Southeastern Wildlife Exposition is Major
Opportunity for the Edisto Chapter
By: Dean Ilderton
For three days each February, Charleston,
South Carolina comes alive with the Southeastern
Wildlife Exposition. This is a major event,
attracting over 40,000 attendees interested
in wildlife art, hunting, conservation, and
just about everything in between. As the Expo’s
web site states, the Expo, “hosts the
world's foremost experts in wildlife and nature
art, as well as conservation research and
environmental education.”
 |
John Jamison and his snake
are prime draws to the Edisto Chapter
booth at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. |
The setting is perfect for the Edisto Chapter
to reach out to the larger community. Our
chapter has been an exhibitor at this event
for many years, sharing the positive attributes
of forestry with visitors from around the
country.
Chapter members man the booth in two hour
shifts. The booth is stocked with information
about forest products, planting instructions
for trees, wildlife foods, SAF Natural Areas,
and much more. We set up several hidden touch
boxes for the kids. The highlight for them
is the several hours that chapter member John
Jamison spends at the booth with his large
pet boa constrictor.
Another draw for our booth is a seedling
giveaway. A day before the event, Edisto Chapter
members, family, and friends get together
to wrap seedlings and socialize. The seedlings
differentiate us from the rest of the conservation
booths around us. During the Expo we regularly
get comments from people that received seedlings
in past years. They remember our forestry
booth and they share their stories about how
the trees are doing. Almost everyone that
walks by the booth and sees the huge bags
of trees comment about seeing people carrying
them all over Charleston. These are all positive
conversations, and that is the first step
to useful communication.
As Charleston eagerly anticipates the annual
influx of vistors who attend the Expo, so
the Edisto Chapter members anticipate the
opportunity to again spread the word about
our renewable forests. |
