LOUDONVILLE, Ohio — For a three-day weekend in September, women will be slinging the arrows, firing up the outboard motors, shouldering the shotguns, casting the dry flies, and snapping the wildlife images at Mohican State Park.
It is not some type of gender-driven outdoors uprising, although that certainly could be justified. This is the site for the sixth annual Ohio Women’s Outdoor Adventures workshop, which runs from Sept. 13-15 at the 1,110-acre oasis southeast of Mansfield, where the Wisconsinan era glaciers did some of their best work at the end of their surge in this part of North America.
The cleverly sculpted and tight Clear Fork Gorge has whittled its way through sandstone bedrock here to fashion steep cliff walls, and along with the hemlock forests that wrap around the Clear Fork branch of the Mohican River, provide the stage and the setting for this women-only baptism into the wonders of outdoors recreation and exploration.
The premise is simple: Creating a no pressure, collaborative environment for women to experience activities that some might have erroneously labeled as “men-only” in the past. Paddling, kayaking, power-boating, fly fishing, jug fishing, shoreline fishing, gun safety and shooting, archery, backyard wildlife, hiking, and nature photography.
But it does not end there. There are lessons in stream monitoring, mountain biking, birding, Dutch oven cooking, and trailering and launching boats. From my observations, that last one alone might have saved a few marriages from boat-ramp-induced irreconcilable differences.
“It’s a great event to learn a new outdoor skill,” said Heidi Hetzel-Evans, communications manager with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Watercraft.
Hetzel-Evans said many friendships are formed during the weekend, and future fishing, hunting, paddling, and hiking outings grow from the camaraderie the camp fosters.
“We’re giving registration priority to first time participants,” Hetzel-Evans said. “We are focused on the program’s mission to encourage women to become outdoor enthusiasts. All of the more than 25 session topics are geared to the beginner, and the majority of teachers are highly skilled female instructors. We’ve found that the participants enjoy learning a new sport from other women.”
The event is open to all women ages 16 and older (minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian) at a cost of $320 per person, which includes lodging, five meals, transportation between venues, and the evening activities. Participants will stay the weekend at the Mohican State Park Lodge. Registration is capped at 120 participants and is available online.
ODNR director Mary Mertz emphasized the importance of having a program for women to experience many of the ways to enjoy the outdoors, which at Mohican includes the Mohican-Memorial State Forest and nearby Pleasant Hill Lake.
“I am thrilled to have women from across the state spend a weekend with us at Mohican, trying new things, learning and growing together,” Mertz said.
OUTDOOR SKILLS ACADEMY: Michigan’s deer and bear hunting are less of a mystery for those that take advantage of the instruction available from experienced hunters and MDNR educators at the Outdoor Skills Academy sessions, held during the summer. The next bear hunting clinic is July 28 at Mitchell State Park, with a second bear hunting session Aug. 4. Three whitetails hunting clinics also are on the August schedule. The bear hunting clinics, conducted with assistance from the Michigan Bear Hunters Association, cover habitat, gear, stand placement, baiting, rules and regulations, carcass care, and hide care. Participants will spend three to four hours in the classroom before moving to the trail to learn how to place a stand and bait in the woods. For general information, click on the education tab at michigan.gov/dnr. For registration or information on the bear hunting clinics, contact Edward Shaw at 231-779-1321 or shawe@michigan.gov.
CAMP PERRY CMP: The First Shot Ceremony took place Monday, signaling an official welcome for all of the guests, participants, volunteers, and staff that will be on hand at the historic facility west of Port Clinton for the 2019 National Matches. Each summer, the competition features the finest pistol and rifle shooters in America. The National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches have brought talented marksmen and women to the Camp Perry National Guard Training Facility since 1907, and are now a four-week long mix of original CMP matches along with traditional pistol, smallbore, high-power rifle, and long range rifle competitions, as well as clinics. The first CMP national matches of the season will fire on Saturday, beginning with the pistol competitions, and will conclude Aug. 9, after CMP’s fresh lineup of long range matches. Several other pistol, rifle, and air gun competitions and clinics are scheduled throughout the National Matches. All events are free and open to the public, with ample parking available on site. For more, including a complete schedule of events, visit the National Matches website.
MICHIGAN MAMMALS WEEK: This annual celebration takes place at many of the Michigan state parks through Sunday. Programming focuses on the variety of mammals found in Michigan, with hikes, animal tracking programs, games, and additional fun and educational activities appropriate for the whole family. There are Michigan Mammals Week programs offered at more than 40 state parks and recreation areas. More information is available at the Michigan Mammals Week webpage at michigan.gov’s Nature Programs site.
First Published July 8, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
