Carolina Butterfly Society

Wateree River HP & WMA (Falcate Orangetip – Eastover, SC)
2026-03-21 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Location: Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area

Meeting Time: 10:00 am – to 3:00 pm
Meeting Spot: Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.9495, -80.6530. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.9435, -80.6555) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, just across from Goodwill Baptist Church.

Description: Wateree River HP & WMA is a 3,674-acre tract that was set aside as a mitigation site for the Haile Gold Mine in Kershaw County and is comprised of the old Cook’s Mountain and Goodwill Plantation tracts. We will drive to various areas, walk some of the trails and quite possibly “bushwhack” through fields to look for early-season butterflies. Some areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
Target Species: Falcate Orangetip, Henry’s Elfin, Southern Dogface
Notes: There are no facilities at this site but there is a gas station nearby. Walk difficulty is easy. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended. See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.
Trip Leader: Alison Smith
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: N/A
Sign-up: Please contact Alison Smith at sweetgrassess@gmail.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.

Carolina Sandhills NWR (Frosted Elfin - McBee, SC)
2026-03-28 10:30 - 16:00 | Carolina Sandhills NWR, 23734 US-1, McBee, SC, 29101, United States
Date: Saturday, March28, 2026
Location: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, McBee, SC

Meeting Time: 10:30 am
Meeting Spot: Meet in the parking lot at the visitor center of Carolina Sandhills NWR. The main entrance is on US Highway 1, about 4 miles northeast of McBee, SC. The address is 23734 U.S. Highway 1, McBee, SC 29101. GPS coordinates are 34.5044, -80.2249.

Description: This will be a joint field trip between the Carolina Butterfly Society and SCAN, the South Carolina Association of Naturalists. We will drive roads in the NWR getting out to explore various areas and look for spring butterflies.
Target Species: Frosted Elfin
Notes: Restrooms are available near Lake Bee within the NWR but there are no restrooms at our meeting site. There are gas stations in McBee. Bring a portable lunch. There are picnic tables near Lake Bee but be prepared to eat on the go if necessary. Please bring water, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Trip Leaders: Caroline Eastman and John Demko
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: N/A
Sign-up: Please contact Caroline Eastman at carolinemeastman@gmail.com or John Demko at leveljohn7@gmail.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.

Cheraw State Park & Sandhills State Forest (Patrick, SC)
2026-03-29 10:30 - 16:00 | Cheraw SP on Society Hill Road, 34.6214, -79.9451
Date: Sunday, March 29, 2026
Location: Cheraw State Park & Sandhills State Forest / Horseshoe Mountain, Patrick, SC

Meeting Time: 10:30 am
Meeting Spot: Meet on Society Hill Road (sometimes called Teals Mill Rd) in Cheraw SP. This is off Hwy 1 in Patrick, SC. We will park on the side of the road just past Juniper Creek. The GPS coordinates are near 34.6214, -79.9451.

Description: At Society Hill Road, we will explore the sand myrtle, vaccinium, horse sugar trees, and Atlantic white cedar on both sides of the road. When finished we will drive approximately 25 minutes west to Sandhills State Forest to explore Horseshoe Mountain. The GPS coordinates for parking at Horseshoe Mountain are 34.5896, -80.1170.
Target Species: Hessel’s Hairstreak, Brown Elfin, Henry’s Elfin, Eastern Pine Elfin, Great Purple Hairstreak, Holly Azure
Notes: No restrooms are available at our first stop. There is a pit toilet near Horseshoe Mountain, but it is sometimes locked. Bring a portable lunch to eat either at our first stop or the second one depending on the timing. There are no tables for lunch at either site. Please bring water, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Trip Leader: Ron Ahle
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: There are hotels and restaurants in Cheraw, SC and camping sites in Cheraw State Park. A recent search indicated that the cabins in Cheraw State Park were not available on our dates.
Sign-up: Please contact Ron Ahle at thebears@earthlink.net if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.

Madison County, NC
2026-04-11 09:30 - 2026-04-12 15:00 | Broadwing Farm, 20 Berry Wills Road, Hot Springs, NC, 28743, United States
Dates: Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12, 2026
Location: Hot Springs, NC, area

Meeting Time: 9:30 am (Buncombe County) / 10:00 am (Madison County) – to 3:00 pm
Meeting Spot: For those staying in Buncombe County, we will meet at the Publix parking lot in Weaverville, NC, and leave at 9:30 am (165 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC, 28787; parking lot GPS coordinates 35.7049, -82.5687). For those staying in Madison County, meet at Broadwing Farm, 20 Berry Wills Road, Hot Springs, NC at 10:00 am. Park in front of the “event venue” building that’s located at 165 Broadwing Farm Lane, Hot Springs, NC (GPS coordinates 35.9008, -82.8291).

Description: We’ll spend two days butterflying this part of the Pisgah National Forest. Pete Dixon will lead Day 1 (April 11) and Heather Rayburn will lead Day 2 (April 12).
Target Species: Olympia Marble, Cobweb Skipper, Duskywings, Elfins and Hairstreaks
Notes: Easy-to-moderate walking. Normally a restroom is open at the state picnic area. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and field guides. Long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Trip Leaders: Pete Dixon (day1 on April 11) and Heather Rayburn (day 2 on April 12)
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: For places to stay overnight, there are several rental cabins and B&Bs in Madison County, including Broadwing Farm. Mars Hill has a Comfort Inn, and there is a Fairfield Inn in Weaverville (Buncombe County). Mars Hill, Marshall, Hot Springs, and Weaverville each have a variety of restaurants and brewery taprooms, and Asheville is a foodie destination.
Sign-up: Please contact Heather Rayburn at rayburnh@icloud.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.

Wateree River HP & WMA (Columbia City Nature Challenge - Eastover, SC)
2026-04-26 10:00 - 15:00 | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026
Location: Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area

Meeting Time: 10:00 am – to 3:00 pm
Meeting Spot: Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.9495, -80.6530. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.9435, -80.6555) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, just across from Goodwill Baptist Church.

Description: This walk is part of the Columbia City Nature Challenge, which is part of City Nature Challenge, an international four-day competition where cities across the globe compete to record the biodiversity of their urban and surrounding areas. We will focus on butterflies, but all nature entries on iNaturalist will count. Wateree River HP & WMA is a 3,674-acre tract that was set aside as a mitigation site for the Haile Gold Mine in Kershaw County and is comprised of the old Cook’s Mountain and Goodwill Plantation tracts. We will drive to various areas, walk some of the trails and quite possibly “bushwhack” through fields to look for butterflies. Some areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
Target Species: All butterflies (but will also report other nature observations on iNaturalist)
Notes: There are no facilities at this site but there is a gas station nearby. Walk difficulty is easy. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended. See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.
Trip Leaders: Dave and Marty Kastner
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: N/A
Sign-up: Please contact Dave and Marty Kastner at kastners@aol.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.

Sumter NF Long Cane District (Edgefield, SC)
2026-05-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Lick Fork Creek Parking Lot, 33.7298, -82.0407
Date: Friday, May 8, 2026
Location: Long Cane District of Sumter National Forest, Edgefield, SC

Meeting Time: 10:00 am – to 4:00 pm
Meeting Spot: Meet at the Lick Fork Creek parking lot on Lick Fork Creek Road. The GPS coordinates are: 33.7298, -82.0407.

Description: The Long Cane District of the Sumter National Forest in the Lick Fork Lake and Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve areas is a 123,360-acre tract. Prunella vulgaris should be blooming for this walk. We will drive to various locations and explore those areas for early-season butterflies.
Target Species: Tawny-edged Skipper, Twin-spot Skipper
Notes: There is a $3 per day self-pay parking fee for the area but this is only if you leave your car. We do not plan to stay here so do not pay the fee. The fee is waived if you have the Federal “America the Beautiful” Pass as that covers Federal Recreation Areas as well as National Parks. There are bathrooms near the meeting area. There is no cell service in the areas we will be exploring. Walk difficulty is easy. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Trip Leader: John Demko
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: N/A
Sign-up: Please contact John Demko at leveljohn7@gmail.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.
Directions:

From I-20 get off at Exit 1 to Martintown Road (SC-230) and head north until you see the sign to turn right for Lick Fork Creek Recreation Area. If you get to the SC 23 intersection with SC 230 you have gone just a tad too far (less than 0.5 miles).
If you are coming up SC 125 from the south, take it to Martintown Road (SC-230) and head north. You will go over I-20 and then follow the directions above.
From the square in downtown Edgefield, travel south on Hwy-23 for 8.3 miles. Bear left onto Hwy-230 and travel for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto Lick Fork Lake Road (S 19-263) and travel 1.9 miles. The entrance is on the right.

NABA Butterfly Count (CSRV, Aiken County, SC)
2026-07-11 09:00 - 16:00 | Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary, 4542 Silver Bluff Road, Jackson, SC, 29831, United States
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Location: Silver Bluff Audubon Center, Jackson, SC

Meeting Time: 9:00 am – to 4:00 pm
Meeting Spot: Meet at the Silver Bluff Audubon Visitor Center in Jackson, South Carolina. The GPS coordinates for the gate just outside the visitor center are 33.3245, -81.8450. The street address is 4542 Silver Bluff Road, Jackson, SC 29831. Important note: Using the street address, some GPS systems tell you that you’ve arrived one mile before you actually reach the Silver Bluff gates. At that point, Silver Bluff Road transitions from a paved road to a well-maintained sand/clay road. Continue driving for one more mile and you’ll see the gates on your right. As stated earlier, the GPS coordinates above are for the gate located just outside the visitor’s center.

Description: NABA (North American Butterfly Association) will hold a butterfly count in the CSRV (Central Savannah River Valley) at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center in Jackson, South Carolina. Audubon’s Silver Bluff Sanctuary is a 3,400-acre woodland overlooking the Savannah River. Here you’ll find extensive pine forests and bottomland hardwood forests; beautiful walking trails; 50 acres of lakes and ponds; 100 acres of grassland; and all manner of birds, butterflies and wildlife. Refer to the website below for specific directions and additional information about Silver Bluff Sanctuary.
Target Species: All butterflies
Notes: The restroom at the visitor center will be accessible at the beginning of the day and at lunchtime. We will eat lunch at the picnic area by the visitor center. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Trip Leader: John Demko
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: N/A
Sign-up: Please contact John Demko at leveljohn7@gmail.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.
Directions: N/A

Gum Swamp Road (Jackson, SC)
2026-08-08 09:00 - 15:00 | Kathwood Lakes (meeting location for Gum Swamp Road), 33.33728. -81.84345
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Location: Gum Swamp Road, Aiken Co., Jackson, SC

Meeting Time: 9:00 am – to 3:00 pm
Meeting Spot: We will meet at the Kathwood Lakes parking area (GPS coordinates 33.3373, -81.8435) of the Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary. We will leave some cars at this location and consolidate the number of vehicles. Kathwood Lakes is located on Silver Bluff Road just before the paved road turns to dirt and approximately 200 yards after crossing the railroad tracks coming south. Kathwood Lakes is the name Google Maps uses for the bodies of water at this location.

Description: We will drive along Gum Swamp Road and stop at various locations along the road to explore areas of interest (or wherever we see butterflies).
Target Species: Seminole Crescent, Silvery Checkerspot, Zebra Swallowtail, Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper, Tawny Emperor, and Hackberry Emperor
Notes: No restrooms are available along Gum Swamp Road. If you are coming from the north, Beech Island is the nearest place with bathrooms, places to eat and gas stations. If coming from the south, Jackson is the nearest place for these items. If coming from the east down Silver Bluff Road, (SC 302), Aiken will be the last town on your way. Jackson will be to your south on SC 125 if you need to stop just prior to the meeting spot. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Trip Leader: John Demko
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: N/A
Sign-up: Please contact John Demko at leveljohn7@gmail.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.
Directions: N/A

Francis Marion NF (McClellanville, NE of Charleston, SC)
2026-08-29 10:00 - 2026-08-30 16:00 | Francis Marion NF McClellanville Circle K, 33.09514, -79.47558
SAVE THE DATES!
Dates: Saturday, August 29 and Sunday August 30, 2026
Location: Francis Marion National Forest, McClellanville (NE of Charleston), SC

Meeting Time: 10:00 am – to 4:00 pm
Meeting Spot: TBD

Description: Exact locations for butterflying within the FMNF (Francis Marion National Forest) will be determined after scouting the week before. We will drive to areas within the FMNF to butterfly. We will be on forest roads within the national forest. There is a fairly large area to explore so we will be driving to specific sites, parking and walking along the roadside, then driving to other areas to explore on foot.
Target Species: Late-season butterflies
Notes: There are no facilities within the FMNF. The meeting location for Sunday will be determined at the end of the walk on Saturday. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Trip Leaders: Alison Smith and Tom Austin
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: N/A
Sign-up: Please contact Alison Smith at sweetgrassess@gmail.com or Tom Austin at tomaustin.pro@gmail.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.
Directions: N/A

2026 Symposium - Southern 8ths Farm (Chesterfield, SC)
2026-09-12 09:30 - 16:00 | Southern 8ths Farm Learning Center, 34.79584, -80.15313
SAVE THE DATE!
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Location: Southern 8ths Farm, Chesterfield, SC

Meeting Time: 9:30 am – to 4:00 pm
Meeting Spot: Meet at the Learning Center (GPS coordinates 34.79584, -80.15313), located behind the horse barns at 305 Lucious Davis Road, Chesterfield, SC 29709, for welcome, introductions, to use restrooms and fill up on water. On the map, this is the reddish area between Points 5 and 2. The driveway entrance to the property is located at GPS Coordinates 34.79965, -80.15423 on the south side of Lucious Davis Road.

Description: Southern 8ths Farm is a private conservation property and the home of the Carolina Wildlands Foundation. Southern 8ths Farm is located on the SC/NC border primarily in Chesterfield County, SC with a portion of the property extending into Anson County, NC. The property sits on Thompson Creek in an ecoregional and geological boundary straddling the fall line just above the Sandhills. This unique geology has birthed a rich diversity of native plant communities and Coastal Wildlands Foundation has done extensive work to restore prairie habitat across the property. Southern 8ths is located in an area of convergence, where the Piedmont & Coastal Plain meet along the state line of North and South Carolina. This land is rich in American and natural history and has a history of horses being present since the late 18th century. The geophysical nature of these 1,400 acres of preserved land has encouraged the growth of rolling pastures and fields, diverse upland and bottom land hardwood forests and planted pine stands. The waters of Thompson Creek and its tributaries drop over shale bases to join the Great Pee Dee River and flow to the Atlantic. This land is home to reclaimed grass prairies full of insects and dappled sunlit woodland trails, offering respite to birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and humans. This “corridor of green” is a work-in-progress, and it is teaching us about its future role in the survival of humankind and animal-kind.
Target Species: All butterflies
Notes: There are restrooms on site. On-site camping is permitted. Participants will need to sign a waiver with Carolina Wildlands Foundation in order to participate.
Trip Leader: Marty Kastner
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: On-site camping is permitted. There are 10 RV pads available on site with power hook-ups (no wastewater) and the ability for on-site camping. There are two guest rooms available at Southern 8ths Farm, which can be rented for $149/night. (Contact Southern 8ths Farm directly to reserve.) The nearest hotels are 20-30 miles away in Cheraw SC, Rockingham NC, and Monroe NC.
Sign-up: Please contact Marty Kastner at kastners@aol.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.
Directions: TBD

NABA Butterfly Count (Congaree NP, Hopkins, SC)
2026-09-19 09:00 - 15:00 | Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC, 29061
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Location: Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC

Meeting Time: 9:00 am – to 3:00 pm
Meeting Spot: Meet at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061 (GPS coordinates 33.8298, -80.8234)

Description: We will participate in a NABA (North American Butterfly Association) seasonal count at the 26,693-acre Congaree National Park near Columbia, South Carolina, to look for late-season butterflies. The park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. The lush trees growing in its floodplain forest are some of the tallest in the eastern United States, forming one of the highest temperate deciduous forest canopies remaining in the world. The Congaree River flows through the park. About 15,000 acres are designated as a wilderness area. Refer to the national park website link below for additional information and maps of the property. After meeting at the visitor center, we will divide into smaller groups. Some groups will have larger areas to explore than others. Some of the trails will have roots and/or may be overgrown. You do not have to be an expert to participate and may come for a whole or half day. Refer to the national park website link below for additional information and maps of the property.
Target Species: All butterflies
Notes: There are restrooms at the visitor center but no restaurants nearby. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Trip Leader: Theresa Yednock
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: N/A
Sign-up: Please contact Theresa Yednock at theresa_yednock@nps.gov if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.
Directions: N/A

Sandhills Game Land (Hoke, Moore, Richmond, Scotland Counties, NC)
2026-09-26 10:00 - 2026-09-27 16:00 | Sandhills Game Land, 35.026875, -79.559467
SAVE THE DATES!
Dates: Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, 2026
Location: Sandhills Game Land, Hoke, Moore, Richmond and Scotland Counties, NC

Meeting Time: 10:00 am – to 4:00 pm (tentative)
Meeting Spot: TBD

Description: The scenic Sandhills Game Land encompasses 63,061 acres across Hoke, Moore, Richmond, and Scotland counties in North Carolina, with 32,235 acres being in Richmond County. The Game Land is one of the largest remaining examples of a Longleaf Pine ecosystem in North Carolina. There is approximately 6700 acres of Oak/Hickory dominant forestland on the Game Land.
Target Species: Fall butterflies
Notes: Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Trip Leaders: Harry LeGrand and Lori Arent
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: TBD
Sign-up: Please contact Harry LeGrand at hlegrandjr@gmail.com or Lori Arent at ljarent1@gmail.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.
Directions: TBD

Bio Way Farm (Ware Shoals, SC)
2026-09-26 10:30 - 15:00 | Bio Way Farm, 197 Bio Way, Ware Shoals, SC, 29692, United States
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Location: Bio Way Farm, Ware Shoals, SC

Meeting Time: 10:30 am – to 3:00 pm
Meeting Spot: The address is 197 Bio Way, Ware Shoals, SC 29692 (or GPS coordinates 34.4700, -82.2583). The GPS coordinates for the driveway entrance on Bio Way are 34.4703, -82.2587.

Description: This will be a joint outing with SCAN, the South Carolina Association of Naturalists. We will walk the roads and trails of a 120-acre organic farm that is managed for ecological restoration and biodiversity. There is a mix of upland meadows and forest habitat as well as a 5-acre lake and riparian zones to explore. Additional information about Bio Way Farm can be found on the web using the link below.
Target Species: All fall butterflies – Over 30 species have been identified at Bio Way Farm with many more possibilities to be discovered. Laurens County is an under sampled area of South Carolina so, perhaps we can fill in some of the species “holes” on the range maps.
Notes: There is a restroom and drinking water at our meeting location. Gas and food are nearby. Wearing sturdy walking or hiking shoes is recommended along with long sleeves and long pants as we may go off trail in some locations to look for as many butterfly species as possible. It is also recommended you use a good bug spray, wear sunscreen, and carry water with you. Be sure to bring those other items you may need (camera, binoculars, field guides, etc.).
Trip Leader: Chris Sermons
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: There are many accommodation options in the Greenville, SC area. Bio Way Farm in Laurens County is about 45 to 50 minutes to the south of central Greenville.
Sign-up: Please contact Chris Sermons at biowayfarm@gmail.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.
Directions: N/A

SI Group Hundred Acre Woods (Goatweed Leafwing – Orangeburg, SC)
2026-10-03 10:00 - 15:00 | SI Group, 725 Cannon Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC, 29115, United States
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Location: SI Group Hundred Acre Woods, Orangeburg, SC

Meeting Time: 10:00 am – to 3:00 pm
Meeting Spot: We will meet at the access road to the Hundred Acre Woods. The address is 725 Cannon Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC 29115 (GPS coordinates 33.4651, -80.8841). See Directions below for additional information.

Description: The walk will be on flat ground, but some field areas may be overgrown. There will be a short drive on an unpaved road to get to our staging point. After parking, we will walk around the property to look for our target species, the Goatweed Leafwing (there has been an existing, ongoing colony in the past), but we will also be looking other fall butterflies.
Target Species: Goatweed Leafwing
Notes: There will be a porta potty on site. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Trip Leader: Diane Curlee
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: Restaurants and gas stations are nearby.
Sign-up: Please contact Diane Curlee at dianecurlee8@gmail.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.
Directions: Traveling south on Cannon Bridge Road from Highway 301, go past the railroad crossing and come in the third entrance on the left just after the main parking lot area for the SI Group and just before the fenced-in electrical substation enclosure. After turning in, look to your right and follow the short dirt road, on the east side of the electrical substation enclosure, towards the tree line where we will meet and line up our cars. After everyone has arrived, a safety officer from the SI Group will lead the caravan of cars back to the Hundred Acre Woods parking area.

Wateree River HP & WMA (Southern Dogface – Eastover, SC)
2026-10-10 10:00 - 16:00 | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Location: Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area

Meeting Time: 10:00 am – to 4:00 pm
Meeting Spot: Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.9495, -80.6530. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.9435, -80.6555) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, just across from Goodwill Baptist Church.

Description: Wateree River HP & WMA is a 3,674-acre tract that was set aside as a mitigation site for the Haile Gold Mine in Kershaw County and is comprised of the old Cook’s Mountain and Goodwill Plantation tracts. We will drive to various areas, walk some of the trails and quite possibly “bushwhack” through fields to look for late-season butterflies. Some areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
Target Species: Southern Dogface, other fall butterflies
Notes: There are no facilities at this site but there is a gas station nearby. Walk difficulty is easy. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended. See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.
Trip Leaders: Marty & Dave Kastner
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: N/A
Sign-up: Please contact Marty and Dave Kastner at kastners@aol.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.
Directions: N/A

Santee NWR Bluff Unit (Summerton, SC)
2026-10-17 10:00 - 16:00 | Santee NWR Visitor Center, 2125 Fort Watson Road, Summerton, SC, 29148, United States
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Location: Santee National Wildlife Refuge, Bluff Unit, Summerton, SC

Meeting Time: 10:00 am – to 4:00 pm
Meeting Spot: Meet at the visitor center at 2125 Fort Watson Rd, Summerton, SC 29148. GPS Coordinates are 33.5326, -80.4317.

Description: We will explore the pollinator garden at the visitor center and then drive the short distance to the Bluff Unit where we will park and walk the access road towards the Bluff Unit open fields. Blue Mist Flower should be blooming and is a great nectar source for butterflies. Santee NWR was established to benefit migratory waterfowl, other birds, and terrestrial and aquatic wildlife found within the ecosystem of the Lake Marion reservoir.
Target Species: Seminole Crescent, Broad-winged Skipper
Notes: There are restrooms at the visitor center. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Trip Leaders: Marty and Dave Kastner
Lodging & Dining Recommendations: N/A
Sign-up: Please contact Marty and Dave Kastner at kastners@aol.com if you are planning to attend. You can also register by using the “Register” link above.
Directions: N/A
