June 20, 2006
Contact: Ronni McGlenn, (424) 455-1986
Tammy Conklin (360) 749-7195

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

Scheduled for Sept. 15-17 at the Camp Waskowitz Environmental Learning Center near North Bend, the workshop is coordinated by Washington Outdoor Women (WOW), a non-profit program dedicated to teaching women outdoor skills and natural resource stewardship. WOW is an educational outreach program of the Washington Wildlife Federation.

Some 20 classes will be offered throughout the weekend on subjects such as archery, fly fishing and tying, canoeing, preparing fish and shellfish, big game hunting, backpacking basics, survival skills, and more. A new course offered this year teaches dog owners how to handle canine emergencies in the field.

Several WDFW staff members serve as volunteer instructors for the event. They include Enforcement Officer Tammy Conklin who will teach basic freshwater fishing skills. Biologists Laura Till and Shelly Ament will teach “Map and Compass” and “Wildlife Identification” workshops, respectively.

In all, 34 instructors and 6 coordinators will volunteer their time and expertise at the workshop. This is WOW’s ninth year of offering outdoor skills workshops for women.

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

The workshop fee of $215 includes lodging, meals and use of all equipment necessary for the weekend.