DNREC’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) is an educational program offering hands-on workshops to encourage and enhance participation in outdoor activities like hunting and shooting sports, fishing and boating, and non-harvest activities.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman is generally held on the first weekend in October. Event details and registration information are posted here each summer.

To be added to the Becoming and Outdoors-woman email list for future updates, send a blank email (no subject line and no signature) to listserv@listserv.delaware.gov with only the following in the body of the email: Subscribe DNREC_BOW [Your Name].

For more information, please contact Patrick Ruhl at Patrick.Ruhl@delaware.gov or 302-422-1329.

The 2026 Event

The 2026 event was held at Camp Barnes, in Frankford, from Friday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4.

Programs offered in 2026 included birding, knot-tying, field skills, forest bathing, hiking and backpacking, kayaking, fishing, hunting, archery, recognizing invasive species and taking inspiration from nature, among other topics.

History of the Program

Since the first Becoming an Outdoors-Woman event was held in Wisconsin, in 1991, this exciting international program has expanded to 46 states and seven provinces with more than 80 workshops offered each year.

The main goal of the BOW program is to provide women with the opportunity to learn skills that encourage and enhance participation in outdoor activities, like hunting and shooting sports, fishing and boating, and non-harvest recreational activities.

Courses are geared toward adult women aged 18 and older, though men may participate.

The yearly BOW event features opportunities for participants to choose from a wide range of course offerings during each of the sessions. The instructors of these courses have been selected for their expertise as well as their ability to provide instruction in a safe, supportive, and non-competitive atmosphere.

Past Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Events

The 2026 event was held at Camp Barnes.

The 2025 event was held at Lums Pond State Park.

The 2024 event was held at Killens Pond State Park.

The 2023 event, set for Delaware Seashore State Park, was canceled due to inclement weather.

The 2022 event was held at Camp Barnes.

The 2021 event was a COVID-safe, one-day event at Trap Pond State Park.

The 2020 event was not held because of the COVID outbreak.

The 2019 event was held at Lums Pond State Park.

The 2018 event was held at Cape Henlopen State Park.

The 2017 event was held at Killens Pond State Park.

Related Topics:  dfw, education, fish and wildlife, hunter education, hunting, outdoors, outdoors and recreation, woman