On October 20th I finished my last art festival for 2024. That meant I had 12 weeks until my next festival. Now, of course I have pet portrait orders to complete and new paintings to create for the Spring festivals, but before I could do any of that, I needed to refill my well of inspiration. Enter the Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program!
BOW is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women learn outdoor skills in a supportive environment with classes appropriate for any age, ability, or skill level. These programs are offered in many states throughout the US and Canada. I learned of the program from a national park newsletter last year but registration filled so quickly that I had to wait till this year to try again. Not only did I get in but I also received a scholarship!
I had to select four classes out of thirty-two offered over the three days of the program. Classes ranged from Create a Hypertufa Pot to Intro to Fly-Fishing to Nature Photography to Advanced Shooting. My goals were to select courses to help me become more self-sufficient and get closer to the animals I love to paint so I chose: Creating an Ideal Environment for Birds, Tree Climbing 101, Land Navigation, and Plant ID. Two weeks after my last festival, I headed to Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, GA for the BOW experience.
Friday, Day 1 - After checking in, attending a welcome meeting, and having lunch, my first class was "Bring in the Birds" (Creating an Ideal Environment for Birds). Our instructor Linda May, outreach coordinator from GA Dept. of Natural Resources, walked us through a PowerPoint presentation about the purpose birds serve (beauty, pollination, spreading seeds, etc.), what kinds of birds we might find in GA including the wintering birds, what challenges they face (cats, windows, etc.), and how we can best support them (gardens, food, nesting boxes, etc.). Then we were each given the materials to build our own bluebird nesting boxes, provided by a kind volunteer who assisted us in assembling them. I learned a lot, it was a lot of fun, and now I have a nesting box for the bluebirds I see in my yard!
After the class, I met my roommates, took a hike, and saw living, breathing armadillos for the first time! I've seen plenty in the past but only upside down on the side of the road. Then we had dinner (all meals are provided), listened to a talk by a guest speaker, and then had s'mores around the campfire.
Saturday, Day 2 - After breakfast, my first class was Tree Climbing 101. It was my favorite class in the entire program! The instructor Brian Lanier, Panola State Park Director of Tree Climbing, and volunteer Wiley Stone first showed us how to get a rope up into a tree, then talked about why that particular tree would not be good for climbing (it was hollow inside) and how to select a good one.
Brian then took us to a different tree which already had ropes set up, and handed out helmets and harnesses. He showed us the various knots we needed to attach the ropes to our harnesses and the basic climbing technique. We cheered each other on and soon, all ten of us were in the tree! Two or three nervous women only climbed a few feet off the ground but they did it! Most of us climbed at least twenty feet. I climbed as high as I could go without switching ropes. Honestly, it didn't seem like I was that high but I was level with the top of a nearby telephone pole (about 50 feet)! I felt completely safe and it was both thrilling and peaceful to be amongst the leaves, feeling the breeze, and looking out over the field. This is my new obsession! I've already started buying gear and can't wait to get up there again!
After lunch, my next class was land navigation - my second favorite class that weekend. What could have been a dry and complicated subject was brought to life by Rusty Garrison, retired Director of Georgia Wildlife Resources division. With patience and humor, Rusty taught us the basics of how to read a compass and map and drilled us with various exercises. He even described teaching his young daughters navigation by giving them a compass and directions to find their baskets at Easter! And yes, I've already bought a compass, too, lol!
After class, the twelve or fifteen of us joined the rest of the women, about 70 in total, in the dining hall for dinner followed by a lively and hilarious auction (also led by Rusty) which raised funds for scholarships like the one I received! I was happy to donate a couple of my prints to pay it forward.
Sunday, last day - After another fabulous breakfast, I joined several of my new friends at GA Plant ID and Plant Pressing. We took a hike led by Amaad Blades, Wildlife Database Technician for GA Wildlife Resources division, and Tessa Dixon, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College student, to ID plants and take samples, then used Tessa's pressed plants to make an arrangement to take home.
After class, it was a bittersweet departure. I had so much fun, made some wonderful friends, and learned new skills that I'll be able to use in the future. I feel refreshed from my time in the woods and inspired both by nature, and the beautiful, brave women I met. I've already begun looking for BOW programs in nearby states for next year and I can't wait to get painting!
Visit the Becoming an Outdoors Woman website
Programs are offered in many states and Canada, too.
Programs typically run Fri through Sun and cost around $225 for four classes and all meals.
Lodging costs a little extra and ranges from primitive camping, to trailer camping, to on-site lodge-style accommodations.
Also, check out BOW Destination Adventures to find national and international travel opportunities with groups of like-minded women.
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Remember, All Creation Matters, including you.
💜 Lisa
Very inspiring and exciting!