Friends of Congaree Swamp

Increase recognition, public awareness, and appreciation of Congaree National Park as a resource of local, national, and international significance; Protect and restore the ecological systems and natural beauty of the park, and seek to maintain compatible land uses outside the park; Enhance educational, interpretive, and research opportunities relating to the natural heritage and historical heritage of the park and its environs Support the park through advocacy, service, and fundraising.

Friends of Congaree Swamp advocates for Congaree National Park and its watersheds. We share information about interpretation, research and education through newsletters and social media, promote the park's natural history and cultural history through books, maps, trail guides, online journals and albums. Friends also promotes the park through awards nominations for the park itself, and some of its greatest natural resources--its champion trees. On an annual basis, Friends of Congaree Swamp hosts interpretive events at the park featuring birding, geology, big trees, botany, ethnobotany, aquatic life, butterflies and cultural sites. We also assist with service activities including trail-clearings, litter pick-ups and water quality sampling. Friends advocates for the park by preparing public comments on permitting issues, and promoting development ordinances compatible with the park's goals. Friends of Congaree Swamp writes grants to assist with educational projects (e.g., school field trips) and interpretive projects at the park (e.g., new trails).

Testimonials

From membership renewals:
*Really appreciated the Trail Guides you provided for Congaree. They made our hikes educational and enjoyable.
*The joys I receive in the activities of this organization are beyond equal.
*Inspired by a lovely walk amongst the trees this past weekend with John Cely. Happy to give for such a special place and to the friends that support it.