Registration is now open for the 2021 Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop scheduled to take place Friday, October 1 to Sunday, October 3 at the Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp in Bishop’s Falls.

The Becoming an Outdoors Woman program offers an opportunity for women aged 18 and over to take part in a variety of courses designed to enhance outdoor skills and knowledge including safe firearm use, outdoor survival, hunting and angling. Volunteer instructors share their expertise and provide mentoring in a safe, supportive, and non-competitive atmosphere. A full list of courses being offered is included in the backgrounder below.

The registration fee for the three-day event is $275 and includes accommodations, meals and course materials. Please contact Salmonier Nature Park for registration information at salmoniernaturepark@gov.nl.ca or 709-229-7888. Interested individuals are encouraged to register soon as space is limited. Financial assistance may be available upon request.

The Becoming an Outdoors Woman program was established in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1997. Since its inception, more than 50 main workshops and numerous supplementary events have been held with support from a variety outdoor groups, organizations, businesses and volunteers around the province.

Quotes
“The Becoming an Outdoors Woman program provides a great opportunity for all participants to acquire valuable skills and knowledge that can be used to pursue a lifetime of fun and adventure in our province’s vast wilderness. I commend our wildlife staff, the volunteer instructors and Friends of Salmonier Nature Park for organizing and supporting such a worthwhile initiative. I encourage women throughout the province to consider taking part in this successful program.”
Honourable Derrick Bragg
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture

“The Becoming an Outdoors Woman program is an important effort in removing barriers to women. It is as much about building confidence as it is about building competence. The program allows women to connect with nature and learn how to effectively participate in outdoor recreation activities. I encourage all women to consider registering for the program, as they will not only learn outdoors skills, but life skills that may help whenever an emergency arises.”
Honourable Pam Parsons
Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality

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Becoming an Outdoors Woman Program

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Media contacts
Craig Renouf
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca

Danielle Barron
Office of Women and Gender Equality
709-729-5188, 691-2944
daniellebarron@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Becoming an Outdoors Woman Workshop Courses – 2021

Archery Basics
This class will cover the features of bows and arrows, and how to handle them accurately and safely. There will be a range set up where participants can try out archery equipment

Outdoor Photography
What do we all have in our pocket? That’s right, a smartphone. Grab your smartphone and join as we aspire to take wonderfully composed, in-focus images. Participants should bring their charged smartphone and an eagerness to learn and explore. We will go outside and practice our new skills, as well as discuss some of the technical aspects of photography.

Basic Camping
This course will make you a happy camper! You will leave knowing how to select a good campsite, put up and take down a tent, build and use an open fire, and how to safely use a camp stove.

Rifle Basics
This class will include a safety and handling session, and plenty of shooting using air rifles and .22 caliber rifles. Learn the importance of sight picture, breathing and trigger pull in successful rifle shooting.

Mushroom Hike
Come out for an afternoon walk in the woods. Participants will learn about the many wild mushrooms growing in this region.

Crafting with wildlife 
This course is about thinking outside the box and using parts of wildlife traditionally overlooked.  Learn the fundamental skills of basic leather working and jewelry making as you create earrings from caribou sheds and fish otoliths, as well as crafting with moose leather and repurposed mink.

Plant ID
Have you ever wondered about the plants around you? This basic class is designed to introduce you to the world of plants and to help you get started learning how to identify them. An easy hike is included to identify plants in the vicinity.

Sealing Fundamentals
Interested in getting a seal license, or learning more about sealing and working with seal fur.  This course will cover the history of sealing in Newfoundland and Labrador, the DFO Seal Information Session (necessary to get a personal seal license) and fur crafting using seal fur.

Gadgets and Gear
Are you interested in what is new or learning about the tried and true for your camping, backpacking or hiking experience? From Kelly kettles to a stove that burns twigs and recharges a cellphone while it cooks your bologna, we will play with them all in this session.

Beginner taxidermy
Join Andrew Barron to learn about taxidermy. Andrew has been practicing taxidermy for 35 years and is a former employee of Salmonier Nature Park. Watch and learn as Andrew shows you how a duck is mounted.

Wetland Painting
Enjoy an afternoon of creating beautiful art. In this workshop participants will learn the basics to begin creating from nature as the class works on a wildlife landscape.

Cooking a Shore Lunch
Cooking a shore lunch or outdoor boil up. A fresh fish fry-up along the water’s edge is known as a shore lunch, and is the best way to enjoy your catch. Learn as you prepare your own shore lunch and winter boil up of moose.  Recipes will be shared and everyone will get a chance to help prepare and cook, while sampling is encouraged.

Shotgun/Trapshooting
This class will include a safety and handling session, overview of shotgun types, ammunition and their use. You will learn how to judge distances, basic shooting techniques and shoot at clay targets.

Hiking/Backpacking
Not sure what to pack to go in the woods? This course will answer all your questions about hiking and backpacking.  Participants will take a short hike, and experience loading and wearing a backpack. You will learn how to prepare for a trip into the wilderness.

Fly Casting
Take the mystery out of salmon fishing! In this class you will learn about the equipment and clothing required to enjoy this marvelous form of fishing.  You will learn good casting techniques, how to join lines and when to use different types of flies and then practice your new found skills outdoors.