COLUMBIA, SC - Palmetto State readers rely on South Carolina Wildlife magazine for fascinating and informative stories about the outdoors from sports to wildlife and much more. But, right now, S.C. Wildlife magazine is turning to you, the outdoors lovers of the Palmetto State, for stories of your outdoor traditions.

Whether you celebrate special family occasions with a picnic in your favorite park year after year, have a unique ritual for welcoming new members to your group of hunting buddies, look forward all winter to celebrating the arrival of spring with an annual road trip to your favorite camping area or gather with old friends to tube down the river when the mercury rises, we want to hear about it!

S.C. Wildlife invites you to share photos, slides and/or short descriptions of your hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, paddling, climbing, diving or other outdoor traditions. You might have many, but choose the best one to share, and tell us about what this traditional activity, meal or place involves, how it got started, why it continues or became a tradition, and who is involved.

We’ll collect your submissions, including descriptions of no more than 300 words, along with slides, prints or digital photos between now and October 1, 2007. If we get enough print-worthy stories, we’ll select some to publish in our September-October 2008 issue. Just follow these guidelines:

• Send only slides or photos that are in focus and exposed properly—nothing blurry or too dark or bright.
• Don’t write on the back of the photos. Instead, enclose a note or put a sticky note on the back describing each photo. Please do not use tape or paper clips to attach notes to the photos. This will damage your photos and make them impossible to publish effectively. Prints or slides are OK, but no negatives, please. Digital photos on CD or DVD will be fine, too.
• If you would like your photo returned, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
• You can send us several photos, but only one will be used with your description. Descriptions of outdoor traditions without photos are fine.
• If you would like to share stories of outdoor traditions you have heard from others, either friends or family, that’s OK, too. If you choose to send a story told to you by someone else, please send in only real stories of people you know. Also, please ask them for an appropriate photo and permission to publish it (if one is available).
• Mail photos, descriptions and return envelopes to Outdoor Traditions, South Carolina Wildlife magazine, P.O. Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202 or e-mail submissions to FosterC@dnr.sc.gov and put "Outdoor Traditions" in the subject line.

For more on outdoor traditions, visit the South Carolina Wildlife magazine and click on "We All Have A Story To Tell."

DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.