Family-Outdoors

Fayette, Iowa – An estimated 1,000 archers from Iowa and other parts of the Midwest will visit Volga River State Recreation Area in northeast Iowa this weekend Aug. 19-21 for the Rinehart R100. Considered “the best archery shoot in the world,” the Rinehart R100 is returning to Volga River State Recreation Area after its first year last August. Echo Valley Archers, the local archery club, hosts the event in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “Last year, the national organizers were so impressed with the attendance, our volunteers and the beauty of this area that they pledged to return before they left,” says Jeff Hildebrand, park ranger for the state recreation area. The two courses, one North American and one African, together will cover close to two miles in the recreation area and have a total of 100 different life-sized 3D targets to challenge bow hunters and archery enthusiasts.  “We had more than 600 archers in 2015 and expect to nearly doubl...

Contact:  Sharon Pitz ,  906-228-6561  or  John Pepin ,  906-226-1352 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program is offering a Beyond BOW Traditional Archery Workshop for women this month in Grayling, at the Hanson Hills Recreational Area. The program, which is scheduled for the weekend of  June 24-26 , is specifically for women who have previous traditional archery experience. “This is a great opportunity for those women who have some previous experience at our archery classes in Big Bay,” said Sharon Pitz, the DNR’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman coordinator. “This workshop will help expand on those skills using traditional bows.” Participants must be 18 or older. Enrollment is limited to six. Registration deadline is  June 17 . The workshop will be held rain or shine. The workshop starts at  1 p.m.   Friday, June 24 , with check in. Participants will then head to the campsite. Starting at...

Oklahoma youths and educators have until  Nov. 21  to submit entries in a creative writing and scholarship contest sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Oklahoma Station Chapter of Safari Club International.     Students must use the theme "Hunting: Sharing the Heritage" or "Archery: What I Like About Archery in the Schools and Bowhunting," or the theme's concepts, to develop an expository essay or short story.    Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator for the Wildlife Department, said the essay contest is an ideal way for youths to show their love for the outdoors and, in the process, possibly win a getaway in the great outdoors.    "The traditions of hunting and the new legacy being created by our Oklahoma National Archery in the Schools Program are important to Oklahoma, and this contest gives youths an important avenue to express their interest in these things," Meek said.    To participate, s...

1st Place Senior Team, Altus More than 40 schools were represented at the Oklahoma Trapshooters Association in El Reno on May 7 for the State Shoot. The event brought students together after a season of practice and competition at their respective schools as part of the Oklahoma Scholastic Shooting Sports Program (OKSSSP), administered by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Damon Springer congratulates the top three males in the senior division. OKSSSP is part of the Wildlife Department's in-school education programs. The program is a trap-based shotgun program that - much like the National Archery in the Schools Program - is designed to instill confidence and self-esteem while teaching students the proper and safe handling of firearms.  "The OKSSSP has proven to be immensely popular among the state schools that have joined the program. Not only are students given the chance to learn about firearms and gun safety, but the schools receive financia...

Archery World Cup (Photo credit: Rick Bolin ) More than 500 archers registered to compete in the North Dakota National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament April 11-12 in Bismarck. Jeff Long, NASP coordinator for the State Game and Fish Department, said: “This program continues to grow every year, and all three winning teams committed to go to the national tournament, along with at least three of the top individuals,” Long said, while noting 517 registered this year, up more than 20 percent from last year. The national tournament is  May 9-10  in Louisville, Ky. The Game and Fish Department and North Dakota Bowhunters Association contribute a total of $3,000 in travel assistance to the first place team in each division, and $1,000 to the overall male and female individual winner. The high school (grades 9-12) state championship team was from Hankinson, the middle school (grades 7-8) champs were from Wahpeton and taking top honors in the element...

 The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's suite of outdoor education programs is finding success in public schools, teaching students about safe, ethical and fun outdoor recreation in Oklahoma and growing in popularity among students and school officials.     The Wildlife Conservation Commission recently met at the Jenks Public Schools' Education Services Center for it's April meeting and learned how the suite of programs is benefitting students in Jenks and statewide.     The Department's education programs have enjoyed significant growth and expansion into schools in recent years, such as the Archery in the Schools Program which has grown over a 10-year period from its original 10 pilot schools to about 425 schools across the state that participate today. The Hunter Education program, which has educated tens of thousands of sportsmen over the years and is credited for a reduction in hunting-related accidents in recent dec...

Women age 18 and older can learn various outdoor skills during this one-day, hands-on event  Becoming An Outdoors-Woman (BOW), an educational program of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, will host a one-day event to teach women basic outdoor skills Saturday, June 15 at Shawnee State Lake in Topeka. BOW TOO (Taste of the Outdoors) will feature workshops in rifle shooting, archery, fishing, and camp cooking. Cost for the one-day event is $40, which includes class supplies and equipment, as well as lunch. Interested women are encouraged to apply early as the 2013 BOW TOO workshop is limited to 12 participants. For more information, or to register for this event, contact Kansas BOW coordinator Jami McCabe at  kansasbow@sbcglobal.net  or  (785) 845-5052 . To learn more and view pictures of past workshops, visit the BOW Facebook page found under “Becoming an Outdoors Woman KANSAS.” Related articles State Park Becoming ...

Archery (Photo credit: Wikipedia) There is a new look—and sound--to gym class. Traditional fitness, health and recreation still anchor today’s physical education curriculum. Stroll past the gym on a winter day, though, and you may notice a line of archers and hear the soft ‘thunks’ of field points hitting large target circles. “I learned this in summer camp. It was fun; so I was pretty excited when (my instructor) said we were going to do archery in gym class,” admitted Sharon Amouzou, after her turn at the line at Northwest junior high school in Coralville. “I would like to use it one day. It seems really fun. I don’t know.” Across Iowa, more than 100 schools take part in the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP). Certified instructors work with phys ed instructors from the participating schools to introduce a standards based curriculum which schools demand; tailored for elementary, middle or high school. A grant through the Department of Natural Resources provides the ...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) The Department of Natural Resources' Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program will present an Introduction to Archery class in Lansing on Tuesday, July 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. Hosted by Compounds & Crossbows Family Archery Center, this workshop will cover safety, dominant eye, proper shooting form/technique, various archery equipment, maintenance and selection. Participants will also get hands-on practice shooting a bow with instructor assistance. No skill level is required. All equipment will be provided, or attendees may bring their own equipment. Light refreshments will be available. Girls 10 and older are welcome to attend, but must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Cost for both adults and youngsters is $25 per person, and pre-registration is required. Compounds & Crossbows Family Archery Center ( www.compoundsandcrossbows.com ) is located at 644 Migaldi Lane in Lansing. For registration forms and m...

 (Photo credit: sjkcle ) Whether you are brand new to the sport or have experience, here's a fun opportunity? It's for youth and equipment will be provided. Sugar Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area will be the site of a free youth archery shoot on June 23. Beginners are welcome and all equipment will be provided. Activities will be supervised by certified instructors from the National Archery in the Schools Program and include bowfishing and a 3-D course. The event is from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sugar Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area, Area 1, near Winslow. Lunch will be provided. Participants should register in advance by calling (812) 789-2724 . The free archery shoot is sponsored by Pike County Bowhunters Club, Archery Camps USA, Bear Archery, and the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. Related articles Youth archers in Oklahoma gearing up for state shoot Michigan: Fishing, shooting and archery classes for women in June Mor...

(Photo credit: Leeds Museums and Galleries ) Women's Walleye Fishing June 2 at Linwood Beach Marina and Campground in Linwood All aboard for this half-day walleye fishing experience on Saginaw Bay -you don't want to miss out on this fun in the sun! Introduction to Handgun Shooting June 5 at Detroit Sportsmen's Congress in Utica For women who have never shot a handgun before - all equipment provided. Advanced Archery Class - 3D Shoot June 6 at Caledonia Sportsman's Club in Alto For women who have taken a BOW beginning archery class, or already have archery experience, and would like to sharpen their skills. Class includes a walk through the archery course shooting at various three-dimensional targets of animals, from turkeys to moose. Introduction to Shotgun Shooting June 14 at Saginaw Field and Stream Club in Saginaw For the beginner or the woman who is looking to sharpen her shotgun skills. Learn all of the basics and ...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program has announced a schedule of events in 2012. Hike the Maah Daah Hey Trail is June 15-17. This workshop is designed for women with previous hiking or backpacking skills, or who are in good physical condition. Participants will hike a 15-mile portion of the trail south of Medora. Activity is strenuous due to rough terrain. The $30 fee includes lunch and dinner each day, plus group gear. Each participant must provide their own personal gear. The annual summer workshop is scheduled Aug. 10-12 at Lake Metigoshe State Park , Bottineau . Participants may take several programs including archery, canoeing, introduction to firearms, fly-fishing, kayaking, navigating outdoors, global positioning system, plant identification, introduction to photography, and tracking and trapping. Workshop fees of $135 cover instruction, program materials, use of equipment, all meals and l...