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Becoming an Outdoors-Woman

“I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU ALL at BOW for such a wonderful experience. I thoroughly enjoyed learning and participating in activities at Friendly Pine Prescott. I could sense that it would be an amazing adventure. I look forward to sharing this event with other women!" - BOW Participant



What is BOW?

Sponsored by the Arizona Wildlife Federation    

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) offers hands-on workshops to women 18 and older at all fitness levels. No experience is necessary! BOW encourages a supportive environment conducive to learning, making lifelong friends, and having fun. Participants learn skills like plant identification, gun safety and shooting, angling (including fly fishing), camping, Dutch-oven cooking, map and compass reading, rappelling, geocaching, and marksmanship with a rifle and bow. 

You can also get to know BOW on our Facebook Page:  Arizona Becoming an Outdoors Woman


BOW strives to be a welcoming, safe, and inclusive place for all women. If you would like to learn more about how BOW is working to increase diversity and be a more inclusive space where all women feel a sense of belonging, visit our Bridges to BOW website at B2B.


2024 BOW Weekends

Follow our Facebook page for regular updates! 

@Arizona-Becoming-an-Outdoors-Woman

Next BOW Weekend: April 26-28 — Friendly Pines Camp, Prescott

Register for April BOW Here

April Class Choices



Upcoming BOW Weekends

September 6-8 — Friendly Pines Camp, Prescott


Click here to read our Cancellation Policy.

BOW Classes

Each BOW Weekend has a number of different classes you can sign up for! It's important to know which classes you're interested in prior to signing up. Please read the session descriptions below to learn more details about the classes you want to attend. 

View Class Descriptions


BOW Scholarships

You can apply for scholarships using the Scholarship Application Form.  Scholarship Applications are due 45 days before the first day of the spring or fall BOW camp you're interested in attending.

If you would like to help send another worthy woman to BOW please consider donating toward our scholarship fund.  Either send a check to the AWF office, writing “BOW Scholarship” in the memo, or click on the “Donate” button below and leave a note in the "Comment" question on the form stating that your donation should go toward BOW Scholarships. Thank you for your support!

Contact BOW via e-mail at bow@azwildlife.org or call 520-240-2437 for more information.

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History of BOW and Additional Info

What does a BOW Weekend look like?

Each BOW Weekend begins at noon on Friday and ends around noon on Sunday. We hold two weekends at the Friendly Pines Camp in Prescott, Arizona each year in the fall and spring. When you register for a BOW Weekend online, you'll choose which classes you'd like to attend throughout the weekend. Oftentimes, we have instructors or participants who do a voluntary hike in the mornings, which you're welcome to join. In addition, food is provided throughout the weekend.

A complete list of courses which you may find at BOW can be found in the BOW Class Descriptions.

In addition to the various classes, there are a number of evening events to enjoy that may include "hawk talks", nature hikes, talent shows, fly tying and wild game tasting. The weekend schedule would be similar to this BOW Sample Schedule.

Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) is a program started by Christine Thomas, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Resource Management at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Pointe. The first BOW clinic was conducted in Wisconsin in September 1991. The Arizona workshop is part of the same curriculum and each workshop is organized with the aid of the Safari Club International of Phoenix and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The National Wildlife Federation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are just two of BOW’s national supporters.  Visit the National Bow site to learn more!

Instructors:

We strive to get the most experienced instructors possible. Our instructors, who volunteer their time to teach these classes, are experts in their field. Some are employed in the fields they teach; others are experts in their subjects, including archery and rifle marksmanship. Still others are Arizona Game and Fish and U.S. Forest Service employees with years of experience in the flora and fauna of Arizona. While many of our instructors are women, we do also have some excellent male instructors that have long been dedicated to providing the very best instruction for our attendees. All our instructors are volunteers.

Interested in Becoming a BOW Instructor?

Let's see if you're a good fit:

  • Are you well versed in an outdoor activity as either a pro or an avid amateur?
  • Are you comfortable speaking  to an audience of adult women?
  • Can you leave politics and your personal biases at home?
  • Can you teach in a hands-on, fun, non-threatening manner?

If so, then we have a great volunteer opportunity for you! Please contact us at bow@azwildlife.org with a little about you and what you would like to teach.

Opportunities Beyond Your BOW Experience

We are grateful to have amazing instructors, partners and sponsors who can help you explore more outdoors opportunities beyond BOW.




Protecting wildlife and their habitats through education, inspiration, advocacy, and action since 1923

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Arizona Wildlife Federation

PO Box 1182,  Mesa, AZ 85211
(480) 702-1365
awf@azwildlife.org


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