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Shop at Bi-Lo, support PCF
If you shop at Bi-Lo, you could help support PCF. All you have to do is print out a Boosterplus card from our website, and scan it along with your personal Bi-Lo savings card the next time you go shopping. This one time scan will link your personal card to PCF. Everytime you shop, 1% of your total will be donated to PCF. This program lasts until May 31, 2012. Start shopping!
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 View our online Picasa Web Albums. If you have pictures of the trail that you would like to share, you can email them to us or post them on our Facebook page. 
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Palmetto Trail Wish List
Maintaining the Palmetto Trail is a huge task and our trail coordinators do a  great job! Having the proper tools makes their job a whole lot easier. If you would like to donate anything on our wishlist, please contact our office at (803)771-0870.
We appreciate your help!
- Husqvarna Pole Saws
- Chain Saw Winch
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Palmetto E-Explorer
February 2012
The Natural Connection to South Carolina
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Palmetto Trail Challenge 2012
February 20 - June 2, 2012
Grab a partner and name your team! It's time for the 4th annual Palmetto Trail Challenge!
The Palmetto Trail Challenge is a 15 week walking/biking contest designed to get people active and healthy. Partners team up and log as many miles as they can during the 15 week period. Teams will be competing against other teams  in the same category. Team miles are turned in and logged each week. The challenge begins February 20th and ends with a group hike on June 2nd, National Trails Day. Good Luck!
Click here to sign up.
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Adventure Awaits
Just outside your door...
February 17-19 Southeastern Wildlife Expo Visit our booth at SEWE in Charleston, SC. The PCF booth will be located in Marion Square Park. Hope to see you there!
Sunday February 26
Lake Moultrie Hike 
This 4.5 mile hike will start at Canal Recreation Area and follow along the dike with some great views of Lake Moultrie. You'll stop at Bonneau Beach for lunch and then take the shuttle back to your car. You're sure to see some wildlife on this hike, so make sure to bring a camera. Christopher Burnette will be leading this hike.
Click here for more info.
Wednesday March 7
SC Walk After School Day
5:30pm
Join PCF, Palmetto Health, and SC Safe Routes to School to celebrate the Inaugural SC Walk to School Day by participating in an alternative evening walk. This FREE walk will take place along the Three Rivers Greenway, located at Columbia Riverfront Park. This is a great opportunity to bring the family together for a fun activity!
Click here for more info.
Saturday March 10
Blue Wall Hike
Join PCF guide, Christopher Burnette, on this exciting hike along the Blue Wall Passage of the Palmetto Trail. You'll hike along the Blue Wall Preserve to Twin Lakes, before stopping at a large rock cropping for lunch. After lunch you'll stop at Vaughn Cascades waterfall as you make your way back to the trailhead.
Saturday March 24
Sparkleberry Night Hike w/Dinner
6pm 
Come and listen to the sounds of the night as we hike along the Lake Marion Passage of the Palmetto Trail. This 4 mile hike will start with a light dinner at Pack's Landing. We'll start down the trail around sunset and head towards Sparkleberry Swamp. A shuttle will be waiting at Sparkleberry Landing to take you back to your car. Don't miss this chance to venture through the woods and the swamp at night! This hike will be led by PCF guide, Christopher Burnette, and PCF Trail Coordinator, Dane Hanna.
Click here for more info.
April 27, 28, May 5
Chainsaw Certification Course
During this 1½ day course,  participants will be introduced to and taught on chainsaw basics, chainsaw safety, and proper cutting techniques. This course follows the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) course outline, which has become a standard in chainsaw certification. It will consist of a classroom component (Friday evening) and 1 day in the field (one of the two Saturdays).
Click here for more info.
Save the date...
These outings are on the calendar and we'll have more info on our website and in upcoming newsletters.
April 14 Sparkleberry Paddle
April 20-22 East Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival
April 22 Jocassee Hike
May 6 Lynches Woods Hike
May 12 Paddle Trip
May 19-20 Camping/Backpacking/Kayaking Trip- Lake Moultrie
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Volunteer Trail Workdays
Come and get your hands dirty on the trail. We need volunteers to help with our upcoming trail workdays. Tools will be provided. Please bring your own work gloves, lunch and water bottle. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Dane Hanna (803)771-0870.
Wateree Passage
Friday February 24th
We will be blowing and pruning back the trail. Meet at Batton's on Hwy 261 at 9am.
Fort Jackson Passage
Friday March 2nd
This will be a trail building day and we will pick up where the boy scouts left off. We'll also be pruning and trimming along the trail. Meet at Gate 5 at 9am.
Lake Marion Passage
Friday March 16th
We will be pruning and trimming the overgrowth and touching up the painted blazes along the trail. We want to make sure that the path is clear for the night hike on March 24th. Meet at Pack's Landing at 9am.
Lake Marion Passage
Friday April 13th
We will be working on a bridge in the Santee National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at 9am at the Santee NWR main office.
Awendaw Passage
Friday May 4th
This section of trail starts to look like a jungle if we don't keep it trimmed back. We'll be pruning and trimming along this passage from Rosa Green Rd to Buck Hall Landing. Meet at 10am at the canoe landing on Rosa Green Road.
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Senior Explorers
PCF is getting ready to kick off another year of exciting trips with the Senior Explorers. Thanks to Palmetto Health and Agape Senior, this year is going to better than ever! We've got a variety of trips and events planned and we hope you'll join us. Senior Explorers is open to older adults and is free to participate. Space is limited.
Friday March 9th
Columbia Museum of Art- Hudson River School Exhibit with lunch
Wednesday April 4th
Columbia History Walking Tour- Starts at Mast General Store, continues down Main Street, and ends with a tour of the State House.
Thursday May 17th
Columbia Green Garden Tour- Hampton Hills
Monday June 18th
Waterfall Hike with Master Naturalist- Dan Whitten- We'll visit Reedy Branch Falls, Station Cove Falls, and Issaqueena Falls
July
Cooking Class and visit to The Good Life Cafe
Thursday August 30th
Bee City- Learn all about honey bees, visit the petting zoo and nature center, bottle your own honey to take home, and make your own beeswax candle.
Thursday September 6th
Penn Center- Visit the museum and walk the nature trails.
Thursday October 18th
The Center for Birds of Prey- learn all about hawks, owls, falcons, and more. Afterwards we'll stop for lunch at the Sewee Restaurant.
Dates are subject to change. Check our website for up to date information. Visit our website, or call us at (803)771-0870.
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Reminder: Mountain Bikes are Not Permitted on the Blue Wall Passage
This is a note to all mountain bikers - while PCF works statewide to promote bike access to trails, we honor our partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the other landowners in the area and point out that mountain bikes are not permitted on the Blue Wall Passage (mile markers 10.5 through 14) as marked with signage, decals, and yellow blazes. This is in keeping with a management policy to protect the area's remarkable biodiversity and exceptional value as a source of drinking water for nearby municipalities.
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PCF Participates at Milliken Retreat
On Friday, January 27, PCF Development Director David Harper had the honor of participating as a panelist speaking on the topic of Sustainability at the Milliken annual Winter Retreat for its company executives. Milliken, headquartered in Spartanburg, is a global innovator in the production of textiles and chemicals we use every day, with 7,000 employees at 39 locations in the U.S., Europe, and China. David represented PCF, shoulder-to-shoulder with distinguished panelists including: Roger Milliken, Jr., Chairman of The Nature Conservancy, the global leader in land conservation, from 2008 to 2011; Brad Wyche, Executive Director of Upstate Forever, a regional leader in land conservation, and; Don Woodward of the Spartanburg Development Association.
One of the key shared messages David and the other panelist shared with the Milliken leadership was this: to truly innovate as a sustainability leader, the concept of Natural Capital must be central to how the company operates. The book Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution by Amory and Hunter Lovins and Paul Hawkins refers to Natural Capital as the living systems on Earth and all of the life-supporting services they provide, from clean air and clean water, to healthy food and flood control. Natural capital is like a bank account for the planet, requiring deposits in order to support withdrawals. If we withdraw more than we invest, the account will diminish and eventually close. If we reduce our withdrawals and increase our deposits, the account will continue to grow. By developing recyclable carpet tiles, Milliken is working to greatly reduce how much landfill space we use - thereby reducing withdrawals of natural capital.
David and others explained how Milliken, as a global corporation with a local presence, can transfer some of this expertise to catalyze local sustainable business networks, challenging smaller businesses to become innovators in energy efficiency, waste reduction, and promoting local, sustainably-grown foods. By reinvesting in forested stream corridors, greenways, and trails the "green infrastructure" on which our communities depend, the company and the Milliken Foundation can build natural capital for the benefit of all in the communities where it works, including the Upstate.
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PCF Seeking to Fill Office Administrator Position
The Office Administrator position includes basic office duties as well as public relations and community
outreach initiatives. This position includes assisting with PCF's Senior Explorer and Junior Trailblazer programs. The position also includes the opportunity to develop additional initiatives that enhance our mission. This position will start as full-time hourly with the possibility of turning into a full-time position with benefits after review.
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Become a PCF Member Today!
A PCF Membership comes with great benefits, including discounts at local outfitters and special rates on PCF events. Your membership dollars will go towards building and maintaining the Palmetto Trail.
Click here to become a member!
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