Women seeking to improve their outdoor skills are encouraged to participate in the Department of Natural Resources' Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program's Winter Weekend Feb. 27-March 1 in the Upper Peninsula. The annual winter program will be held at the Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay, 30 miles north of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula.

Participants can select instruction from a list of over a dozen outdoor-related activities including cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, winter shelter building, ice fishing, outdoor cooking and reading the winter woods. Some indoor activities also will be offered, such as archery, fly tying and journaling. Professional instructors will offer basic and advanced instruction tailored to the participant's individual abilities.

The $175 registration fee includes all food and lodging for the weekend, as well as most equipment and supplies. Participants will be housed in comfortable, dorm-style facilities. The fee also includes many extra evening activities including the camp's group sauna, bonfire/marshmallow roast and other programs.

BOW workshops are for women 18 years of age and older who wish to learn outdoor skills in a relaxed atmosphere. Those interested in participating are urged to register soon as classes fill quickly. Registration materials and course descriptions are available on the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr. Click on Education and Outreach to access the BOW page.

Any questions can be directed to Sharon Pitz or Penny Bacon at the DNR Marquette Operations Service Center at 906-228-6561, or e-mail, pitzs@michigan.gov or baconp@michigan.gov.