Hitchcock Woods Foundation

08/24/2026

In partnership with the Aiken Master Gardener Association, Hitchcock Woods hosted its first Great Southeast Pollinator Census! While the overcast weather wasn't the best for insects, it was a beautiful morning to be in the Woods!

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is a six-state community-science count run by University of Georgia Extension. Each August, thousands of people watch a blooming plant for fifteen minutes and record the insects that visit. Together, those counts build a long-term picture of pollinator health across the Southeast.

We look forward to hosting the census again next year! 🦋🪰🌼

08/17/2026

Our staff bids a fond farewell to our summer interns, Maddie Matthews and Zachary Patterson. Both are headed back for their senior year of studies, Maddie at Wofford College as an Environmental Studies major and Zachary at North Carolina State University with a major in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. "Maddie and Zachary learned a lot this summer," says Eric Grande, assistant Woods superintendent. "In just three months they have become proficient with so much equipment including chainsaws. Plus, they got a taste of safely conducting prescribed burns."

08/14/2026

Good morning, HWF Woods staff continues with work on Coker Spring Trail, please avoid this section of trail today while we continue trail maintenance and hurricane debris mitigation. Thank you, we will have trail back open this afternoon for the weekend!
-HWF Woods staff

08/13/2026

8/13-Good morning, temporary trail closure for vegetation control and hurricane debris mitigation. HWF Woods staff will have sections of Coker Spring Trail closed off this morning and afternoon for trail maintenance and hurricane debris mitigation, please avoid trail when you see signs, cones and equipment in operation. Detour to Morgan Cut to Dolan Hill or use the South Boundary entrance as an alternate. Thank you!

07/31/2026

Hitchcock Woods is excited to be part of this upcoming workshop on how prescribed fire can enhance the health and beauty of your property.

Learn how prescribed burning can help restore natural landscapes, improve wildlife habitat, and enhance the overall aesthetics of your land. We hope you'll join us! Registration link is in the comments.

RSVP in Comments!

Prescribed Fire can improve both the health and enjoyment of riding you property in the Savannah River Corridor.

Please consider joining us for a day of presentations and learning about how prescribed burning can improve many aspects of your property. From reductions in tick population, to improved forage, prescribed burning may be the most cost effective way to improve the ride, for both horse and rider.

07/27/2026

Please send photos and /or a few words about the Woods to: [email protected]

07/23/2026

Prescribed burn notice: Good morning, the HWF staff-Rx Burn team will be conducting a 44 acre growing season burn today on the west end of Hitchcock Woods. Today’s burn is for wildlife habitat management/Longleaf restoration. We hope to begin around 11am and be finished by 3pm. This unit was last treated in February of 2025, so has very light fuels and should not produce much smoke. Our smoke sensitive area is mid-town Aiken so our smoke should be going up and over Aiken and the area of Whiskey Road. For more information, please visit our website at www.hitchcockwoods.org or visit www.goodfires.org to learn more about prescribed fire. Thank you!

07/17/2026

As we wrap up another amazing Summer Camp at Great Oak, we are filled with gratitude for an unforgettable season of learning, laughter, and adventure! 🌿☀️
Our campers spent the summer learning how to ride, exploring nature, making new friends, and gaining hands-on experiences that sparked curiosity and built confidence.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Cissell, who gave our campers a fascinating look into equine dentistry and helped them learn about horse health and care. Your time and expertise made a lasting impression!

Thank you to the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory for inspiring our campers through engaging environmental education, helping them better understand and appreciate the natural world.

We are also incredibly grateful to the Hitchcock Woods Foundation for leading an exciting bird-watching experience. Campers loved learning to identify local birds, observe wildlife, and appreciate the incredible biodiversity found right here in our community.

Finally, thank you to our campers, families, volunteers, and staff for making this summer such a success. Your enthusiasm and support made every day special, and we can't wait to do it all again next summer!

Until next year! 💙


Mid-Atlantic Equine Dentistry

07/17/2026