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September 19-21, 2003, Barb and her sister-in-law, Laurel Hane, attended the "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" (BOW) program near Estes Park, Colorado.
According to their website:
"The Colorado Division of Wildlife has been a part of this international program since 1994, a program aimed at breaking down traditional barriers to women in the out-of-doors by educating and empowering them to succeed in outdoor skills."
It offers classes in hunting skills, horse riding, gun safety, fly fishing, nature photography, survival strategies, orienteering, and much more!
If you'd like to learn more about this program, visit their website.
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This program was held at Peaceful Valley Lodge. The fall colors were beautiful.
(Click the photo to see their website.)
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For the Friday afternoon session Barb & Laurel kicked off their BOW experience with the Beginning Fishing Skills class.
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Saturday, Laurel enjoyed learning the fine skills of fly fishing.
Meanwhile, Barb attended the sessions in Map & Compass Orienteering. In the afternoon, the class took a hike having to use their new compass and map reading skills.
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After dinner Saturday evening, we went into Estes Park to experience elk bugling. We found several bulls and cows smack in the middle of town on the golf course.
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To help prepare for her first hunting trip, Barb looked forward to the shooting class as her final session Sunday morning. Firearms instructor, Jayne Zmijewski, was an excellent teacher.
Here Barb learns how to shoot her first shotgun. She got to shoot both 20 and 12 gauge shotguns. Having never shot at a moving target before, Barb was so excited when she managed to hit several of the clay pigeons!
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After shotguns, Barb moved on to hand guns. She learned how to handle a .22, a .38, and a .45.
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At the rifles station, Barb gained more experience shooting a .22 caliber, as well as learning about a .223 (which is the same as the military M16).
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Definitely, Barb got the biggest "bang" shooting the .50 caliber flintlock muzzleloader. It sounded like a canon!
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For the group's farewell lunch Sunday, we enjoyed wild game prepared by the Field Dressing Game class and then cooked by the Outdoors Cooking class. Everything was quite tasty!
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Barb says goodbye to Lenora Lovett.
Lenora has done a great job coordinating the Colorado BOW program since it started 10 years ago.
Laurel and Barb really enjoyed their BOW experience and look forward to attending again next year and learning more outdoors skills!
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