Leadership and staff from the South Carolina Waterfowl Association's (SCWA) Camp Woodie and Camp Leopold education programs recently joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Santee National Wildlife Refuge to assist with the banding of 98 wood ducks.
Working alongside wildlife professionals, SCWA educators had the opportunity to participate firsthand in an important component of waterfowl research and management. Bird banding provides wildlife biologists with valuable information used to better understand waterfowl populations, including migration patterns, survival and harvest rates, and population trends.
For the SCWA team, the experience served as both an opportunity to contribute to ongoing conservation efforts and as valuable professional development. By participating directly in wildlife research and management activities, Camp Woodie and Camp Leopold staff expanded their knowledge of conservation science and gained real-world experiences they can incorporate into educational programming throughout the year.
"Experiences like this allow our educators to connect the lessons we teach with the conservation work taking place in the field," said Jami Lisenby, Education Programs Director. "When our staff have the opportunity to work alongside wildlife professionals and participate in hands-on research, they bring that knowledge and enthusiasm back to the thousands of young people we serve through Camp Woodie and Camp Leopold."
SCWA's education programs are designed to connect young people with the outdoors while building an understanding of wildlife, habitat and responsible conservation. Camp Woodie provides youth with immersive summer camp experiences centered around wildlife conservation, outdoor recreation and shooting sports, while Camp Leopold offers standards-based environmental education experiences for students and schools throughout the academic year.
Opportunities such as the Santee National Wildlife Refuge wood duck banding project help strengthen the connection between SCWA's conservation and education missions. By continuing to invest in hands-on professional development for its educators, SCWA is able to bring current wildlife management practices and authentic field experiences into the lessons shared with the next generation.
To learn more about the South Carolina Waterfowl Association and its education and conservation programs, visit www.scwa.org.
About the South Carolina Waterfowl Association: The South Carolina Waterfowl Association (SCWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing and perpetuating South Carolina's wildlife heritage through education and habitat conservation. Through programs including Camp Woodie, Camp Leopold, Outdoor Heritage Events and hands-on wildlife and habitat initiatives, SCWA works to connect people with the outdoors, develop the next generation of conservationists and support the long-term stewardship of wildlife and natural resources.
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