Wanted – adventurous and outdoorsy women wishing to learn more about Florida’s great outdoors in a comfortable, noncompetitive, hands-on environment. If this could be you, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to participate in the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop near Ocala.

The three-day workshop takes place March 9-11 at the Ocala Conservation Center in the Ocala National Forest. The workshop begins Friday at 10 a.m. and ends Sunday with lunch.

Although designed with women in mind, the workshop is open to people 18 years and older who wants to improve their outdoor skills and enjoy several recreational activities.

The program offers a fun and supportive atmosphere for participants wishing to try new things and enjoy the camaraderie of other women wanting to do the same. In four, three-and-one-half-hour sessions, the BOW workshop teaches some of the basic skills associated with fishing, hunting and other forms of outdoor recreation, at all levels of physical activity, with hands-on experience.

“The most popular classes women sign up for are canoeing/kayaking, reading the woods, handguns and archery,” BOW state coordinator Lynne Hawk said.

Other classes available are outdoor cooking, shooting sports, wilderness survival, camping/backpacking, deer hunting, small game hunting, outdoor photography, wilderness first aid, map & compass, pan fishing, fly fishing, boating, bird watching, personal safety, shotguns, bass fishing, turkey hunting, hunter safety course, muzzleloaders, bow hunting and knot tying.

The cost for the three-day workshop is $175, and there are discounted slots available for low-income participants, single parents and college students attending the workshop for the first time. The workshop is restricted to 100 people on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about the BOW workshop or how you can register, visit MyFWC.com/BOW or call Lynne Hawk at 561-625-5122.

Learn more about Pennsylvania Women in the Outdoors and the upcoming event.

Directions will be provided to all participants. If you do not have equipment (5 or 6 wt. rod and reel, 2x leader, waders, wading boots) please email Deb at bowendeb@bellsouth.net with your wader and boot size and equipment will be provided for you.

There is a 30-day cancellation and non-refund policy on ALL classes. Learn more about the class and GWFF.

Activities will be held at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and Davidson River Campground, south of Asheville near Brevard in Transylvania County. The registration fee is $125, with partial scholarships available.

“It doesn’t matter what skill level or previous experience you have,” said BB Gillen, outdoor skills coordinator for the Wildlife Commission. ”

This weekend is tailored for individuals, so each angler will gain new skills and improve techniques, and learn about an angler’s important role in conservation on mountain streams.”

The workshop will be held rain or shine. March can be cool or even cold, so appropriate dress is advised.

Fly-fishing equipment will be provided, but participants can bring their own gear.

Gillen also recommended sunscreen, insect repellent, rain gear, a folding chair, hat and water bottle, along with outdoor clothes, shoes, socks, toiletries, flashlight, linens and, if camping, a tent. Optional non-camping, lodging opportunities are conveniently located nearby.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman is an international program in which women 18 years old and up can learn outdoor skills through hands-on experiences. In North Carolina, Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops are held across the state and provide instruction on fishing, hunter safety, target shooting, archery, canoeing, motorboat safety, outdoor cooking, tracking and map-and-compass skills.

For more information on the fly-fishing weekend, gift certificates and scholarship opportunities, contact Gillen at 919-218-3638 or BB.GILLEN@NCWILDLIFE.ORG.

Aimed at introducing women to a variety of firearms, the Women’s Outdoor Adventure also features exciting outdoor activities as well as fun and relaxing social events.

“The Women’s Outdoor Adventure is an opportunity for ladies to foster their interest in shooting and the outdoors, all while enjoying the camaraderie of like-minded women,” said Bill Poole, Director of NRA’s Education & Training Division. “We want the attendees to leave with a well-rounded knowledge of firearms and the desire to continue participating in the shooting sports.”

Attendees will enjoy the thrill of learning to shoot on the world-class ranges of the Rockcastle Shooting Center while receiving instruction from the country’s top female shooters and firearms instructors. From trying their hand at shooting rifles, pistols, and shotguns during exciting multi-gun competition, to the fun of sporting clays, attendees will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of shooting disciplines in a supportive, encouraging setting.

Cowboy Action Shooting is also on the agenda for the Women’s Outdoor Adventure, with attendees being transported back in time to the Old West on Rockcastle’s western town shooting range. Finally, attendees will take the NRA Personal Protection Inside The Home Course, designed to help women incorporate a firearm into their home defense plan.
In addition to time on the range, ladies will enjoy riding a zip line, canoeing, horseback riding, and playing a round of golf at the Cave Valley Golf Club. Other activities include touring natural caves in the area, a wine and cheese social at the Cave Valley Winery, a ladies hunting apparel fashion show, a cowboy-style cookout, and performances from local musicians.

Reservations for the Women’s Outdoor Adventure are made on a first come, first served basis, and space is limited to just 40 women. The deadline to register is March 15, 2012.

For more information on the Women’s Outdoor Adventure or to download the event application, please visit http://www.nrahq.org/women/woa.asp or contact Ann Marie Foster at 703-267-1413

The Winter Discovery Day is scheduled for Jan. 28 at the MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon. It’s part of the DNR’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program and costs $50 to participate.

The department says the program “is designed for women to try a variety of outdoor skills in a fun, safe and non-competitive environment.”

Subjects covered include ice fishing, snowshoeing, map and compass skills, hiking, duck hunting, self-defense, pistol shooting and turkey hunting.

The registration deadline is Jan. 24. Visit the Michigan DNR website for more information.

Photo courtesy of NRA Women on Target

First on the schedule is a Whitetail Buck and Doe hunt at the Celebrity Ranch in Mingus, Texas from October 8-12, 2012. Whether you’re a seasoned huntress or a beginner, this hunt will help you find the trophy buck of your dreams thanks to favorable hunting conditions and experienced guides.

Read more by Kerrin Brinkman about Women on Target Hunts for 2012 and 2013 at NRA Blog.

Are you going to SHOT Show? Are you looking for a way to extend your trip through the weekend following the show while the guys are playing golf? Or are you just looking to get away to Phoenix, AZ in January and spend some quality time at the range to become an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor? Join us at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility on January 20-22, 2012 for the next NRA Pistol Instructor Course for women – by women.

More and more women are registering for firearm training than ever before and it’s a fact that they prefer to be taught by other women. If you feel you have the qualifications to become part of the growing number of Female Certified Pistol Instructors – come join us.

Barb Baird, an NRA-certified pistol instructor, works with a female student at her home range. Photo courtesy of Jason Baird

This is an excellent opportunity to become part of the Female Pistol Instructor cadre and become a teacher and mentor for the thousands of women who are learning to shoot every year.

The Arizona Women’s Shooting Association and Ben Avery are hosting this course as part of the Women’s Instructor Development Initiative by the NRA. For more information, please go to www.nrainstructors.org and search for the Phoenix, AZ course. You can register online for one of the few remaining seats for this course.

If you have questions on future events, including the NRA Pistol Instructor Course for women we’re offering at the 2012 NRA Annual Meeting in St. Louis, please contact us at femaleinstructors at nrahq.org.

Visit the Women’s Programs webpage at the NRA.

The seminar will kick off with the Harbor Financial networking happy hour at the beautiful Naples Harbour Yacht Club on Friday evening, March 16, from 6-8 pm. The classroom portion starts at 8:00 am on Saturday, March 17, where fishing techniques will be taught at beginner and intermediate/advanced levels in the morning. Fishing topics and speakers will include Captains such as Kevin Merritt/Rod and Reel Basics, Jon Fetter/Inshore, Will Geraghty/Offshore-Bottom and Capt. Roan Zumfelde/Fly Fishing. After lunch, the women will participate in several “hands-on” fishing stations, such as conservation techniques, spin casting, net casting, landing and releasing, trailer backing, fly casting, knot tying, gaffing grapefruits, boat handling and reeling against pressure, until 4:30 pm. On Sunday, March 18, participants have the option to practice their newly learned skills from either a bay/backcountry or group boat, followed by a fillet demonstration.

Year after year, participants praise the program and share the experience with fellow female anglers. “Being able to pick, choose, and move between skill stations was terrific! I loved the flexibility,” commented Mary Hackney, Naples, FL. Georgia Allen, Bonita Springs, FL added, “I learned more about fishing in two days than from my dad in 20 years!”

Featured on national network television and more, the series is held in conjunction with the FWC through the Sport Fish Restoration Program, with major partners such as Ranger, Mercury, Silver Airways Corp., Minn Kota, Humminbird and Magic Tilt Trailers. There will be opportunities for local businesses and area anglers to take an active role in the seminar.

Early registration starts at only $99 and includes instruction, use of equipment, hands-on training, networking reception, silent auction, lunch, goody bags and more. The Sunday Fishing Adventure, with tackle and bait provided, is additional at $99 for Party Boat and $140 for bay/flats fishing. The beautiful Naples Harbour Yacht Club is located at 475 North Road, Naples, FL 33104; www.wetanddryslips.com. The overnight hotel is Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites, phone 239-261-3500. Participants are encouraged to book their overnight rooms as early as possible. In addition to the Naples workshop, the 2012 schedule includes additional workshops: The 2012 seminar schedule also includes South Florida/Ft. Lauderdale: April 20-22, Treasure Coast/Stuart: May 18-20 and Keys/Islamorada: Nov. 9-11. Contact: LLGF, phone 954-475-9068, fax 954-474-7299.

“Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!”® saltwater fishing seminar for women, March 16-18 at the Naples Harbour Yacht Club. Hotel accommodations at the Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites. Registration begins at $99/advance and includes networking reception and silent auction, classes at beginner/advanced levels, lunch, hands-on skill stations, goody bag and more. Fishing adventure fees for Sunday are additional. Other 2012 dates: South Florida/Ft. Lauderdale: April 20-22, Treasure Coast/Stuart: May 18-20 and Keys/Islamorada: Nov. 9-11. Contact information is: phone: (954) 475-9068; email: fish@ladiesletsgofishing.com; website: www.ladiesletsgofishing.com, www.facebook.com/ladiesletsgofishing.