Course Description
This is not just any nature walk! Spend a Friday morning exploring some of South Carolina's
greatest natural treasures with renowned naturalist Rudy Mancke. Meet us at the park
and enjoy an exciting and captivating lecture.
Santee State Park is in the Sandhills of South Carolina on the western edge of the
110,000-acre Lake Marion. It is located off SC 6, three miles northwest of the town
of Santee and I-95.
The park offers boating, hiking, camping, birding, canoeing and kayaking. Well known
for fishing, this park offers a chance to catch record size Largemouth Bass. The 2,500-acre
park was created in 1942 when Orangeburg County donated the land. It has 2 campgrounds.
Cypress View Campground has 50 sites and Lakeshore Campground has 108 sites.
The park has 3 hiking trails and 1 biking trail. The "Limestone Nature Trail" and
the "Oak Pinolly Nature Trail" are 1 mile hiking trails. The "Sinkhole Pond Nature
Trail" is a half mile hiking trail. The biking trail is 7 miles long.
Important Information
- The program will be hosted by Rudy Mancke and escorted by USC staff. We will meet
you at the park on Friday. Directions will be emailed to you approximately one week
before the course.
- Each session is limited to 40 participants.
- We will run these programs in all types of weather and will not postpone or cancel
a program unless extreme conditions warrant.
- Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself
about these hazards and taking necessary precautions.
Guests should be prepared with sunscreen, bottled water, bug spray, good walking shoes,
and snacks to ensure a comfortable day.
Course Fee - $49
Meet Your Instructor
Rudy Mancke
Rudy Mancke serves as a distinguished lecturer in natural history at the USC School
of the Environment. He is perhaps best known as director of nature programming for
S.C. ETV and for NatureScene, a nationally syndicated TV show on which he appeared
for 23 years.
Before his television career, Mancke was natural history curator at the South Carolina
State Museum and, before that, a high school biology and geology teacher. He earned
a degree at Wofford College and did graduate work at USC, and has received honorary
doctorate degrees from the College of Charleston, Converse College, Coker College,
Presbyterian College, Winthrop University, and Wofford College. He writes articles,
maintains a demanding public speaking schedule, and is host of Nature Notes on educational
radio.
Registration and Fees
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Registration and Payment Notes
If you plan to pay by check or purchase order, select "register by mail." Complete the form and return a printout with payment to: USC Continuing Education
and Conferences, Close/Hipp Building at 1705 College Street, Suite 591, Columbia,
SC 29208. Your seat is not guaranteed until payment is received.
We accept online payment via electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express through MarketPlace,
a secure electronic environment that simplifies business transactions with the university.
Follow the MarketPlace prompts to complete payment. Your transaction is only complete
when you receive an order number, which is your receipt of payment. Your seat is not
guaranteed until payment is received and you receive an order number.
Once you have paid and are enrolled, you'll be emailed location and parking information for face-to-face programs or online
instructions about one week before the program begins.