DANVILLE — Women who love the outdoors, but can’t find time to enjoy it, can find the perfect escape this weekend.

Women in the Outdoors event will be Saturday at Kennekuk County Park. The event is hosted by the local Three Forks Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Pre-registration is required for participation. Participants don’t have to be in tip-top shape or handy with an axe.

Expert instructors will teach outdoor skills using a hands-on approach. Activities often involve hiking and backpacking, archery, vegetable gardening, recreational shooting, outdoor survival skills, self defense, trailer backing, canoeing and kayaking, and more.

“Our 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 National Wild Turkey Federation.

“This event also is 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.”

By also encouraging a greater awareness of the country’s natural resources, events create outdoor convictions that are important to the future success of wildlife conservation and the preservation of North America’s hunting traditions, he said.

According to a recent study commissioned by the NWTF and funded through a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, program participants have increased their involvement by more than 40 percent in fishing, hiking, backpacking, camping, wild-life habitat, hunting, shooting, bird watching and outdoor photography.

The combination of sponsorship and local chapter support allows the NWTF to offer these 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.

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. Today, nearly 47,000 women are members of this program, and events are held in every U.S. state and several Canadian provinces.



FYI

Women in the Outdoors event will be Saturday at Kennekuk County Park.

For more information, contact Dana Land at 497-1867 or e-mail: dland@bodinemail.com; call Cindy Spillman at (618) 586-5191 or e-mail cswito@hughes.net; or call (800) THE-NWTF.

The Web site is http://www.womenintheoutdoors.org