Georgia’s BOW Program Teaches Women Outdoor Recreation Skills

Women interested in the outdoors, but perhaps with little to no outdoor knowledge, can discover hunting, fishing, boating and other recreational skills through a program series provided by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman is a non-profit, educational program offering hands-on workshops to women of all ages and fitness levels. Casual-styled classes enable women to learn about everything from shooting clays to birding.

No experience is necessary. Sessions led by outdoors professionals give novices and more experienced participants enough knowledge to pursue their outdoors interests when the workshop is over.

Weekend workshops begin with lunch Friday and end with lunch Sunday. In between, women 18 and older can choose from more than 25 classes such as outdoor photography, small game hunting, fly fishing, hiking, kayaking, outdoor survival skills, GPS and Geocaching, nature photography and rope-assisted tree climbing. Firearms safety and hunter education classes are offered to anyone who has not taken either course.

Jody Rice, DNR Becoming an Outdoors-Woman coordinator, said the program often referred to as BOW is designed to encourage women to get outside and enjoy outdoors activities.

“BOW offers women that chance by providing various classes in outdoor skills, and teaches these skills in a fun, non-threatening environment,” said Rice, who is also training and development specialist at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center.

A Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop is scheduled for Nov. 8-10 at Charlie Elliott. The center is near Mansfield, less than an hour southeast of Atlanta off Interstate 20. Participants will lodge at Charlie Elliott’s beautiful conference center, part of a popular complex including a wildlife management and public fishing area.

Find registration information or learn more at www.georgiawildlife.com/BOW or by calling (770) 784-3059.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is comprised of six divisions which carryout DNR’s mission to sustain, enhance, protect and conserve Georgia’s natural, historic and cultural resources. As one of six divisions within DNR, the Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) is charged with conserving, enhancing and promoting Georgia’s wildlife resources, including game and nongame animals, fish and protected plants. WRD is comprised of four sections – Game Management, Fisheries Management, Law Enforcement and Nongame Conservation, which regulate hunting, fishing and boat operation, protect nongame and endangered wildlife, provide conservation education and enforce laws for the protection and use of Georgia’s natural resources.