By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent

EFFINGHAM, Ill. — The Women In The Outdoors (WITO) provides opportunities for women to roll up their sleeves and learn new outdoor activities in a safe, educational group environment, according to its organizers.

“The Women In The Outdoors program is about encouraging women to try new outdoor activities in a safe environment that makes them feel at ease,” said Rob Keck, CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

“Our events also provide a chance for women of all walks of life – singles, moms, daughters, young and old – to spend a weekend outdoors, away from home, hanging out and having fun.”
A myriad of activities across Illinois are available in June. The first event is June 7 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Leaverton Park in Palestine, Ill. The event is hosted by the Crawford County Longbeards Chapter.

Activities include archery, beginning horsemanship, bicycle safety/riding, archeology, pine needle weaving, GPS, herbs, scuba diving, shotgun shooting, watercolors, basket weaving, Tai Chi, scrapbooking, self defense, flower arranging and gourd painting. To find our more about this event, contact event coordinator Cooky Newell at 618-584-3706 or e-mail her at cknew@frtci.net
The cost for this event is $50 - $40, if registered by May 31. An additional $5 discount will be offered for bringing a friend new to WITO.

Also on June 7 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Little Wabash Longbeards Chapter from Altamont, Ill. will offer outdoor cooking, basket weaving, Tai Chi, archery, ATV safety & demo course, stained glass making, candle making, basic knitting, woodworking project for wildlife, llama fiber art.

This artwork includes spinning and water felting. The group will offer courses in shotgun shooting, perennial plants and propagation, basic fishing, self defense, orienteering/topographic map, fish cleaning and filleting, painting with acrylics, bluebird habitat and bluebird box, herbs (culinary and drying) and fly-tying.

For more information, contact event coordinator Marge Shubert at 217-536-6596 or at her email address of shubert@frontiernet.net
Cost for this event is $50 - $45, if registered by May 24.
June 7 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the White County Wild Turkey Chapter, Big Muddy Longbeards Chapter will offer courses at the Illinois DNR Hamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area in McLeansboro, Ill.

Course offerings will include canoeing, archery, outdoor cooking, outdoor photography, antler jewelry making, basic fishing, Mary Kay skin care, personal safety/self-defense, basic dog training, bluebird habitat/birdhouse, traveling through the Yucatan and shotgun shooting. The cost of this event is $40.

Contact event coordinator Kristi Woodrow at 618-963-2549 or e-mail her at Kristi@hamiltoncom.net

On June 21, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Shiloh Spurs Chapter and the Henry White Experimental Farm of Millstadt, Ill. will offer classes which include bedding plants, archery, basket weaving, scrapbooking, song bird habitat, tree ID, outdoor cooking/grilling/smoking/rubs, nature walk, canning, personal safety/home security and wine tasting. This event cost $45 - $40, if registered by June 1.

For more information, contact event coordinator Susan Arnold at 618-632-8014 or arnolds4@sbcglobal.net