The 29th Alabama Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Retreat: Five Experiences I’ll Never Forget

It took me 23 years to realize that many women share the same interests as me.

Growing up hunting in north Alabama, fishing on Lake Guntersville and hiking Monte Sano State Park, I noticed the girls around me were not enjoying the same hobbies.

So, when I started working for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and heard about an event called Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW), I didn’t think much of it. I figured who would go? I was in for a big surprise. For those of you who need a refresher, BOW is a three-day workshop designed for women ages 18 years or older that provides hands-on instruction in a wide variety of outdoor opportunities available throughout the state.

I attended the event with my coworker, Emma Goggans from ADCNR’s Communication and Marketing team. As we pulled into the parking lot, I looked around and thought, “We’re 30 minutes early. How are all the parking spaces already filled?” Women in hiking boots and camouflage, carrying teal shirts that read “Forever 29”- referencing the event’s 29th year - filled the lawn and check-in area.

Once we made it through the crowd and found a seat, I scanned the list of classes we’d be photographing and quickly realized that although this was my first BOW retreat, it definitely wouldn’t be my last.

Here are five BOW experiences I’ll never forget:

Dutch Oven Cooking Class

DeSoto State Park Naturalist, Brittney Hughes made use of every Dutch oven she could carry. With special treats like pumpkin crunch cake and apple dumplings including a taste test at the end, she did an amazing job teaching participants how to go from heating coals to creating a delicious meal.

Archery

This is my first year deer hunting during Alabama’s bow season, and thankfully the Outdoor Alabama Academy instructors were there to guide me and other participants through the process! We started by shooting at stationary targets, then on to moving ones and finally animal-shaped targets. Instructors Isabelle Bracewell, Assisstant R3 Coordinator with the Council to Advance Shooting Sports, and Lt. Bill Freeman, ADCNR’s Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Supervisor, made sure our form was on point and that we left confident and ready to take our new skills into the field.

Kayak Angling

It’s a two-in-one experience! Watching participants launch their kayaks, poles in hand, made me want to put my camera down and join them. The ladies learned the ins and outs of kayak angling, then got to put their skills to the test, casting and paddling along the banks of Lay Lake.

Reading the Woods

When I started hunting more, I found myself hiking less. So, when we walked up to the Reading the Woods class I figured I’d grab a few photos and move on to something more my speed. Alabama State Parks Chief Naturalist Renee Raney completely changed my attitude. Her class was full of hands-on learning. The other women and I enjoyed making animal prints, using hand lenses to spot lichens and discovering tiny forest details I’d never noticed before. I ended up not wanting to leave!

Squirrel Hunt

Waking up at 5 a.m. for deer hunting is something I am used to, but waking up at 5 a.m. to squirrel hunt is not. I had never seriously tried it before and thought I’d tag along to snap some pictures then call it a day. Wrong! Sitting against a tree with our guide and two hunt participants (one had never hunted before) changed my whole perspective. Listening and telling stories, scanning the treetops and soaking in the morning together reminded me just how fun hunting with other women can be. We left empty-handed but full of new memories!

No matter your skill level, Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) is the place to learn. Whether it’s hunting, foraging, cooking, photography, fishing, kayaking, ATV riding or shooting, there’s a class for everyone. Surrounded by supportive women and endless opportunities to explore the outdoors, I left realizing there are women like me all over the state, and the country. Turns out, the first place I should have looked was BOW!