Registration for Michigan DNR’s popular Becoming an Outdoors-Woman summer program now open

Women seeking to improve their outdoor skills can now register for the Michigan DNR's 17th annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) summer program, held the weekend of May 30 to June 1 at Bay Cliff Health Camp, in Big Bay, located approximately 30 miles north of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula.

Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, this BOW program offers instruction in more than two dozen types of outdoor activities, including kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, wilderness first aid and survival, lake and fly-fishing, fly-tying, geocaching, shooting sports, boating, mountain biking and much more.

Volunteer BOW instructors provide basic and advanced instruction that is uniquely tailored to each participant's individual ability, helping the participants learn the basics in a short amount of time.

The $185 registration fee includes all food and lodging, as well as most equipment and supplies. Participants will be housed in a universally-accessible dorm-style facility with numerous amenities, including a pool, sauna, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails and easy access to Lake Superior. The BOW summer program also includes special evening programs, such as hikes, group bonfires and more.

Class information and registration materials are available online at www.michigan.gov/bow, and registration can be paid online at www.michigan.gov/estore. The summer program typically fills quickly, so early registration is encouraged. The deadline for registration is Monday, May 12.

A limited number of BOW Scholarships are available to help low-income participants with the cost of registration, with an application deadline of Friday, April 25.

For more information about the summer BOW program, contact Sharon Pitz at 906-228-6561 or e-mail pitzs@michigan.gov.

BOW is a noncompetitive program in which each individual is encouraged to learn at her own pace. The emphasis is on the enjoyment, fun and camaraderie of outdoor activities, and sharing in the success of one another. To learn more about the DNR’s BOW program, visit www.michigan.gov/bow.
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