South Dakota Becoming an Outdoors-Woman

More and more women are enjoying the outdoors: with friends, families, children, husbands, and alone. The SD Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshops are contributing to the number of women who are enthusiastic about and comfortable in the outdoors.

South Dakota’s Department of Game, Fish & Parks began hosting BOW workshops in 1994. One weekend per year is offered. The workshops historically alternated in 2-year cycles between East River and West River. However, beginning in 2006, the workshops will be held in a 1-year East River and 2-years West River cycle. This change comes from participant comments and in response to registration numbers. The workshop cycle looks like this:

2004: Outlaw Ranch, Custer

2005: Outlaw Ranch, Custer

2006: Lake Poinsett, Arlington

2007: Outlaw Ranch, Custer

2008: Outlaw Ranch, Custer

2009: Lake Poinsett, Arlington

Traditionally, the weekend begins at 11am Friday morning and is finished after lunch on Sunday.

One hundred adults, both women and men, will each be able to choose 4 sessions during the weekend. There are more than 30 class choices, with topics ranging from shooting and hunting, to fishing, to other outdoor recreational activities like camping, canoeing, photography, orienteering, and bird watching.

Hands-on experiences and a friendly learning environment are stressed in each class. BOW workshops are aimed at women participants 18 years and older, with female instructors if possible. This helps participants overcome the barriers of few female role models for outdoor activities, and the social pressure that indicates that hunting, fishing and other forms of outdoor recreation are "men’s activities." There is no upper age limit of participating in this workshop. Our mountain biking instructor is over 70 years old!

• The cost of the 2007 workshop was $140 on or before August 24 and $165 after that date. The price included lodging, meals, instruction and equipment. There will be 10 scholarships of $70 each awarded to those who need assistance to be able to attend the weekend. 
• South Dakota is one of 53 states and Canadian provinces that offer BOW workshops. For information on workshop dates in other states, contact the national website for BOW workshops, which is based at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.
• To request more information about BOW, click >HERE<.

"Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" and the logo are copyrighted and protected by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and cannot be used without permission.