State and federal wildlife agencies provide Women in the Outdoors committees across the country with knowledgeable instructors and wonderful facilities at which to host events. Event coordinators looking for certified instructors for shotguns, handguns, archery, boating and more should contact their local, state or federal wildlife agency and ask if they can lend a hand.

Women in the Outdoors Event

Wisconsin Cross Plains Chapter NWTF The Black Earth Creek Longbeards Chapter, of Cross Plains, Wis., welcomed 41 new members to the NWTF through their annual Women in the Outdoors event. Women enjoyed a diverse selection of classes, including beading, archery, tomahawk throwing, yoga and trapshooting. Fourteen people served on the event committee, and through the event they collected more than $1,300 in underwriting and 300 pounds of donated items through the Support Our Troops organization. The chapter, which began in 2002, also hosts an annual Hunting Heritage Super Fund banquet, a JAKES event and Learn to Hunt program. Each year they award a $500 scholarship to a local high school senior and donate frozen turkeys to the less fortunate through the NWTF’s Turkey Hunters Care program.

View photos from the 2010 Black Earth Creek Longbeards Womein in the Outdoors Event

Teresa Carroll
Women in the Outdoors Coordinator

Brainstorming for success

Last November, I spent a few days with several ladies at historical Groton Plantation in the low country of South Carolina. We accepted the generous invitation to hunt deer on the nearly 30,000-acre property, but also used the time together to discuss the future of Women in the Outdoors in the Palmetto State. Although our conversations centered on challenges and the potential of the program in South Carolina, much of what we talked about pertained to event coordinators and volunteers across North America.

First, we agreed the most important factor in hosting a successful event is committee size, with the “magic” number of committee members being between 10 to 15 individuals.

A couple of the ladies on the hunt weren’t new to Women in the Outdoors; however, they were looking to take their excitement to the next level and try hosting events in their areas. Instead of launching these women into the (at times hectic) world of an event coordinator, we decided to match them with existing committees to be mentored in event hosting — as sort of an event coordinator mentoring process.

"Everyone agreed that coordinating a Women in the Outdoors event is a lot of work, but it’s well worth the effort."

We also discussed the role of fundraising at events. Women in the Outdoors events should be both educational and raise money for the program. Event coordinators are charged with bringing qualified instructors who will engage participants in a hands-on learning experience. But they also need to understand how important raising money is for the continuation of the program — locally and nationally.

Everyone agreed that coordinating a Women in the Outdoors event is a lot of work, but it’s well worth the effort. No matter how hairy the details can get or how hurried the day of the event can be, bringing the excitement and fun of the outdoors to more women keeps us taking the reins year after year.

For more information about coordinating an event, find a direct link to the new Outreach Event Manual at www.turkey countrymagazine.com. — Teresa