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Becoming an Outdoors-Woman

"I had the time of my life! Great instructors. Wonderful women.
I look forward to coming back again next year!"
"I can do it on my own now and teach my kids and my husband!"

Becoming and Outdoors-Woman National Logo

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) and Beyond BOW are programs designed to teach women outdoor skills. These national programs provide women with information, encouragement and hands-on instruction in outdoor skills such as fishing, shooting, archery, hunting, trapping, outdoor photography, map and compass, survival, camping, canoeing and outdoor cooking.

A photo of a woman paddling in a kayak.
Paddling a kayak

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops are designed primarily for women who have little or no experience with outdoor activities. These are three-day workshops that offer many different classes over the course of a weekend.

Beyond BOW workshops are another opportunity for women to learn outdoor skills and are anything we offer that is not the traditional three-day BOW workshop. They may be "next step" classes for women who have completed a beginner class at a BOW workshop. They may be one day, one subject classes. They may even be an actual hunt, canoe trip or camp-out.

BOW and Beyond BOW workshops are open to anyone aged 18 and over - past participants have ranged in age from late teens to the mid-eighties!

Upcoming BOW workshops:

September 18 - 20, 2009 - Silver Bay YMCA on Lake George, Warren County. Registration materials will be available in June 2009.

Upcoming Beyond BOW events:

The following Beyond BOW events will take place in the Saranac Lake / Lake Clear region of the Adirondack Mountains. Information will be available soon.

May 29 - 31, 2009 - Beyond BOW
Firearms in the Forest
On-Water Canoe/Kayak Interpretive Paddle
Map and Compass

October 16 - 18, 2009 - Beyond BOW
On-Water Canoe/Kayak Interpretive Paddle
Adirondack Hiking

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Listserv

Sign up for the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman e-mail notification listserve and get notices and registration information for all BOW and Beyond BOW events sent right to your inbox. All you need to do is click on the listserv link below and follow the directions on the screen. You will get a confirming e-mail back. You must respond to the confirming e-mail to activate the e-mail notification service.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman listserv

For further information on the BOW or Beyond BOW program, contact: NYS Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, 625 Broadway, 5th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-4754 or call (518) 402-8883

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  • Contact for this Page:
  • NYSDEC
    Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
    625 Broadway
    Albany, NY 12233-4754
    518-402-8883
    email us