Becoming an Outdoors-Woman winter program

Women seeking the opportunity to improve their outdoor skills are invited to register for the 12th annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) winter program in the Upper Peninsula. The program will be held in Big Bay the weekend of Feb. 22-24.  

Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, this BOW workshop offers instruction in more than a dozen kinds of indoor and outdoor activities, including cross-country skiing, dog sledding, ice fishing, fly tying, wilderness first aid, wood burning and more. Instructors provide basic and advanced instruction that is tailored to each participant's individual ability.  

The program takes place at Bay Cliff Health Camp, a universally accessible facility, located in a picturesque wooded setting overlooking Lake Superior approximately 30 miles north of Marquette.  

The $180 registration fee includes all food and lodging, as well as most equipment and supplies. Participants will be housed in a dorm-style facility with amenities including a sauna and hiking trails with access to Lake Superior.  

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops are for women, 18 and older, who wish to learn outdoor skills in a relaxed, noncompetitive atmosphere. The winter BOW program also includes special evening activities during the weekend event.  

Registration deadline is Monday, Feb. 4, but early registration is recommended as the program fills quickly each year. Class information and registration materials are available online at www.michigan.gov/bow, and payments may now be made online as well. For more information, contact Sharon Pitz at the DNR office in Marquette at 906-228-6561 or email pitzs@michigan.gov.