Women seeking the opportunity to improve their outdoor skills are invited to register for the 12th annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program, set for June 5-7 in Big Bay, 30 miles north of Marquette.

The program will be held at Bay Cliff Health Camp, a universally accessible facility, located in a picturesque wooded setting overlooking Lake Superior.

Sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources, this program offers instruction in more than two dozen kinds of outdoor activities, including kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, fly-tying, archery, boating, birding, ORV use, rock climbing, GPS, and several styles of shooting sports. Instructors provide basic and advanced instruction tailored to the participant's individual ability.

The $175 registration fee includes all food and lodging, as well as most equipment and supplies (except as noted in the registration materials). Participants will be housed in a dorm-style facility with numerous amenities, including a pool, sauna, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails, and easy access to Lake Superior.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops are for women, 18 and older, who wish to learn outdoor skills in a relaxed, noncompetitive atmosphere. The U.P. BOW program also includes special evening programs, such as birding hikes, group bonfires, evening fishing trips, special programs and more. Early registration is recommended. Class information and registration materials are available online at www.michigan.gov/bow. For more information, contact Sharon Pitz at the DNR office in Marquette at 906-228-6561 or e-mail pitzs@michigan.gov.

Many other outdoors programs for women are scheduled this year across Michigan. To learn more about these additional opportunities, check the BOW Web site at www.michigan.gov/bow or contact Lynn Marla at (517) 241-2225; e-mail: marlal@michigan.gov.