I woke up at Bryant Pond 4H Camp & Learning Center on Lake Christopher this morning. I’m at Becoming an Outdoors-Woman’s Winter Skills weekend. I arrived yesterday. There are women from six or seven states here for the weekend.

My workshop this morning is skeet shooting.  I want to improve my shooting skills and try a different shotgun. I shoot only my own .20 gauge and Steve’s .12 gauge. I’ll be buying a new shotgun before turkey season opens in late April.  Some of the other workshops running this morning are cross country skiing, winter survival and archery.

Becoming an Outdoors-woman teaches outdoors skills to women who are 18 years or older. Build confidence and self-esteem while meeting new friends and having the time of your life!

This afternoon I’m leading a workshop called Cooking Wild Game. We’re going to go over tips and recipes for cooking moose, goose, bass and perch. I’d hoped to bring venison but didn’t shoot a deer last year.  We’ll be cooking and sampling four dishes and have a moose soup for everyone to sample at supper. Map & Compass, Survival Shelters and Rifle Markswoman are also running this afternoon.

My Sunday morning workshop is fly tying. I’ve watched the process but have no idea how to do it myself so I’m particularly excited about this workshop. I started learning to fly fish last year and hope to spend a weekend this year learning more. Other participants will be on a snowshoe hike, learning to build a fire in winter and ice fishing. Some of the most popular workshops are offered more than once during the weekend.

I don’t spend much time in western Maine so being here at in Bryant Pond, on Lake Christopher, for an entire weekend is a real treat. Adding the company of more than 40 like-minded women who are here to learn and improve skills, meet new people and enjoy each others company is a bonus.

If you haven’t looked at the workshops BOW is offering this year you can find them on the website. Check back occasionally to look for photos and additional workshops.