Aiken Land Conservancy

09/10/2026

🔥 Interested in learning more about prescribed fire in Aiken County?

Join the Aiken Prescribed Fire Cooperative for its Annual Meeting on Monday, October 5. Aiken Land Conservancy Executive Director, Peter Kleinhenz, will be presenting at the event.

Whether you’re a landowner interested in implementing prescribed fire or simply want to learn more about this important conservation tool, this is a great opportunity.

📅 Monday, October 5 | 6–8:30 p.m.
UGA-SREL Conference Center, Aiken

RSVP and learn more by scanning the QR code or following the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT-CNKnCeb6KWIQcKrFHxtEt3O87e_oZ89H-j7ryTGtcH5-g/viewform

09/08/2026

𝐀𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 🌿

🞐 Spot a butterfly
🞐 Listen to the birds
🞐 Find a native plant
🞐 Walk beneath a longleaf pine
🞐 Spend 30 minutes outside
🞐 Discover somewhere new

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡?

09/03/2026

During last week's monitoring visit, ALC Stewardship Coordinator, Riley Telkamp and Administrative Assistant, Ashley Blankenbeckler, spent time exploring the property and documenting some of the natural life found along the way. 🌿🦋

Shaws Creek runs through the property, adding to its rich natural habitat. Ashley even took a moment to sit on a log and simply enjoy the sights and sounds of nature—the frogs were jumping and the water was flowing through the creek. We also spotted a skipper butterfly and a striking swamp tupelo along the way.

Monitoring visits are an important part of our stewardship work, giving us the opportunity to keep a close eye on the lands we help protect while appreciating the plants, wildlife, and natural features that make each property unique.

09/01/2026

Aiken Land Conservancy (ALC) would like to recognize our newest volunteer, Patti Bennett, for her outstanding contributions and dedication to land conservation. With a background in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) from her work at the Savannah River Site, Patti has generously shared her time and expertise with ALC since early May. She has supported several outreach initiatives, including researching and compiling a comprehensive landowner database for ALC's four Strategic Focal Areas. Her work has helped us connect with more than 100 landowners in the Savannah River and Highway 302/78 corridors to share information about the benefits and lasting impact of conservation easements.

Patti also created an ArcGIS StoryMap, an interactive online map that is featured on our website to provide visitors with quick, detailed overviews of ALC's publicly accessible properties. Later this fall, she will help remap the hiking and biking trails at Langley Pond Park, Boyd Pond Park, and Parkman Reserve.

Thank you, Patti, for sharing your time and talents to help advance land conservation in Aiken County. We're so grateful for the expertise and enthusiasm you bring to ALC.

09/01/2026

🎥 Take a few minutes to watch this short video highlighting the City of Aiken, South Carolina Government’s recent Achievement Award for its work to protect Shaws Creek Preserve in partnership with Aiken Land Conservancy.

We’re proud to have been part of this important conservation effort and are grateful to the City of Aiken for its commitment to protecting this special place for our community.

Watch the video to learn more about the project and the partnership behind it!

https://www.masc.sc/achievement-award/2026/public-works-category-city-aiken-shaws-creek-preserve-0.

As with many cities in a fast-growing state, Aiken has faced development that puts pressure on its infrastructure and its existing community character.

08/28/2026

Do you remember what it was like to be outside as a kid? Laughing, playing, running through the yard, looking for fireflies, or stopping to investigate a bug you’d never seen before.

Attendees of our first Stewardship Shelf book club sure do. Those childhood memories, and the sense of wonder and curiosity that comes with spending time outside, were just some of the lighthearted and meaningful conversations that came up during our discussion.

While enjoying coffee and pastries provided by The Parlour Coffee & Company, we discussed this month’s book, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. One thing that stood out in the conversation was how our experiences in nature can become a core part of our memories and even our sense of home. That sense of wonder and curiosity doesn't have to end with childhood, we can still find it as adults if we spend time in nature.

Did you miss our first Stewardship Shelf meeting? Don’t worry! You can join us for the next one on Saturday, October 10. Keep an eye on our events page for more details.

What’s one of your favorite memories of spending time outside as a kid?

08/27/2026

Conservation is for the birds 🐦

When we conserve land, we’re protecting much more than trees, fields, and open space. We’re protecting habitat for the birds and wildlife that depend on these places.

Prescribed fire, careful forest management, and even artificial nesting cavities for the red-cockaded woodpecker are all part of the work of restoring healthy longleaf habitat.

That’s one of the many reasons land conservation matters; when we protect the land, we protect the wildlife that calls it home.

08/25/2026

🌿 Explore Aiken's protected lands in a whole new way!

Aiken Land Conservancy's new interactive StoryMap makes it easy to explore the public properties we help protect, learn more about these special places, and see where you can go to enjoy the outdoors.

From forests and trails to ponds and open spaces, each property has its own story to tell.

🗺️ Start exploring: https://arc

The StoryMap was created by Patti Bennett, an ALC volunteer. ALC is grateful to have amazing volunteers like Patti who share their talents with us!

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