OLYMPIA (WDFW)- Women can learn the basics of fishing, hunting and other outdoor skills in a September weekend workshop that includes several sessions led by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) experts.

Scheduled for Sept. 14-16 at Camp River Ranch in Carnation (King County), the annual workshop is coordinated by Washington Outdoor Women (WOW), a non-profit program dedicated to teaching women outdoor skills and natural resource stewardship. WOW, now in its tenth year, is an educational outreach program of the Washington Wildlife Federation.

Some 20 classes will be offered throughout the weekend on subjects such as archery, basic fishing, fly fishing and tying, canoeing, kayaking, preparing fish and shellfish, big-game hunting basics, map and compass reading, wilderness first aid, survival skills, wildlife identification, outdoor photography and more.

Several WDFW staff members serve as volunteer instructors for the event, including biologists Laura Till and Shelly Ament who will teach "Map and Compass" and "Wildlife Identification" workshops, respectively.  In all, 40 instructors volunteer their time and expertise with WOW to help women re-connect with the outdoors.

Workshop participants must be at least 18 years old.  Those participating in the fishing and fly-fishing sessions must have a current Washington recreational fishing license.

The workshop fee of $225 includes the weekend's lodging, meals and use of all necessary equipment.  A limited number of partial scholarships, provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, are available for first-time participants.

To learn more about the workshop and to download the registration form, visit the WOW website at http://www.washingtonoutdoorwomen.org or call Ronni McGlenn at (425) 455-1986.