Rudy Mancke Collection

Rudy Mancke, who passed away on Nov. 7 at the age of 78, became a beloved figure in South Carolina and beyond through his groundbreaking work as the host of the nationally distributed television show NatureScene and SC Public Radio’s NatureNotes. NatureScene, co-created with Beryl Dakers premiered in 1978 and continued for an impressive 25 years, gaining national recognition for its simple and innovative approach to exploring the natural world.

Within this Collection

Animals

Collections

Forest

Collections

Plants

Collections

Title:
Sandy Point (S.C.) Stop 3 6
Sandy Point (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 6

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Clench’s Helmet is a univalve which feeds on echinoderms, like sand dollars. We see two shells which look very similar to each other, but actually come from different animals: a Knobbed whelk, and a...
Sandy Point (S.C.) Stop 2 4
Sandy Point (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 4

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Horseshoe crab which Rudy and Jim find is not dead, but is actually a shed exoskeleton! They also find whelk egg cases, and one of them still has young snails inside. Oyster shells are found...
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 7 10
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 7
Episode 10

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim talk about some of the species of shrub which grow here: Rosemary and Sand Myrtle. Young Longleaf pines, False Foxglove, lichens, Bluejack oak, and Spiked moss also do well in low...
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 5 7
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 5
Episode 7

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Peachtree Rock – Rudy and Jim visit the actual rock in which the area gets its name. Contrary to popular belief, it is not actually a rock, but merely a large outcropping of sand held together by iron...
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 6 8
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 8

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Further up the trail where the area has less moisture, we see Turkey Oaks and Longleaf Pines make a return. Sparkleberry, Blazing Star, and Jointweed flowers are common in this area. On one of the...
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 2 2
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 2

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

While walking along the trail, Rudy and Jim find a Fence Lizard resting on a tree trunk. Its camouflage skin is perfect for blending in with its environment, making it difficult for predators to spot...
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 3 4
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 4

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

A little further down the trail, Rudy and Jim come across a sandstone rock, which has cemented over time, due to the abundance of iron in the soil.
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 4 6
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 6

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Hardwood Forest - On lower ground, where there is much more moisture, Red Maple, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Mountain Laurel, and White Oak trees grow very well in areas like this. Rudy and Jim come across...
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 8 11
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 8
Episode 11

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Here in this wide open, white sandy area, we see more Turkey oaks and Longleaf pines.
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 3 3
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 3

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Continuing down the trail, Rudy and Jim find a Black Gum tree, whose leaves are among the earliest to change color in the fall. Blackjack Oak is tree which grows well in poor soils. They come across...
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 6 9
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 9

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At the same stop, a Canebrake Rattlesnake is found resting up in a tree; a most unusual place to find a rattlesnake!
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 1 1
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 1

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Peachtree Rock is the edge of the old ocean, located just twenty miles west of Columbia, S.C. This area is part of the “Sandhills” part of the southeastern United States. Fall Line Sandhills- at this...
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 3 5
Peachtree Rock (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 5

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim find some Bracken fern, which is a common species of nonflowering plant in the area. And close by, they find a feeding Funnel spider, and a Black Widow spider.
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 3 4
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 4

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Limestone Mall Bluff – These large rock outcroppings are estimated to be around 30 million years old. Here, we see an abundance of large ferns, Papaws, Redbuds, and Ash trees.
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 5 6
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 5
Episode 6

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Biggin Creek – Here at this wetland area, we see Duckweed, Mosquito Fern, Cypress trees, Spanish Moss, Wild Rice, Bur Marigold, Rose Hips, . Out in the water, Rudy and Jim spot a Great Blue Heron, and...
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 4 5
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 5

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Here at a higher elevation above the limestone, and where the soil is more loamy, we see more diverse plant life: White Oak trees, American Beech, Witch Hazel, Sparkleberry, and Switch Cane.
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 8 9
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 8
Episode 9

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Visitor Center – The park and visitor center is a great place to learn about both natural and man-made history. The entrance to the park features a replica of what a lock in the canal looked like...
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 7 8
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 7
Episode 8

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Here, outside Old Santee Canal Park’s visitor center, we see a Green Jacket dragonfly, live oaks, Poison Ivy, Trumpet Creeper, Southern Sugar Maple, and a Yellow Bellied Sap-Sucker in a nearby...
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 1 1
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 1

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim visit Old Santee Canal Park, a historic lowcountry area near Monck’s Corner, South Carolina. The area features a wide array of habitats, containing both native and non-native plants. Some...
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 2 3
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 3

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Limestone Trail – Along the trail, Rudy and Jim find an old kiln, left behind by inhabitants from around the 1860’s and 1880’s. Some of the plants that have come to dominate the old quarry area, are...
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 6 7
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 7

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Santee Canal – This canal took seven years to build, from 1793-1800, and is around 22 miles long. Duckweed and Pennywort are seen growing along the sides of the canal. Rudy and Jim find a Chain...
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 8 12
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 8
Episode 12

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim analyze the geographic features of the creek, around with some of the plant life growing in the area: White Pines, Wild Geranium flowers, Mountain Laurel, Liverwort, Maidenhair Fern,...