🌿 Wo’Man Meetup: Fall Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Workshop (October 2–4, 2026) Lottery & Scholarship Opportunity
Step into your power, embrace the outdoors, and join a vibrant community of women ready to learn, explore, and grow together. This is your chance to build confidence, try something new, and experience the joy of adventure in a supportive, welcoming environment.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) sponsors the Fall Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Workshop, a three-day immersive outdoor experience designed to help women of all skill levels gain hands-on skills, build confidence, and connect with nature and each other.
📅 Workshop Dates: October 2–4, 2026
📍 Location: Silver Bay YMCA, Hague, New York
Participants can choose from dozens of classes, including camping, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, archery, wilderness survival, map & compass, Dutch oven cooking, game cooking, birding, hiking, fly fishing, wild foods, nature journaling, and much more. The workshop includes lodging, meals, instruction, and equipment. (Department of Environmental Conservation)
Registration Information
🗓 Registration is open July 21 through July 30, 2026.
After registration closes, participants are selected through an official lottery drawing. If your name is selected, you’ll receive instructions to complete your registration and pay the $450 workshop fee. (Department of Environmental Conservation)
👉 Learn more and register:
https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/hunter-education/becoming-an-outdoors-woman
Wo’Man Scholarship Opportunity
The NYSDEC BOW program may offer scholarship assistance for eligible participants, so be sure to explore any financial aid opportunities available through the program during registration.
In addition, the Wo’Man Meetup will provide a $100 scholarship toward the workshop fee for the first five members who:
- Are selected through the official BOW lottery.
- Need financial assistance to attend.
- Commit to participating in the workshop.
If you’re able to pay the tuition yourself, we encourage you to do so. That allows these limited scholarship funds to help women who might otherwise be unable to attend.
One of the goals of our Wo’Man community is to learn together and then share what we’ve learned. We hope participants will bring back new outdoor skills, experiences, and inspiration to future Meetup events so our entire community grows stronger, more capable, and more connected.
How to Participate
- RSVP to this Meetup.
- Register between July 21 and July 30, 2026.
- If you’re selected in the lottery, first check for any available BOW financial assistance.
- If you still need help with tuition, contact the organizer to request one of the five available $100 Wo’Man scholarships.
Whether you’ve never spent a night camping or simply want to expand your outdoor knowledge, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills, make lifelong friendships, and represent the Wo’Man community at one of New York’s premier outdoor education events.
We hope to see many Wo’Man members at the 2026 Fall Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshop!
