BOW Unites Women in the Great Outdoors: Skills and Connections Await

I went into my first
Becoming an Outdoors Woman
trip thinking I’d learn about fly fishing and fly tying. I thought I’d get more skills and get out on the water.

As with most adventures, it was so much more.

Becoming an Outdoors Woman in Michigan started more than 20 years ago as a way to offer workshops and hands-on outdoor learning for women. The intent is for it to be a supportive and noncompetitive atmosphere that encourages learning and an appreciation of the outdoors.

The summer session I attended listed a range of options like morning bird watching, kayaking, backpacking, preparing for a hunt, fly fishing, fly tying, camp cooking, owl and bat prowls, archery and shooting.

It didn’t matter which sessions we picked — every one of my peers participating in the sessions I spoke with seemed inspired when they left the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon where our classes took place.

We each had a sense of empowerment to go on and pursue our chosen passions in our own part of the state with a few more mentors and connections made along the way.

I always hear that women are one of the fastest growing segments in a lot of outdoor enthusiast groups. Backpacking, kayaking, hunting, fishing, all of it.

The outdoor gear industry is sort of catching on nowadays. It has definitely improved from the days I started eyeing waders like 10 years ago when the only accessible options were made for men’s bodies.

Women were an afterthought. Then, when you did find some for women, the sizes, styles and features were limited and pricey.

Every year for the last decade, I have been saying that this is finally the year I get my own pair of waders. Now, I really do think this is actually the year.

At the Becoming an Outdoors Woman fly fishing session, I had a chance to oggle all the gear. The waders, boots, fly rods, fly-tying supplies and books.

Conversations with other anglers is a big reason that I think this is my year to finally really dive into fly fishing.

I talked with a fly fishing guide, a woman in the Upper Peninsula. She was loaded with information on everything I was eager to learn about. Even things like the women-owned, women-designed wader brands and what seems to work for her style of fishing.

Another woman showed me methods on how to get into the waders better. Yet another woman shared tips on walking in the river.

All these pieces might seem trivial individually. But add them up and one can easily get overwhelmed entering a new sport without this kind of stellar mentorship. Having all that cohesive support enveloping me was really encouraging.

Surprisingly, the one thing I valued the most from the experience was the connections I made with other women who attended the event. I hadn’t expected that to be part of the equation.

It had a bit of a cross between a college campus feeling with dorm life, feeding hall and classroom settings. And then the camaraderie came naturally as we all put ourselves out there learning brand new things and honing beginner skills.

It reminded me a bit of the atmosphere during a fun work conference where you leave feeling refreshed and ready to go try new things.

Becoming an Outdoorswoman sessions also tied into something that I yearn for: lifelong learning. All the participants are trying new things and growing over the span of a few days.

It could be academically learning information about a skill; it can be the hands on mechanics of how to shoot bows and guns; or it can be learning how to find your people in a crowd.

I experienced a combination of all those aspects and it was exhilarating to be in an environment where organizers and instructors worked hard to cultivate it.

When I meet folks who have no interest in learning new things, it both saddens and disheartens me as an adult to be around them.

I know we make a lot of excuses in our lives, but I think we can do better than “I’m too busy to (fill in the blank.)” Just admit that it is easier to keep doing what you’ve been doing and it’s harder to try new things.

If you are willing to give it a try and learn about the outdoors, I recommend something like Becoming an Outdoors Woman or the
Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Skills Academy
.

I have attended a few academy classes including fly fishing and ice fishing sessions. Not only were they fun, but I even came home with a few supplies like a tip up and flies tied by the instructors.

Within the academy are a range of classes around the state on topics like fishing clinics, wild mushroom foraging classes, deer hunting and beginner apiary classes.

Many of the closest classes to Manistee County take place at the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center in Cadillac. So, what are you waiting for? I bet you can go outside and learn something new today.

Arielle Breen is the assistant editor for the Manistee News Advocate and Benzie County Record Patriot. She can be reached at [email protected] or by leaving a message at 231-398-3109.