hands-on instruction in safe shooting practices, conservation learning, and outdoor skills.
The grant covered certified hunter and boater safety instruction, ammunition and clay targets, equipment and supervision for shooting sports, staffing, meals, educational materials, wild game preparation demonstrations, and post-event follow-up to track new license holders and ongoing outdoor involvement. These efforts work together to create safer outdoor participants, new hunters, and future conservation leaders.
Family Camp Weekend Made Possible Through NSSF Support
The November Outdoor Heritage Community Involvement Family Camp Weekend welcomed about 40 participants, including 20 parent-child pairs, for three days of outdoor experiences at SCWA’s Wildlife Education Center. For 16 attendees, this program provided their first experience shooting under the guidance of trained instructors in a supportive and safety-focused setting.
Families took part in canoeing, sporting clays, a low ropes course, team challenge events, a .22 rifle range, archery, and a zipline activity across Bullington Pond. These activities helped participants build confidence, practice teamwork, and spend meaningful time outdoors together. The weekend demonstrated the value of shared outdoor experiences in helping families connect and in encouraging lifelong appreciation for conservation and safe outdoor recreation.
About the South Carolina Waterfowl Association
The South Carolina Waterfowl Association works to enhance and protect South Carolina’s waterfowl habitat while providing conservation education programs that reach more than 10,000 youth each year. SCWA operates approximately 1,300-acre at the Wildlife Education Center in Pinewood, S.C., home to Camp Leopold, Camp Woodie, and year-round outdoor education programs.
For More Information
For more information about SCWA programs, events or conservation efforts, visit www.scwa.org.
Contact:
Chandler James
Marketing Director, South Carolina Waterfowl Association
chandler@scwa.org
(803) 452-6001
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