Registration open for Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program

Women seeking to improve their outdoor skills can now register for the 16th annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) summer program, held the weekend of May 31 to June 2 at Big Bay Health Camp, located approximately 30 miles north of Marquette.

Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, this BOW program offers instruction in more than two dozen types of outdoor activities, including kayaking, wilderness first aid and survival, lake and fly fishing, fly-tying, geocaching, shooting sports, boating and outdoor cooking.

Volunteer BOW instructors provide basic and advanced instruction that is uniquely tailored to each participant’s individual ability, helping the participants learn the basics in a short amount of time.

The $180 registration fee includes all food and lodging, as well as most equipment and supplies. Participants will be housed in a universally-accessible dorm-style facility with numerous amenities, including a pool, sauna, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails and easy access to Lake Superior. The BOW summer program also includes special evening programs, such as hikes, group bonfires and more.

Class information and registration materials are available online at www.michigan.gov/bow, and registration can be paid online at www.michigan.gov/estore. The summer program typically fills quickly, so early registration is encouraged. The deadline for registration is Friday, May 10.

A limited number of BOW scholarships are available to help low-income participants with the cost of registration. For more information, contact Sharon Pitz at 906-228-6561 or pitzs@michigan.gov.

BOW is a noncompetitive program in which each individual is encouraged to learn at her own pace. The emphasis is on the enjoyment, fun and camaraderie of outdoor activities, and sharing in the success of one another.

For more information about the various BOW programs offered in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/bow.