Women have three upcoming opportunities to learn or improve various outdoor skills, including shooting (archery and firearms), fishing and camping, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). The National Wild Turkey Federation’s “Women in the Outdoors” (WITO) program will be held at three different locations over the next few months: Tilley Mill (Aug. 4); Smithgall Woods – Dukes Creek Conservation Area (Aug. 25-26) and Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (Sept. 21-23).

“WITO events allow women to come together, learn together, make new friends, meet inspiring women, and have a lot of fun,” says WITO Regional Coordinator Kym Abernathy. “For many, these events help women overcome a fear or distrust of firearms or pick up an empowering skill like self-defense or archery.”

WITO provides hands-on, educational outdoor opportunities for women (age 14 or older) from all walks of life. These events are designed to be non-competitive and fun for women of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels.

· Aug. 4, 2007-Tilley Mill (Taylorsville, Ga): The cost of this one-day workshop is $45 ($60 after July 30) and will include four classes, plus lunch.

· Aug. 25-26, 2007-Smithgall Woods-Dukes Creek (Helen, Ga.): The cost of the workshop is $75. Participants can choose five exciting classes to attend during this 2-day event and can choose to “rough it” in a tent for the night or stay at the luxurious lodge instead (this cost is additional). The deadline to register is Aug. 20, 2007.

· Sept. 21-23, 2007-Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center -Conference Center (Mansfield, Ga.). The cost of the workshop is just $175 ($225 after Sept. 5, 2007). Women who live nearby and would rather commute to the 3-day weekend event can register for a reduced rate of $125 ($175 after Sept. 5, 2007).

Registration cost for all three events covers lodging/camping fees, meals, instructional sessions, program materials, equipment use, WITO membership, and a one-year subscription to the WITO magazine. Events also include an opportunity to win door prizes and a silent auction.

For more information about any of these three WITO events:

· Visit www.georgiawildlife.com, select “General Information” and then “Women in the Outdoors” for information and downloadable registration forms.

· Contact a WITO Event Coordinator

o Tilley Mill event: Betty Jane Tilley, 770-382-0102, tilleymill@mindspring.com 

o Smithgall Woods-Dukes Creek event: Johnna Tuttle, 706-878-3087, johnna.tuttle@dnr.state.ga.us 

o Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center event: Rosanna Beebe with the Roswell Spurs Chapter of NWTF at witosept21@bellsouth.net. 

· Contact WITO Regional Coordinator Kym Abernathy at 770-312-8316 or at whymwito@comcast.net .

For more info on the WITO program, visit www.womenintheoutdoors.org. For more information about NWTF, visit www.nwtf.org or call 1-800-THE-NWTF.

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