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Registration opens for summer ‘Becoming an Outdoors Woman’

MARQUETTE — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced today registration is open for this summer’s “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” (BOW) program, which is set for June 2-4 in Marquette County.

This will mark the 20th annual summer BOW gathering for women, 18 and older, who are seeking an opportunity to improve their outdoor skills in a relaxed, noncompetitive atmosphere.

“Becoming an Outdoors Woman is a program where each individual is encouraged to learn at her own pace,” said Sharon Pitz, BOW program coordinator in Marquette. “The emphasis is on the enjoyment, fun and camaraderie of outdoor activities and sharing in the success of one another.”Becoming and Outdoors Woman paddleboard class participants are shown.

The summer BOW program is sponsored by the DNR and offers instruction in more than two dozen different types of activities, including kayaking, wilderness first aid and survival, lake and fly fishing, field birding, paddleboard, geocaching, shooting sports, boating and mountain biking.

“Volunteer BOW instructors provide basic and advanced teaching that is tailored to each participant’s individual ability, helping participants learn the basics in a short amount of time,” Pitz said.

The program also includes special evening activities during the weekend, including hikes, group bonfires and more. We will have extra activities for this event to help celebrate 20 years in the Outdoors.

BOW participants stay and take their classes at the Bay Cliff Health Camp, a universally accessible facility overlooking Lake Superior, which is situated about 30 miles north of Marquette near Big Bay.

Participants will be housed in a dorm-style facility with amenities including a sauna, pool, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails, along with easy access to northern hardwood forests and Lake Superior.

“The summer program typically fills quickly, so early registration is encouraged.

Pitz said.

The $195 registration fee includes all food and lodging, as well as most equipment and supplies. The deadline for registration is May 8. A limited number of BOW Scholarships are available to help low-income participants with the cost of registration. The scholarship application deadline is May 1.

Class information and registration materials are available online at www.michigan.gov/bow.

For more information on the summer BOW program, contact Sharon Pitz at the DNR Customer Service Center in Marquette at 906-228-6561 or by e-mail at pitzs@michigan.gov.

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