Becoming An Outdoors-Woman

By Carissa Hutchinson
@cnhutch1991

I've always had a love for the outdoors. Maybe growing up in Alpena has had something to do with that, but I've always loved the sounds and sights of nature. I'm the one out of all my friends who has to start the bonfire and I'm known to tell people "Don't tell me about the woods." But if you're not as outdoor savvy as I am, there's an opportunity coming up that you might want to take advantage of.

The 17th annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) summer program starts the weekend of May 30. You'll enjoy the summer beauty of Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay, located approximately 30 miles north of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula.

With over two dozen types of outdoor activities to learn about you'll never be bored! Some activates include kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, wilderness first aid and survival, lake and fly-fishing, fly-tying, geocaching, shooting sports, boating, and mountain biking.

Food and lodging as well as most equipment and supplies will be covered by the $185 registration fee. Your housing will be a universally-accessible, dorm-style facility with many amenities including a pool, sauna, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails, and easy access to Lake Superior. The BOW summer program also includes special evening programs such as hikes, group bonfires and more.

A limited number of BOW Scholarships are available to help low-income participants with the cost of registration, with an application deadline of Friday, April 25.

Class information and registration materials are available online at michigan.gov/bow, and registration can be paid online at michigan.gov/estore. The summer program typically fills quickly, so early registration is encouraged. The deadline for registration is Monday, May 12.

So go and find your love of the outdoors, it might not be as big as mine but I know once you truly experience it, you'll love it too.

Carissa Hutchinson is a senior at Ferris State University studying television and digital media production. She's currently on two internships with CBS 62/CW50 Detroit and M-1 Studios in Ferndale. While attending college she was a very active member of Delta Zeta and the Media Communications Association. Take a look at Carissa's work at carissanhutchinson.wordpress.com.