WDFW News Release: Women's workshop offers instruction on fishing, hunting, and

[Pacific NW Ron]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

June 19, 2018
Contacts: WDFW, Laura Till (360) 902-2352;
Washington Outdoor Women, Jen Syrowitz (425) 785-3555

Women's workshop offers instruction on fishing, hunting, and outdoor skills

OLYMPIA - Women can learn the basics of fishing, hunting, and other outdoor skills in a September weekend workshop that includes sessions led by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) experts and other certified instructors.

Scheduled for Sept.14-16 at Camp Waskowitz in North Bend, the annual workshop is presented and coordinated by Washington Outdoor Women (WOW), a non-profit program dedicated to teaching women outdoor skills and natural resource stewardship. Now in its 21st year, WOW is an educational outreach program of the Washington Wildlife Federation to help women confidently connect with the outdoors.

Twenty-five certified and experienced volunteer instructors will teach 18 classes throughout the weekend on skills such as archery, basic freshwater fishing, fly-fishing and fly-tying, big-game hunting basics, map and compass, survival, backyard wildlife habitat, Dutch oven cooking, backpacking, duck hunting, wilderness first aid, and more.

Several WDFW staff members serve as instructors, including biologist Stacie Kelsey teaching "Basic Freshwater Fishing," biologist Laura Till teaching "Map and Compass," biologist Camille Speck and outreach coordinator Shannon Haywood teaching "After the Harvest," and bear and cougar specialist Rich Beausoleil discussing "Living with Wildlife."

Workshop participants must be at least 18 years old and must have a current Washington recreational fishing license to participate in the fly-fishing class.

More information about the workshop, including attendance fees and registration, is available at www.washingtonoutdoorwomen.org/. Scholarships from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are available for first-time participants.