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Celebrate wildlife & water at SCDNR Open House on October 21 October 11, 2017

Come tour a research vessel, get creative with fish art, and practice your casting skills at the upcoming South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Open House, an activity-packed event that’s all about the coast.

The popular fish-printing station will return for the 2017 Open House. (Photo: E. Weeks/SCDNR)

The popular fish-printing station will return for the 2017 Open House. (Photo: E. Weeks/SCDNR)

On Saturday, October 21, 2017, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., the SCDNR Marine Resources Center in Charleston will open to the community. The public is invited to enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the Center, where world-class marine science, education, and management happen.

The Marine Resources Center is located on James Island and enjoys beautiful views of the city of Charleston, the harbor, and the iconic Ravenel Bridge. Whether your family is brand new to the area or has been in Charleston for generations, we welcome you to come find out more about the water and wildlife that make the coast such a desirable place to live – and the people who safeguard these resources for the citizens of South Carolina. Meet the scientists who study our state’s sea turtles, salt marshes, and shellfish, the law enforcement officers who protect our waterways, and the educators who help schoolchildren discover the beauty of the coast.

Some of the Open House activities this year will include:

The Marine Resources Center campus is home to several partner organizations, including NOAA’s Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, the Hollings Marine Laboratory, and the College of Charleston’s Grice Marine Laboratory, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, all of which will have booths and activities at the Open House. The event is made possible through the sponsorship of the Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund, a private, nonprofit organization that promotes natural resources conservation in South Carolina.

PLEASE NOTE: Parking will only be available at James Island High School, and shuttles will be provided to the Marine Resources Center (no parking on site).

Admission to the Open House is free. Two food trucks will be onsite in addition to a tent where food and drinks will be available for purchase. We encourage visitors to bring their reusable water bottles for fill up at water stations. SCDNR’s licensing office will also have a booth, affording folks the opportunity to sign up for fishing licenses on site. Only service animals will be permitted at the event. The event will be held rain or shine, so dress for outside weather.

We look forward to seeing you there!


DNR Media Contacts

Area Personnel Number
Coastal, Midlands David Lucas 843-610-0096
Marine Erin Weeks 843-953-9845
Upstate, Midlands Greg Lucas 864-380-5201

After Hours Radio Room - 803-955-4000

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