Holiday Mega Conservation Education Raffle: Supporting the Next Generation of Conservationists

The South Carolina Waterfowl Association (SCWA) is hosting the 2025 Holiday Mega Conservation Education Raffle (MCER) to support its conservation education programs. By purchasing a ticket, individuals contribute to the expansion of the Nation’s largest Wildlife Education Center and the development of future conservationists.

Raffle Details

Ticket sales are now open for the 2025 Holiday Mega Conservation Education Raffle (MCER). The drawing will take place on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at PST. All tickets purchased contribute to the same drawing pool.

Prizes

The prize lineup includes multiple $5,000 PSA gift cards paired with PSA firearm packages. The winner will also receive:

A PSA Sabre AR-10 Rifle Forged 20" .308 with 12.5" Quad Rail, A1 Stock, Magpul Bi-Pod, 3 Mags, & Sabre Bag, FDE.
A PSA 14.5" JAKL Rifle Length 5.56 1:7 Nitride HUXWRX Flash Hider MOE SL EPT F5 Stock Rifle, FDE.
A PSA Guardsman-15 16" Midlength 5.56 NATO 1/7 CL Phosphate 15" MLOK Rifle.
A PSA 5.7 Rock Compact Complete Optic Ready Pistol, Non-Threaded Barrel, Flat Dark Earth.
A PSA Dagger Compact 9mm Pistol With X-1 RMR Long Slide, Black.

Sales tax and shipping are not included. Merchandise ordered is subject to availability.

Benefitting Conservation Education

Proceeds from the raffle support the continued expansion of the Nation’s largest Wildlife Education Center operated by SCWA. “Each ticket purchased helps us continue growing hands-on conservation education programs for youth across South Carolina,” said SCWA CEO David Wielicki.

SCWA's Conservation Education Initiatives

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.

SCWA’s Wildlife Education Center is home to Camp Woodie, Camp Leopold and a series of outdoor heritage programs serving youth and adults statewide. David Wielicki, SCWA CEO, 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. 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.

South Carolina Conservation Education Act

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.

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.

SCWA 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. 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. These events help to introduce people from across the country to the Nation’s largest Wildlife Education Center and SCWA conservation education programs.

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.

Research and Impact Analysis

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. 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.

SCWA Mission

The South Carolina Waterfowl Association is dedicated to enhancing and perpetuating South Carolina’s wildlife heritage through education and habitat conservation.

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