NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

February 12, 1998

CONTACT: Lt. Lynne Hawk (561) 625-5126

WOMEN’S WORKSHOPS SLATED TO TEACH OUTDOOR SKILLS

Women, now is the opportunity to experience a weekend in Florida’s outdoors. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will conduct "Becoming An Outdoors-Woman" workshops at the Everglades Youth Camp, March 6-8, and at the Ocala Youth Camp, March 27-29.

Women interested in the workshops can call FWC’s Everglades Regional Office at (561) 625-5126 for registration forms. Registration costs $100. The fee covers instruction, program materials, equipment, meals and lodging. Due to limited space, the FWC will accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participants will select four activities from a list of 18. During the four-hour sessions, women will receive instruction and have opportunities for hands-on participation. Topics include canoeing, boating basics, back-packing/camping, bird-watching, outdoor photography, reading the woods, off-road cycling, outdoor survival, shooting sports, handgun safety, personal safety, archery, deer hunting, waterfowl hunting, turkey hunting, bass fishing, fly-fishing and panfishing.

Ann Buchanan, 42, of Palm Beach Gardens, attended the Fall 97 workshop in West Palm Beach. She said it was a great three-day getaway.

"The outdoors woman workshop is an excellent program. I participated in wilderness survival, camping/back-packing, reading the woods and handgun safety," She said. "I feared guns before I took this course. The instructors were good, and they helped me. During the session I held a gun and was no longer scared of it."

In her next workshop, Buchanan said, she will focus on fishing, off-road biking, boating safety and handgun safety (again).

"Women who never had the opportunity to learn outdoor sports and skills can do so now. The workshops are for women 18 years and older," Lynne Hawk, workshop coordinator, said. "‘Becoming an Outdoors-Woman,’ is ideal for beginners. Our classes are taught by experts. The training is low-key, and there is no pressure on individuals. Everybody can help each other. It is a great learning environment."

For more information about "Becoming An Outdoors-Woman" workshops, call the FWC Everglades Regional Office at (561) 625-5126.