Although the Surry Longspurs Chapter (Mt. Airy, N.C.) held their 10th annual Women in the Outdoors event this year, their work for the wild turkey began in 1992, when the chapter formed. Besides taking part in conservation projects and holding events for the Federation’s various outreach efforts, the chapter also gives back to their community, including awarding a scholarship to a local graduating senior, participating in the Adopt-a-Highway program and donating frozen turkeys through the NWTF’s Turkey Hunters Care program. |
Teresa Carroll Women in the Outdoors Coordinator |
You are the heart of Women in the Outdoors
Working for the NWTF has brought about many new experiences for me. This year, I passed a few milestones: I turned 40, climbed aboard an airplane for the first time in 28 years, and shot my first turkey.
It has been a remarkable journey and has provided me with a deeper understanding of God’s creation and more appreciation for our hunting heritage.
Recently, Turkey Country Editor Karen Lee and I attended the Surry Longspurs 10th annual Women in the Outdoors event in Mt. Airy, N.C. We went, not as NWTF employees, but as participants who wanted to meet new friends and enjoy some outdoor fun.
We met women who had never before attended an event and were privileged to watch as they shot a rifle or paddled a kayak for the first time. It was so rewarding to see the joy on their faces and be a part of their experience. And to experience a few firsts of our own: Karen reppelled down a 50-foot wall!
These first-time experiences are what the Women in the Outdoors program is all about — and why I love my job! You represent women who aren’t afraid to try something new, women who care less about their age and more about conquering their fears.
Whether you are a new member or a long-time volunteer, you are the heart of this program. I am overwhelmed by your dedication to change your life and those of women all across the country. — Teresa