Washington Outdoor Women

Washington Outdoor Women
Teaching Women Outdoor Skills Since 1998

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Past Events:

Waterfowl 2010
Wkend 2009
Shotgun 2009
Waterfowl 2009
Wkend 2008
Shotgun 2008
Wkend 2007
Shotgun 2007
Wkend 2006
Shotgun 2006
Wkend 2005
Shotgun 2005
Shotgun 2002
Wkend 2002
Sept 2000
Sept 1999
Shellfish 1999

Past Events
(Use links below, left to jump to location)

WOW's 2nd Annual Waterfowling Workshop -- March 2010

WOW women pulled on their boots or waders and headed out into the field with us for a hands-on introduction to Waterfowling! WOW once again partnered with Ducks Unlimited (DU) to offer this popular one-day workshop. By the end of the day participants were familiar with the history of waterfowling, its techniques and the theories behind them, its ethics and conservation efforts. WOW and French Creek instructors and Ducks Unlimited staff helped would be waterfowlers with shotgun patterning and shooting moving clays, setting duck decoys on ponds, the feel of action in a blind, and understanding (by seeing) why a retriever is such an important partner in this hunting experience. On a short excursion to nearby Cripple Creek participants had the opportunity to identify some local waterfowl and try their hand at calling.

This was truly a hands-on, active day, conducted on real duck hunting terrain. It required taking in a lot of information in practice situations. But all who attended had the sincere desire to put their newly acquired knowledge to a personal field test next year!

A duck cleaning session and a recap test at the end of the day brought eight hours of teaching and camaraderie to a close. Gifts from DU, Filson and French Creek rounded out a day of perfect weather and focused energy!

Waterfowl identification

2010 Students & Instructors

Field dressing and plucking ducks

2009 September Workshop

On the weekend of September 18-20, WOW continued its teaching of traditional skill-building to 116 women who wanted to become more self sufficient, confident and knowledgeable in the outdoors. WOW’s Annual Weekend workshop was held at beautiful Camp River Ranch again. The recollection that immediately comes to mind is the resiliency and determination of women eager to learn and having fun while sharing their enthusiasm with others who love the outdoors! The rains of Friday night and Saturday were not a deterrent to the spirit of the 150 on site. Northwesterners did themselves proud. Those from other states now know why we enjoy such a green canopy in the Cascade foothills!

Kayakers covered Lake Langlois and did their wet exits in the rain. The Survival classes built their earthen shelters under dripping trees. Map & Compass students learned to make that discipline work for them, not confuse them, regardless of the weather! Basic Fishing students donned their vests and raingear and cast their lines with smiles. The fly fishers did the same on the Tolt River. The Dutch Oven cookers produced incredible scrambles, breads - and even cookies. Big Game Hunting students tried appropriate gear and techniques. Wilderness First Aid had women saving each other from physical (hypothetical) calamities! Those in Wild Game Cooking made elk sausage, start-to-finish and the Wildlife Awareness class learned to ID cougar tracks along the river. These upbeat and engaged participants continually impressed the WOW instructors with their positive attitude, focused effort and good natured resolve. In turn, WOW’s instructors earned high marks for their flexibility and ingenuity in using the weather as a learning opportunity.

26 volunteer WOW Instructors taught women from five states and 76 towns, all facilitated by a volunteer WOW Coordinating Team of nine. Well done everyone!

Click here to see a list of the towns represented by WOW workshop attendees.

Building a survival shelter

Making fire with flint and steel

WOW’s Shotgun Workshop Right on Target

Ronni McGlenn, WOW Director

On June 20^th WOW’s Shotgun workshop was welcomed to the Tacoma Sportsmen’s Club (TSC). This was our first event at TSC and the invitation proved their positive support and enthusiasm for the WOW program. It was an enjoyably successful day! A comfortable meeting area for our classroom teaching and two trap lines were made available for our exclusive use. All of this was a donation on the Club’s part and comes with a standing invitation to return in the future!

After morning instruction that included safe gun handling, learning the parts of a shotgun along with the how’s and why’s of operation, women picked up pumps, over and unders, side by sides and semi-automatic shotguns to get the feel of the different types of actions. (Later they had the option of trying any of these shotguns on the line.) They practiced loading dummy ammo and understanding the safety mechanisms on different shotguns. The next drill, dry-firing while using the correct stance, reinforced the fundamentals of shotgun shooting: seeing the target, swinging to it, finding the timing and reflex to pull the trigger and following through. These were introduced by having the women follow a laser pointer image on the wall that mimicked a moving clay target.

The weather cooperated for our shooters and after lunch they began their trap line time with a balloon shoot. The women shot clay targets for almost three hours and wrapped up the day with a gun cleaning exercise.

The June 20^th class was a fun, enthusiastic, teachable group with great attitudes! They were good natured, patient and conscientious about their experience. Congratulations to Renee, Virginia, Suzanne, Joyce, Sue, Bethany, Sara, Janet, Celeste, Emily, Terri, Rebecca and Leigh on their Basic Shotgun Handling certificate. Thank you to WOW instructors Kathleen, John S., Sharon, Cathy, Ronni, Bruce and John M. and to WOW Team members Cindy and Kristie.

WWF and WOW would like to thank FILSON for their donation of Filson t-shirts and shooting pads….and a resounding THANK YOU to the Tacoma Sportsmen’s Club. We appreciate the upbeat welcome to the clubhouse and trap lines.

2009 Introduction To Waterfowling

WOW’s newest Workshop

On April 4^th, near Monroe, the day dawned foggy and cold. But as the morning stretched, sunshine cleared a beautiful mountain view over duck ponds at the French Creek Hunt Club. Thanks to the combined support and effort of the French Creek Hunt Club and Ducks Unlimited (DU), WOW’s first Waterfowling Workshop had begun! The WOW women donned their waders and headed out to set decoys and investigate aqua-pod maneuvering, to see how Labradors make all the difference in finding downed ducks and to experience (between bursts of laughter) a try at duck calling. The day also included patterning shotguns, shooting clay pigeons and practicing a hands-on approach to breasting out mallards! It was a full day of firsts for most workshop participants under the excellent guidance of French Creek, DU and WWF/WOW instructors.

Our thanks to the French Creek Hunt Club for sharing its beautiful habitat and clubhouse and to its members who shared their expertise; to Ducks Unlimited’s Northwest Regional Director, Tom Dwyer, who helped the women learn about the bigger picture of duck hunting by combining the important message of waterfowl habitat and conservation, and to all the instructors who came together to share their knowledge with WOWwomen eager to learn.

It was a wonderful day of education, camaraderie, and ‘ah ha’ moments! Great weather helped but the 27 people who came together that day were the makings of a special experience for all !

2008 Weekend Workshop

The 2008 Fall Weekend workshop at Camp River Ranch was an energized event with 90% of the women attending WOW for the first time. 30 instructors, a 13-member WOW Team and beautiful weather helped WOW’s 10^th weekend event exceed expectations! This year WOW celebrated the continuous volunteer contribution of seven of its instructors who have taught at each of the weekend workshops the last ten years! Shelly Ament, Cheryl Drevecky, Carolyn Elder, Amy Gulick, Lori Patnode, Faith Roland and Karen Sherwood were acknowledged during the weekend. And once again, WOW instructors, the solid base of the program and the biggest part of its success, were rated “exceptional” by the 2008 workshop attendees.

Two new classes were added. In Backpacking 102, participants hiked out to setup camp, cook and sleep under the stars, and Level II Situational Survival concentrated on specific life- threatening back country situations. The Dutch Oven cooking classes added campfire and plank cooking to its agenda. The Basic Fishing class donned new fishing vests and caught trout in Lake Langlois. First Aid for Dogs students bandaged a willing canine. Future hunters talked awareness, equipment and ethics while sampling elk stroganoff. Future anglers cast their lines on the Tolt River. Fly tiers showed their patterns with pride and kayakers found the peace of paddling the lake after wet exit exercises! It was a weekend of motivation, discovery and empowerment for many!

2008 Shotgun Workshop

On June 8^th, 20 of us gathered at the Renton Fish and Game Range for a day of dealing with shotguns. The WOW participants were eager and interested students. Learning the parts of a shotgun only brought more questions from this group of thinkers – good questions like…Why is a shotgun shell identified by gauge? What prompted the use of that word? Why would I want to use a choke? What type action is the easiest for a beginner?

From safety and gun handling; from understanding improved cylinder to practicing dry firing; from shattering balloons to shattering clays, these women were in it to learn. Their enthusiasm and attitude made the day a real pleasure for the WOW instructors. They now know why safety is paramount, why stance and follow through are so important, how a shotgun works, why they should keep the comb of the stock against the cheek of their face, and how to clean their shotgun. Each of the women earned a Basic First Step NRA certificate and practical rocker.

Outstanding effort Sheryl, Carole, Lori, Maureen, Rebecca, Jeanne, Renata, Lisa, Amber, Linda and Amy! WOW presented the opportunity, you proved your potential!

2007 Weekend Workshop

Since 1998 WOW volunteer Coordinators and Instructors—most of them women—have joined together with a common purpose: to extend themselves in the hope of making a difference, namely, to motivate the women of Washington state to confidently enter the outdoors. In this tenth year of the Washington Outdoor Women (WOW) program, the ripple effect has become apparent and it is a big part of WOW’s success. Young women find a place to begin their outdoor skills training with other likeminded women. Mothers come with their daughters. Single moms come with the dedicated purpose of getting their children into the outdoors – even if they have to do it alone. Middle-aged women value WOW’s use of female instructors. Grandmothers, who now have the time and freedom to renew their bonds with nature, bridge the age gap. WOW alums return with stories of personal adventures…and bring new attendees with them. All of these factors are powerful in themselves, and this combination continues to bolster WOW’s staying power. In 2007, WOW opened the year with a shotgun workshop on March 24th. Participants, guided by WOW’s NRA-certified instructors, proceeded through shotgun safety and operation, and then spent three hours on the trap line with instructors at their shoulders. Although rain fell through the entire day, the enthusiasm and attitude of the shooters overlooked that detail and each one connected with clay targets.

· “Great fun and right on the mark for skills.”

· “Catching my first fish on a fly.”

· “Building a small fire without matches and seeing it catch!”

· “The skins, mounts, skulls and footprints in Wildlife ID fascinated this city girl.”

These empowering statement from some of the 121 participants who attended theSeptember weekend workshop capture the excitement and enlightenment the women experienced. The beautiful natural layout of Camp River Ranch in Carnation, Washington, set the tone for hands-on learning for women from Washington, as well as several from Oregon and Arizona. Would-be anglers cast their lines on the Tolt River and tied their own flies. Eager backpackers pitched tents and fired up the latest lightweight stoves while Survival Skills students used their new knots to hand-build shelters. Wilderness First Aid students rescued each other! Women talked about stewardship, finding new confidence, cooking in cast iron, and the thrill of visiting with live raptors face-to-face.

March 2007 Shotgun Workshop

WWF’s WOW program began its 2007 year with another successful one-day shotgun workshop, March 24, at the Renton Fish and Game Club. Students follow the NRA First Steps program which emphasizes safety, knowing your shotgun, and learning the fundamentals of shotgun shooting. The course is thorough. It covers the parts of a shotgun, including ammunition and shot sizes, choke functions, action types and rules for safe shooting. These are followed by the Fundamentals of Shotgun Shooting: stance, gun-ready position, swing to target, trigger pull and follow through.

Participants also practice dominant eye exercises and dry firing. After this morning of classroom instruction, the women headed to the trap line to experience shooting moving targets. And even though it rained all day, that factor didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of these participants. Dressed for the weather, these outdoor women were outstanding examples of positive attitudes leading to success! Women tried several models of 12 and 20 gauge shotguns, with differing actions, to shoot clays. Everyone connected! The class concluded with gun cleaning, a discussion on safe storage and transportation, and a certificate and rocker to each participant completing the all-day course.

Well done Stephanie, Debbie, Tiffanny, Susan, Kathy, Donna, Maureen, Caroline, Cathy, Sharon and Cindy and Jon!

September 2006 Weekend Workshop, Camp Waskowitz

The Right Skills at the Right Pace
WOW’s 2006 Fall Weekend Workshop

Where’s the anchor point? Why is it called open-face spinning? How do I measure steepness, or grade, on a topo? If you attended WOW’s annual weekend workshop September 15-17 at Camp Waskowitz, you’d know the answer to these questions!

Women from all over Washington, as well as from Oregon and Arizona, raised their confidence levels as they re-connected with the outdoors over the course of 2½ days to learn 18 different skills. WOW’s 32 volunteer instructors included Map and Compass, Survival Skills, Fly Fishing, Basic Freshwater Fishing, Archery, Cooking with Wild Foods, Big Game Hunting Basics, After the Catch (preparing seafood), Canoeing, Backpacking, Wildlife Identification, First Aid for Dogs on the Trail, Herbal First Aid, Dutch Oven Cooking, and Birding Basics.

WOW places a premium on teaching women the right skills at the right pace. Our hands-on learning style develops confidence and competence. With 145 people on site, and all the women interested in connecting with the outdoors, the energy at Camp Waskowitz was enlivening and the enthusiasm was contagious. This was a group ready and eager to learn!

In addition to outdoor skills courses, special Break-out sessions were offered. They were Nature Journaling, Creating Your Own Backyard Wildlife Habitat, an open Fly Tying salon, and Amy Gulick’s beautiful and engaging slide show presentation, Wild Lives.

Another anticipated event during the weekend was WOW’s very special ‘Pass It On’ Kids Basket’ which was chucked full of outdoor activities, camping and fishing equipment, how-to and story books (including an autographed edition) and special event passes. This raffle bonanza was won by a mother of two Wee WOW’s – future Washington Outdoor Women! Northwest Trek, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Orvis, Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, Mountaineers Books, Washington Trails Association, American Birding Association, Cindy Brown, Scholastic Press, Seattle Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Washington Wildlife Federation and Washington Outdoor Women all contributed.

The level of support and commitment from the Washington Wildlife Federation and our other sponsors was again testament to the quality of WOW’s mission. As it has every year since 1998, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation provided partial scholarships for single mothers, full-time students, and those living lightly. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife again supplied several instructors and equipment. The Seattle Chapter of the Izaak Walton League provided financial support, several instructors and on-site digital photography. The National Wildlife Federation also supported WOW with financial as well as product donation, and on-site help. Our farthest a-field donor this year was Marge Levenson of The Doan Manufacturing Company of Ohio, who provided each Survival Skills student with a Doan Magnesium Fire Starter.

Thank you to all who supported WOW 2006 and to those who helped create and live the memory of another special outdoor experience.

March 2006 Shotgun/Clay Targets Workshop, Renton Fish and Game Club

Congratulations to 14 women who received their certificates and rockers for completing the NRA First Step (Shotgun) program at WOW’s March 11th workshop…

The Washington Outdoor Women program began 2006 with a one-day Shotgun/Clay Target Workshop at the Renton Fish and Game Club. 14 participants received one-on-one instruction from ten WOW instructors who are certified to teach the NRA First Step program. With emphasis on safety, education and application, the shooters received three hours of classroom instruction that included safe gun handling, learning how a shotgun and its ammunition work, the fundamentals of correct shooting technique, the reasons for applying these fundamentals, and rules (safety and protocol) of the range. After lunch the women were able to practice target shooting for three hours, with a break to learn how to clean their firearm. The day ended with enthusiastic response from new shooters who could now begin their journey of acquiring confidence with firearms….through continued application of the fundamentals.

Well done Becca, Carolyn, Janet, Jessica, Judy, Kayla, Kena, Kim, Laura, Leigh, Lori, Lyn, Rebecca, and Yolanda!

September 2005 Weekend Workshop, Camp Waskowitz

September 16-18 saw 115 women and 31 volunteer instructors participating in the WWF/WOW 2005 Fall Workshop. The versatile site on the south fork of the Snoqualmie River provided miles of trails in old growth forest, shelters and classrooms for instruction, warm lodging, and rustic places for group gatherings: everything necessary for a wonderful weekend of outdoor skills instruction. Fly Fishing had an open field to practice dry land casting before setting a fly in the river. FFF provided 8 stations for fly tying novices to try their hand with a hackle. Survival, Wildlife Identification, Big Game Hunting/Wildlife Conservation, Map & Compass, Outdoor Photography, and Cooking with Wild Foods all used the outdoors for their classroom. Women paddled canoes on Rattlesnake Lake, cooked Dutch Oven meals, identified animal tracks, tasted wild game, and fired arrows. Field-to-Freezer students learned how to properly cut and wrap meat; Wilderness First Aid participants bandaged each other, and Birders constructed their own bird houses. The Growing Wild class put its new Backyard Wildlife Habitat concepts into place by re-planting the camp entrance with native vegetation to attract wildlife. The Basic Fishing class caught trout on Rattlesnake Lake after learning proper casting technique and bait tips. And After-the-Catch participants filleted salmon, cleaned crab, shucked oysters, and steamed clams. A new class in 2005, Cordage-making, wove lanyards from native vegetation and handmade a cedar pouch for needles or fishing flies. The entire workshop learned about first aid for dogs on the trail and personal self defense in the outdoors or when encountering bear or cougar. The camaraderie around the campfire created many new friendships. Resources provided by more than 50 clubs, agencies, and organizations showed beginners how to pursue any skill of their choice. WOW’s instructors, chosen for their knowledge, experience, and teaching style, do what they teach and they are the best! Many hold state rankings and certifications. All are passionate about the outdoor skill they teach, and willingly volunteer their time and experience to give women the opportunity to gain the confidence they need to approach and enjoy the outdoors.

A total of 18 skills were offered at WOW’s Fall workshop (Click on Course Descriptions to check out the variety).

Plans are developing for other one day workshops throughout the year. Check this website for future selection and dates.

July 2005 Shotgun/Clay Targets Workshop, Renton Fish and Game Club

Wow hosted another of its one-day Shotgun workshops on July 23rd. 13 eager and enthusiastic shooters learned important gun handling safety and basic shotgun shills; practiced shooting clay targets, and learned how to clean their shotguns.

Eight WOW instructors - all NRA certified - and three support team members facilitated this outstanding day at the range.

Click here to view photos of the workshop.

September 2002 Weekend Workshop, Camp Waskowitz

Nearly 120 women attended this years weekend workshop at Camp Waskowitz along the beautiful banks of the Snoqualmie River. The 22 courses offered this year - the highest number yet - included After the Catch (preparing and cooking fish and shellfish), Archery (beginning and intermediate), Backpacking Basics, Big Game Hunting Basics, Birding, Cooking with Wild Foods, Dutch

Oven Cooking, Field to Freezer (cutting and wrapping game), Fishing (basic), Fly Fishing (beginning and intermediate), Fly Tying, Kayaking, Map & Compass (beginning and intermediate), Outdoor Photography (beginning and intermediate), Shotgun/Clay Targets, Survival Skills, Wild Edibles and Herbal Medicine, and Wildlife Identification.

WOW's instructors are all experts in their fields and some hold state and national titles.

June 2002 Shotgun/Clay Targets Workshop, Renton Fish and Game Club

This one-day session focused on the basics of shotgun safety, handling and technique with several hours dedicated to shooting clay targets.

There is no other program in Western Washington dedicated to teaching outdoor skills to women that includes the three disciplines of hunting, fishing and shooting sports. WOW 2001 began its year with a one-day Shotgun/Clay target workshop at The Renton Gun Club in June.

Women were introduced to the basics of shotgun safety, handling, and technique. They had an opportunity for extensive target practice with over 3 hours dedicated to shooting Clays. WOW participants learned how to dismantle a shotgun and clean it properly. A short field exercise taught women to climb a log or fence; walk a trail with hikers in front and behind them and store and retrieve firearms from a vehicle- all while using safe handling procedures.

All equipment and ammunition were provided on site at the Gun Club. All instructors for WOW are WHEIA or NRA certified.

It was a fun and successful day for many who had little or no exposure to shotgun/clay targets. Participants from the workshop called it "excellent reinforcement of the classroom teaching".

WOW plans to hold future shooting workshops. The dates will be posted on this web site as they become known. The one-day, in-depth workshops are limited to a maximum of 10 participants due to our policy of one-to-one certified instructor per participating student.

September 2000 Summer Workshop, Camp Waskowitz near North Bend

The Summer Workshop included a full range of course offerings: a Challenge Course course, Map & Compass, Packing with Horses, Survival Skills, Archery, Shooting Sports, Big Game Hunting, Fly Fishing, Fly tying, Outdoor Photography, Backpacking, Birding, Personal Preparedness, Wildlife Identification, Wild Edibles/Wilderness Medicine, and Dutch Oven cooking.

Shooting sports were held offsite at Snoqualmie Valley Rifle Club in Fall City and Canoeing took place on Rattle Snake Lake. The outstanding setting, coupled with our usual fine weather in mid-September, provided the perfect context.

In all, over 100 women participated, many of whom received special scholarships made available for the first time for qualifying participants.

September 1999 Summer Workshop, Millersylvania State Park's Environmental Learning Center

On the weekend of September 17-19, 112 women and 37 volunteer instructors participated in WOW's summer workshop. The versatile site, located on Deep Lake, provided large open fields, 7 miles of trails in old growth forest, individual cabins and a main lodge: everything necessary for a wonderful weekend of outdoor experiences.

The weekend offered a well-rounded offering of courses: Big Game Hunting/Wildlife Conservation and Shooting Sports were held off site at the nearby Capitol City Bowmen's Club and Evergreen Gun Club. Fly-fishing had the open meadow to practice dry land casting before setting a fly in Deep Lake. The Federation of Fly Fishers provided 8 stations for fly-tying novices to try their hand with a hackle. Backpacking, Survival, Wild Edibles and Wilderness Medicine, Wildlife Identification, and Outdoor Photography all used the woods for their classroom.

Women paddled canoes, shot clay pigeons, cooked Dutch oven meals, identified animal tracks, tasted wild game, pitched tents, maneuvered a trailering course, fired arrows, and learned about personal protection when encountering cougar or bear.

The camaraderie around the campfire created new friendships. Resources provided by more than 50 clubs, agencies, and organizations showed beginners how to pursue any skill of their choice. WOW's instructors, chosen for their knowledge, experience, and teaching style, shined the whole weekend.

Seventeen skills were offered in WOW's 1999 program.

April 1999 Shellfish Workshop, Toandos Peninsula - Hood Canal

In 1999, WOW held a Spring Shellfish workshop on Hood Canal. With shellfish licenses and hopeful anticipation, women traveled to the tip of Toandos Peninsula to harvest oysters and dig clams. A long sunny day on the beach provided them the opportunity to shuck their oysters and learn some cooking tips.

At the end of the day, a seafood feast offered up fried oysters and a special WOW recipe for steamed clams. Participants took their limits home to delight their families with stories and seafood skills. Instructors Lisa Wood and Anita Cook, biologists with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, took everyone on an educational low tide beach walk to round off the day.