The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) will be sponsoring Indiana Women in the Outdoors events to be held July 19 at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Seymour, July 26 at Hardy Lake near Scottsburg and Aug. 2 at Presnell Plantation near Morgantown.
The events are open to females ages 14 and older. Pre-registration is required for participation in the day’s activities.
“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 Patty Foster, national coordinator for Women in the Outdoors, southern region.
“This event is also an opportunity for women of all walks of life – singles, moms, daughters, young and old – to spend a weekend outdoors, away from home, having fun and making new friends.”
Since 1998, the NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors program has organized events designed especially for women. The program uses expert instructors to teach outdoor skills using a hands-on approach. Events are held across the country and often include activities involving fly fishing, basic handgun, outdoor cooking, self defense, archery, kayaking, outdoor survival skills and more.
By also encouraging a greater awareness of the country’s natural resources, events create outdoor convictions important to the future success of wildlife conservation and the preservation of North America’s hunting traditions. During its inaugural year, Women in the Outdoors hosted 18 events, and today the program organizes more than 400 events across the nation.
The combination of sponsorship and local chapter support allows the NWTF to offer the programs at a low cost to participants. The cost of attending each event includes a membership in the Women in the Outdoors program and a subscription to Women in the Outdoors magazine, the Federation’s full-color, quarterly publication with articles and information on various outdoor adventures and activities.
“The Women in the Outdoors program allows the NWTF to reach an entirely new audience, one that has the potential to benefit conservation efforts,” said Tammy Mowry, Women in the Outdoors national coordinator, northern region. “It’s an opportunity for women to find great satisfaction and enjoyment in the outdoors.”
For more information, contact Delena Knoke at 812-522-9010, e-mail d.whicker @comcast.net or e-mail Cindy Spillman, women’s regional coordinator, at cswito@hughes.net
Or, call 800-THE-NWTF (843-6983) or visit www.womenintheoutdoors.org
Dates, chapter sponsors and locations for the events are: July 19 at Dogwood Drummers Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, 12985 E. U.S. Highway 50 in Seymour; event coordinator, Delena Knoke, 812-522-9010 or e-mail d.whicker@comcast.net
•July 26 at Outdoor Women of River Valley, Hardy Lake, 4171 E. Harrod Rd. in Scottsburg; event coordinator, Linda Hall, 812-273-1963 or e-mail linda hall34@aol.com
•Aug. 2 at Presnell Plantation, 1950 S. Morgantown Rd. in Morgantown; event coordinator, Holly Hutchinson, 317-865-1734 or e-mail gm273oa@gandermountain.com
Part of what has made the NWTF such a successful hunting and conservation organization is its willingness to involve family. In the late 1990s, the Federation began its Women in the Outdoors program. The intent was to provide interactive outdoor opportunities (including fishing, hiking, mountain biking, shooting, hunting and gardening) for women nationwide.
That mission and much more have been accomplished. Today, 47,000 women are members of the program and events are held in every U.S. state and several Canadian provinces. DNR firefighters head to California The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has mobilized personnel from its Division of Forestry’s (DoF) Fire Headquarters, located in Morgan-Monroe State Forest, to assist in fighting the wildfires in California.
A 20-person “interagency crew” departed fire headquarters on July 3; the crew consists of a mix of people from the DNR, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, Hoosier National Forest, volunteer fire departments and qualified private personnel.
The crew is heading to the Basin Complex Fire located near Big Sur, where the fire jumped control lines. The fire site is considered the number-one priority due to its size, values threatened and the threat to public safety.
The DoF is providing the leadership for the crew, which will function as an initial attack resource for new fires occurring and to support the ongoing suppression efforts already under way. The firefighting crew will serve under the direction of crew boss Darren Bridges from the DoF.
Other DNR personnel in the crew include: Mark Webb, Abe Bear and Greg Roeder, DoF; Tom Walstra and Emily Frazier, Division of Nature Preserves; Mark Huter, Division of Fish and Wildlife; and Neil Brooks and David Hayden, Division of State Parks and Reservoirs.
Rounding out the crew are Paul Killian and Casey Mefford from Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge; Jordan Collier of the Washington Township Fire Department, Morgan County; Dale Bush of the Owen Valley Fire Department, Owen County; Katie Freehill of AmeriCorps; and Troy Cox, Adam Jahn, Nathan Kachnavage, Lynn Krodell, Wyatt Long and Christopher Roth from the private sector.
The firefighters met with six other crews from the eastern U.S. in Missouri, and flew on to northern California. In addition to the main Indiana crew, the following individuals are already in place supporting the firefighting efforts: Joey Gallion, DoF; Lynne Dutton, Indiana State Police; John Lake, Washington Township Fire Department; and Erin Hunt.
“The Division of Forestry’s Fire Headquarters has been mobilizing personnel and equipment to assist with wildland fire and other natural disasters since the 1970s. Our resources have become known nationally for their hard work ethic and can-do attitude,” Drew Daily, assistant state fire coordinator, said.
The National Wildland Fire Planning Level is presently at “Level 5” which is the highest, meaning there is a need for specially trained personnel and equipment to fight the fires.
Outdoor cooking demonstration
Novice and advanced outdoor gourmets can learn to cook up a storm at Ouabache State Park during its annual outdoor cooking demonstration at 6:30-8 p.m. July 19.
Both outdoor chefs and folks who only eat will enjoy the program at the Trails End shelter, as participants learn how to cook over an open fire using cast iron utensils. There will be new recipes to try and treats to taste, as well.
Donations of either money or prepackaged food items will be accepted for the cooking demonstration. To find out what is needed, call 260-824-0926.
Participants must register by July 16 at 4:30 p.m., by calling the park office, 260-824-0926, Wednesday through Sunday between 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and speaking to the naturalist, or by e-mailing OuabacheInterp@dnr.IN.gov |
