Southeastern Swamp Stewards

03/13/2026

🌿 The Monarch Meet Up at Penn’s Grill is all about helping pollinators thrive right here in Whiteville. When we plant host plants and native flowers, we create places where butterflies can feed, lay eggs, and continue their incredible journey.

Join us for an afternoon focused on pollinators, native plants, and community.

📅 May 23, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Penn’s Grill – 128 E Commerce St, Downtown Whiteville

What you’ll find:
🌱 Free milkweed plants to help start your own Monarch habitat
🌿 Shelton’s Herb Farm with native plants for sale
🎨 Ever Art Co activities for all ages
🦋 Tips on creating butterfly-friendly gardens at home

Every milkweed plant, every garden, and every small effort helps protect these amazing butterflies.

Helping Monarchs really does start one plant at a time. 🧡

Tag a friend who loves butterflies, gardening, or nature and come spend the afternoon with us in downtown Whiteville!





🦋🌿

03/05/2026

Yay Whiteville! Those map pins you see are registered North Carolina Wildlife Federation Butterfly Highways! The pins represent people and businesses that have committed to protecting pollinators by planting native plants that are not only beautiful but support our diverse ecosystem.

To find out more about the Butterfly Highway Program check out this link: https://ncwf.org/habitat/butterfly-highway/

03/04/2026

We hope to see you at Riegelwood Baptist Church this Saturday, March 7 for the free tree giveaway. We'll be there representing North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the .

Let's plant native trees in Columbus County!

Thank you to Alliance for Cape Fear Trees for organizing this event.

10/28/2025

Fall is the season for nature walks and this one is sure to delight.
Join us as we explore the Fair Bluff Riverwalk.
Saturday, November 8
2-4 pm
FREE

Register Here: https://ncwf.org/event/bird-walk-at-fair-bluff-fair-bluff/

10/25/2025

🦫 Did You Know?
Columbus County has its very own Beaver Bounty Program — a community effort to help manage beaver populations and protect farmland, roads, and waterways!

💡 Local landowners can apply through the Columbus Soil & Water Conservation District to participate, and approved trappers can earn payment for helping keep our creeks and drainage systems clear.

It’s all part of keeping our county’s waterways healthy and reducing flooding across rural areas — one beaver at a time!

10/22/2025

🌻🥀🌿 Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed October 20 – 24, 2025 as “Native Plants Week” in North Carolina! https://governor.nc.gov/governor-stein-proclaims-native-plants-week NC Dept of Environmental Quality NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources

10/22/2025

🌿 Whiteville’s Swampy Past & Our Bright Future! 🌿

Did you know much of Whiteville was once swamp?
When the town was first built, we sat right between White Marsh Swamp and Soules Swamp. Back then, nearly a quarter of the land was wetlands!

Over the years, a lot was drained and paved — but those swamps are still a big part of who we are. They help soak up floodwaters, filter our water, and support local wildlife. 🐸🌾

💧 What’s Being Done Now:
Local folks and the City of Whiteville are working hard to fight flooding and protect what’s left — adding more green space, planting native plants, restoring Mollie’s Branch, and even “de-paving” some areas so rainwater can soak in again instead of running off into the streets.

It’s a great reminder that taking care of our land takes care of our town. ❤️

08/18/2025

NCWF is excited to share the latest updates from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Red Wolf Recovery Program, celebrating a successful pup season and continued conservation progress in eastern

08/06/2025

Want to get involved in real research but not sure where to start? On August 9, join Chris Goforth, Head of Collaborative Science at NCMNS, as she shares how citizen scientists have helped her study dragonfly behavior — and how you can take part in research, too!

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3TVvTvd

07/25/2025

Looking to make a difference for North Carolina’s wildlife?

Start here and explore 8 easy ways to get involved and protect what you love.

🔗 Learn more at ncwf.org/get-involved

07/25/2025

Join NC Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville on Saturday, August 9, as we discover how citizen sciences is helping scientists find out more about dragonflies.
This event is free and at the Whiteville location!

In some cases, scientific research isn’t possible without the help of many citizen scientists! Learn how Chris Goforth, Head of Collaborative Science at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, has explored dragonfly behaviors through her citizen science projects. After the presentation, stay for an act...