BOW winter workshop

Jan. 24-26, 2025 • Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center • Sandstone • Fee: $210.
Register

Join us this January at Osprey Wilds for our Winter Workshop. New classes this year include wood carving, tracking and how to plant for pollinators. We will also have our favorite classes including dark house fishing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and more. Workshops are a great way for women to learn skills and meet other women who are also interested in the outdoors. Fee includes two nights lodging, all meals, instruction, equipment, and fun!

Turkey hunting archery series

Women who want to improve their archery target shooting and then build on that experience by learning how to bow hunt are encouraged to enroll in the archery series that begins in December. You can register for one or all the sessions. For those hunting, sessions 4 and 5 are required. For more details and to register email [email protected].

• Session 1: Archery hunting basics webinar. This webinar is recorded and available for viewing at Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series. Select past webinars then use the search tool under hunting to find the webinar 48 Archery Hunting Basics. BOW volunteer Desiree Holmberg discusses archery equipment and hunting basics.
• Session 2: Women’s archery shop basics and target practice, Archery Country, Rogers, MN, Date & Time TBD, fee $25. This session introduces women to the services provided at archery shops and then concludes with practice shooting at the indoor range. Equipment is provided.
• Session 3: Women’s archery practice, for beginners, A-1 Archery, Hudson, WI, April 2, 7 p.m., fee $30. This class includes equipment and is set up for beginner archers who would like to learn how to safely handle archery equipment and shoot a bow. Our focus will be on safety, range rules, proper form and technique.
• Session 4: Turkey hunting clinic, A-1 Archery, Hudson, WI, April 3, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., free. This class is required for women participating in the May archery hunt. This in-person clinic is also open to the public and will focus on the basics of archery turkey hunting. The DNR website also has a pre-recorded videos on how to hunt turkeys.
• Session 5: Turkey hunting broadhead sight-in, tips and tricks, A-1 Archery, Hudson, WI, April 19, 1 p.m., fee $25. This class is required for the women who are participating in the MN DNR's BOW turkey hunt May of 2025. Women must have their own equipment and should bring along one practice broadhead so that we can sight in their bows. We will also cover some tips and tricks to help you be successful in the blind.
• Session 6: 3-D Archery shoot, April 26, Chilakoot Bowhunters Club, Stillwater, MN, time 10 a.m., fee $20. This 3-D shoot is open to the public. This class is required for women attending the BOW turkey hunt May of 2025. Women will be grouped together to practice shooting outdoors at 3-D targets to learn when and where to shoot and to gauge shooting distance. Bring your own archery equipment to this shoot.
• Session 7: Women’s mentored archery turkey hunt, May, Date TBD, East Bethel, MN, fee TBD. Women will hunt two days with a mentor. This hunt is limited to 10 hunters.

Women's programming

• Winter Walk (Nordic Pole Walk): Jan. 11 • 11 a.m.-Noon • Dowling Elementary School • Minneapolis • Fee: $2; pole rental if needed • Register via email.
  Let’s get out and enjoy winter. We will plan to walk for an hour along the river parkway, poles and a quick intro to basic technique available for newbies. All walkers are encouraged to walk a pace and distance comfortable for their fitness level.
• LOCATION CHANGE – Nordic Pole Walking Introduction Class: May 6 • 4 p.m. • Dowling Elementary School • Minneapolis • Fee: $15 • Register via email.
  This is an introductory class to this exciting fitness activity. Anyone can do it! It takes a simple walk and turns it into a full body workout, and it doesn’t feel like you are working any harder. Increase your heart rate, burn more calories, strengthen your upper body and create resistance to build better bone density. Poles are provided.
• CANCELLED – St. Croix Kayak Spring Paddle: This class is cancelled.

Learn a new skill online

Are you too busy to attend an in-person class? If so, join us online. We have how-to guides and webinars to help you learn outdoor skills.

• Learn to fish
• Learn to hunt
• Upcoming and past outdoor skills webinars

Family skills webinars

Family skills webinars are part of the Minnesota DNR's outdoor skills and stewardship series, which provides women and families with relevant information on upcoming hunting and fishing seasons as well as skill-building instruction so you can enjoy these opportunities.

• Outdoor skills webinars