By now the kids are all ready for back to school with freshpencils and notebooks, shoes and backpacks. They are eagerly waiting to startlearning new skills and making new friends. And why should we, as adult women,be left out of the fun? Eagle Bluff ELC near Lanesboro and MN Becoming OutdoorsWoman (BOW) are hosting the Discover BOW Weekend September 11-13. It's anopportunity to "go back to class" to learn new outdoor skills and make newfriends.

Taking advantage of the beautiful southeast Minnesotalocation, the BOW weekend has everything from exploring the Root River viacanoe, kayak, or with a fly rod to hiking and orienteering through EagleBluff's extensive property, learning about the flora and fauna of the region.Other classes include archery and a mock 3-D hunt, upland bird hunting or firearm safety skills. There's a bicycle ride along the Root River trail out ofLanesboro, or for those who need more adrenaline, a high ropes challenge. Classesare limited to 12 persons or less with lots of hands-on, step-by-stepinstruction from experienced outdoors enthusiasts, most of whom are women.

I attended one Minnesota's first BOW weekends nearly 15years ago at Gunflint Lodge and have been hooked ever since. It was so empowering tospend the weekend with a group of women learning how to load and shoot afirearm and how to tie on my own lure. There were lots of beginner's mistakes,but there was also lots of help and tons of laughter. I now understood the easycamaraderie of the hunt camp and I wanted more of it for myself. Progressingfrom a participant to instructor, I've learned new skills like pheasanthunting, polished old, like fishing, and most importantly, made many wonderfulnew outdoor friends.

My increasing comfort and confidence outdoors has naturallypassed on to my daughter, who is becoming quite the outdoor girl herself. She'sanxiously counting the years until she'll be old enough to participate in my"girls only" Canadian fishing trip and our hunting trips, many of which have morewomen than men.

Doctors and scientists say that we should continue to learnnew skills throughout our lives to keep our brains healthy. Lifelong learningdoesn't need to just come from books and the classroom. Plus, homeworknever entailed a beautiful walk through a fall woods or an afternoon on thewater with a bucket of minnows and rod. And best of all – practice makesperfect!

(It's not too late to register for the fall BOW workshop atEagle Bluff. Download a brochure at www.dnr.state.mn.us/education/bow/index.htmlor call 1-888-800-9958.)