New event gets women pumped up about outdoor survival

BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

Developing new skills can be empowering. For seven female participants in the recent 'Women in the Outdoors' (WITO) workshop, climbing out of their comfort zone to try something new made for a rewarding experience.

The daylong event, hosted by the National Wild Turkey Federation, took place at the new Hants West Wildlife Association (HWWA) Interpretive Center on Bog Road in Hantsport. The non-profit program was developed to help “women increase their knowledge of the outdoors and the importance of wildlife management.”

Along with classes in yoga, outdoor survival and introduction to hunting, participants headed to the woods with rifle in hand to learn firearm safety.

Hitting a target at 40 yards with a pellet gun with scope is no mean feat, especially when one has never held a gun before. But participants found the exercise exhilarating and Steven Jollimore, a certified Nova Scotia firearms safety instructor and HWWA member, said he was impressed with the results. In fact, he referred to one mother/daughter team as “a pair of natural-born snipers.

“Once they shot that gun you could see their confidence building. They really developed an attitude,” Jollimore said.

Participant Ali Francis was glowing when she stepped out of the woods after target practice. “That was wicked,” she said, and plans to take up the sport.

Many of the women said that men in their family hunt, but they had never had any interest themselves until now. “My dad hunts and now I know why; it’s awesome,” said Mairead Davidson. She hopes to join her father on his next excursion.

The purpose of the class was not only to learn how shoot at a life-size deer target; it was also about understanding the role hunters take in conservation. “We want them to see that shooting at a target can be just as thrilling as the real thing,” said HWWA member Mike O’Brian.

Lost in the woods

In case participants ever found themselves lost in the great outdoors, instructor Sarah Marie Laupe was on hand also to teach them how to read a map and compass, light a fire and build a shelter.

“In this country, it’s sometimes better not to try and build a fire unless you have to,” she told the class. “You could spend all night gathering for a fire that will be hard to maintain.” She said building a proper shelter was a better use of time and energy.

Allahnah Davidson came from Truro that day because she spends a lot of time in the woods and said the survival techniques she learned were very useful.

“You step out my back door and you’re in the wilderness, so I’m in the woods a lot. Now I’ll know how to take care of myself.”

Laupe said more women are drawn to these type of training events. “It’s a fast growing industry,” she said. “More and more women are getting involved and they want to learn.”

Holistic element

Yoga instructor Minga Mintz said there is also a holistic element involved in outdoor preparedness.

“Today is about learning to be your own inner guide,” she said.

Mintz said that along with basic survival tools, there’s a meditational aspect to survival in the wilderness. “Yoga teaches you to be quiet and still and trust your own instincts; that's an essential skill anywhere.”

Organizer Ashley Veniot was pleased with how the day went. “I’m really excited that the response was so positive,” she said.

Participants were eager to do it all again and even spoke of a weekend event. Although the Department of Natural Resources hosts similar events in the fall and winter seasons, she’d like to make ‘Women in the Outdoors’ an annual summer occurrence.

Veniot said events like this are important because it’s difficult to meet other women involved in outdoor sport and industry; “they’re so few and far between.

“It’s all about learning new skills or enhancing what you have,” she said. It’s also a chance for women to get together for a fun time and to enjoy nature.

“Next year’s event will be even better,” she added. “The sky’s the limit.”