Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) is one of the best programs to come along in years, for helping introduce female first-timers to the great outdoors. If the guys knew about the quality of the outdoor subjects covered, they might be tempted to put on a dab of lipstick and try to sneak in.

Sorry – no guys allowed. The program is for everyone … providing they are all women.

From women who are proficient in outdoor sports to the novice who would like to try outdoor sports, all will love the programs and seminars. Here is a chance to improve your ability and proficiency under expert supervision and instruction.

The 2010 Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop is scheduled for April 30-May 2 at Ross Camp in West Lafayette, Ind. The 15th annual workshop is limited to the first 100 women, 18 years or older, who register online at www.indianabow.com

The program is designed for women to learn outdoor skills in a relaxed, low-pressure environment. Activities range from shooting clay targets, paddling a canoe, catching a trophy bass, becoming a campfire gourmet cook, making a fur hat and spotting rare wild birds, to learning to track deer. Participants design their own outdoor experience to match their interests.

The workshop is for women who have never tried any of the activities, but have hoped for an opportunity to learn; who have tried them but are beginners hoping to improve; or know how to do some of the activities, but would like to try new ones. Women who enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded individuals and who seek time away to reconnect with nature are also prime candidates for BOW.

For more information, see www.in.gov/dnr/lawenfor/5810.htm

O’Bannon Woods turkey hunting workshop March 20

A free seminar to learn about turkeys and the basics of turkey hunting is being held at O’Bannon Woods State Park. The “Turkey Hunting 101” workshop is scheduled for March 20 from 1-4 p.m. in the Nature Center’s Hay-Press Auditorium.

The goal of the workshop is to increase a hunter’s knowledge of the Eastern wild turkey and improve the chances of a hunter harvesting a wild turkey. Hunting guides and local professionals will discuss calls, decoys, blinds and equipment.

O’Bannon Woods State Park is located off State Road 66 near Leavenworth, at 7234 Old Forest Road SW in Corydon, Ind. When traveling to the park, do not use computer-based mapping programs, as they are incorrect. For directions, call 812-738-8232.
All ages are welcome. Door prizes will be given.

Indiana state park recreation guides now available

The free recreation guide to Indiana’s best values in the outdoors is available now, all across the state.  You can find the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) 2010 Indiana Recreation Guide at various outdoor sporting goods retail outlets and at state parks, reservoirs and other DNR properties. The guide is also available online at www.in.gov/dnr

Release of the guide coincides with a nationwide effort to promote state parks. The America’s State Parks alliance seeks to mobilize and educate both the public and policymakers on the positive impact state parks have on public health and local economies. The effort was created by the National Assoc. of State Park Directors (NASPD), which can be found online at http://naspd.org

According to the NASPD, more than 725 million state park visits last year provided a collective $20 billion economic impact to communities surrounding 6,000 state park units nationwide.
Dan Bortner, director of the DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs and an NASPD member, said the new collaborative effort can only bolster the already healthy heritage of Indiana’s 24 state parks.

“One of our goals over the years has been to provide an Indiana state park within an hour of every Indiana resident; with the opening of Prophetstown in 2004, we achieved that goal,” Bortner said. “Hoosiers love our state parks and our nine reservoirs, too, and they support them by volunteering, joining us for events and using our facilities year-round for family gatherings, all kinds of outdoor recreation, exercise and relaxation.”

Use of Indiana’s state parks has boomed over the last few years. Gate revenue increased 8 percent from 2008 to 2009. Total campground use increased 10.4 percent, and total operating receipts increased almost 7 percent during the same period.
Annual park passes may be purchased in person at the gatehouse or offices of state park and reservoir properties during business hours, at the Indiana Government Center South in Indianapolis or at www.innsgifts.com

Indiana resident passes are $36, or $18 for individuals 65 years old or older. Annual passes for vehicles with out-of-state license plates are $46. Normal daily gate fees for residents at most properties are $4 per vehicle on weekdays, $5 per vehicle on weekends or holidays.

Prices for the passes and for the daily entry fees have remained the same since 2006. For more information on Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs, see www.stateparks.IN.gov


A “Fun with Fossils” workshop will be held at Clifty Falls State Park March 20, from 1-3 p.m. EDT, starting at the park’s nature center. The program is especially suitable for families, as children age 13 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

A fossil identification primer will launch the program, providing an introduction to the fossils found in southeastern Indiana, including notes on their marine origins and ecological significance. The event will move off-property at 2 p.m. Participants will carpool to a roadside area to collect genuine 450 million-year-old marine fossils from ancient reef deposits.

Participants should bring a shoebox or similar size container to hold their fossil finds. A program fee of $2 per person (ages 5 and older) will be collected. Admission to the park is free on the day of the program. For more information about programs at Clifty Falls, call 812-273-0609.
 
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.