SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. - More than ever, women are becoming involved
in outdoor activities such as shooting sports, fishing, and camping, according to
the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division .
Women can learn and/or improve upon their outdoor skills by attending the “Women in
the Outdoors” workshop at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield on
September 16-18, 2005 - BUT HURRY - early registration ends September 1! The
Roswell Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and WRD are
sponsoring this event.
“WITO events allow women to come together, learn together, make new friends, meet
inspiring women, and have a lot of fun,” says WITO Event Coordinator Rosanna Beebe.
“For many, these events help women overcome a fear or distrust of firearms or pick
up an empowering skill like self-defense or archery.”
WITO provides hands-on, educational outdoor opportunities for women from all walks of life. These events are designed to be non-competitive and
fun for women of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels.
The September WITO event in Mansfield will be held at Charlie Elliott’s new
Conference Facility . The cost of the workshop is just $175 , which covers lodging and all meals, instructional sessions,
program materials, use of all equipment, WITO t-shirt and pocket knife, membership
in the NWTF, and a one-year subscription to the WITO magazine. Women who live
nearby and would rather commute to the 3-day weekend event can register for a
reduced rate of $125 .
Participants can pick four 3½;-hour classes to attend during the workshop. Choices
include: Aquatic Ecology, Archery Basics, Backpacking/Hiking, Backyard Wildlife
Basics, Birdwatching, Camping Basics, Canoeing, Common Sense Self Defense,
Flyfishing Basics, Flytying Basics, Freshwater Fishing Basics, Gun Cleaning, Hunting
101, Pampering Products from Nature, Outdoor Cooking, Riflery Basics, and
Shotgunning Basics. Other highlights include a wildlife supper, night hike
opportunity, and a silent auction.
Although WITO classes have been held at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center before, the
September 2005 event will be the first to fully take place at the new Conference
Facility. This beautiful Arts & Crafts style series of buildings includes a large
main conference room and two smaller conference rooms, 9,000-square-foot dining hall
with a massive stone fireplace and adjoining 2,000-square-foot terraced deck, and
two lodge buildings that accommodate approximately 80 guests. All of these
buildings are set amongst the beautiful scenery in Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center’s
6,400 acres. These facilities are available not only for wildlife educational use
but also for business meetings, banquets, weddings, reunions, church functions, and
other events. Call Charlie Elliott’s Conference Coordinator Lacy Mitchell at
784-3059 to answer any questions about your particular function.
For more information about the upcoming WITO event:
Visit www.georgiawildlife.com, select “General Information” and then “Women in the Outdoors” for information and a printable registration form.
Contact a September 2005 WITO Event Coordinator: Rosanna Beebe with the Roswell Spurs Chapter of NWTF at 432-9933 or cre8tdir@bellsouth.net or Linda May with Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center at 784-3060 or Linda_May@dnr.state.ga.us.
For more info on the WITO program, visit www.womenintheoutdoors.org. For more
information about NWTF, visit www.nwtf.org or call 1-800-THE-NWTF.