2009 – October’s College Student Outdoor Field Skills Workshop

WAEI’s pilot workshop ran in cooperation with Colorado State University College of Natural Resources.  Special thanks to the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), Safari Club International (Denver Chapter), and Safari Club International Foundation (Denver Sables) for their sponsorship of the workshop.  Student’s fees were kept to a minimum of $50 per student.

Tell us about your experiences firsthand.

CDOW Director Tom Remington appeared as the featured guest speaker for this ground breaking workshop.  Post workshop surveys show the workshop exceeded expectations:

• Further demonstrated the need of the workshop;
• Demonstrated students’ desire to learn about and participate in the outdoors;
• Demonstrated students’ desire to gain skills necessary for future employment opportunities;
• Demonstrated students’ desire to meet professionals in their respective fields; and
• Demonstrated students’ desire to meet peers.

Within 2 days of the workshop announcement the course filled with 50 participants and 147 students were placed on a waiting list!  Following the pilot, the course, FW111 Outdoor Field Skills, was approved by CSU’s University Curriculum Committee.  The course will now be offered for 1 elective credit available to all university students!  Fees will be paid via students’ tuition.

Stay tuned for the 2010 course dates to be announced in February.  Two workshops are scheduled for fall 2010, with 6 planned for 2011 (2 spring semester, 2 summer semester, and 2 fall semester).

Email us (susanne@wildlandinstitute.org) to ensure you receive information as soon as it becomes available!!!!

Spring 2009 – Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshop

May 8 – 10, 2009

Join us for an incredible BOW workshop at Lost Valley Ranch located west of Deckers accessed off of U.S. Highway 285 or via Colorado Highway 67.  The workshop / adventure is one you’ll never forget!  Surrounded by U.S. Forest Service lands, the 4 diamond guest ranch is one of a kind as are the unique classes taught by top notch professionals.  To learn more and to register for the event download the registration form, contact Susanne via email through the contact page, or directly at 303-697-2800.  Sign up quickly as spaces are limited!         

Benefits of Children Playing in Nature – News Clip

Dear Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Educators, and Childcare Providers –

 

Please take 4 min. and 40 seconds to view this great news clip. This video brings back memories of playing outside as a child.  There is a nationwide effort to educate parents and grandparents alike about the benefits of allowing children to play outdoors. The news clip emphasizes this theme as the newscaster states, “Because playing is in a child’s nature, perhaps nature is where a child is meant to play.”  

 

            http://wcco.com/video/?id=50823@wcco.dayport.com

 

Dr. Delwin Benson of Colorado State University is also working on 2 initiatives to counter the “Last Child in the Woods” phenomenon and related concerns about fewer anglers, hunters, and visitors to parks.  The two initiatives are related, but separate, based on the assumption that outdoor behaviors are affected most at home through the frequent influence of family and friends.  Consequently, he is promoting the two initiatives:

 

1.  Neighborhood Outdoor Adventures for parents and youth; and

2.  Outdoor Clubs for adults and youth.

 

For more information, visit his blog at

http://del-helplanduselandhelp.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Workshop Sept. 12 – 14, 2008

The fall workshop was an incredibly fun filled weekend at Peaceful Valley Guest Ranch.  Twenty-four different classes were offered including a few favorites requested by participants:  survival, reading the woods, shooting sports, and fishing!  Here are a few pictures that captured great moments.  Make sure to join us this spring or fall for our next event!  Share your favorite pictures and memories here. 

The Gift of Fear – this Book Can Save Your Life!

The Gift of Fear written by Gavin de Becker is a book that every woman should read.  It is a number one bestseller and recently appeared in the Oprah show.  It is a difficult read as it delves into crimes committed against women, but each woman tells her story, gives de Becker insight into the uneasy feeling they had leading up to an attack, but a feeling they ignored.  De Becker teaches you how to listen to your 6^th sense, how to spot even subtle signs of danger and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. 

During my first year as a wildlife officer, the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s top undercover investigator gave all of us this book to read.  I know that this book may have saved my life.  I would have ignored the little voice, not wanting to admit something might be wrong had I not read the book.  Nearly every day while working I took along my German shepherd, Kodiak.  He was trained in tracking to help me locate lost hunters, injured wildlife, etc.  The two of us checked literally hundreds of anglers, hunters, and chatted with everyone else we came across.  Kodiak had to be well behaved and never growl unless given a command.  Kids regularly opened the door to my truck to pet him. 

While on back county checks, I came across a group of hunters in a vehicle and stopped them to check licenses, firearms, etc.  I could barely hold Kodiak back.  Immediately he began to snarl, growl, bark and lunge at the door.  He had NEVER behaved like this before or since.  Typically, I leave my window rolled down so I can call him out if needed.  I had to roll the window up because I couldn’t keep him in the truck!  That uneasy feeling came rushing over me.  I was hours from back-up and had no radio or cell phone contact.  With Kodiak’s reaction it wasn’t worth the stop.  I told the group thanks for stopping, but I had an emergency call and had to head down the mountain.  To this day I have no idea what Kodiak sensed, but I listed because of The Gift of Fear.  Read this book; give it to friends, daughters, and mothers.  It is a true eye opener.      

Women’s Hunter Education Course

July 9 and 13, 2008       Colorado Springs, CO

Two of Colorado’s top Hunter Education instructors are offering a women’s only hunter education class early next month.  If you’re interested in learning more about firearm safety, wildlife identification, wildlife management, survival, and more, give Chuck and Lyn Money a call at 719-260-7705.  Their classes are hands-on! 

Youth Hunter Education Course

August 15-17, 2008          Denver, CO

For those interested in having their children take hunter education, the Colorado Division of Wildlife is offering a youth only hunter education class August 15 – 17, 2008.  Sign-up begins in August.  Reserve your spot in the hands-on class by calling District Wildlife Manager Vicki Vargas-Madrid at 303-291-7135!  It is a fantastic class. 

Protect Yourself – State License Covers Search and Rescue Fees

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) sells a license called a habitat stamp that can be purchased at their office, through their website, or through any CDOW vendor.   The stamp costs $10 annually and provides you protection as it covers search and rescue fees.  If you ever find yourself need being rescued, you’ll be covered.  Funds from the license sales are used to protect wildlife habitat in Colorado.  For more information visit www.wildlife.state.co.us.      

·         Project Accomplishments to date with revues from the Habitat Stamp and Leveraged Sources

o   14 projects totaling 19,282 protected acres in Colorado

§  2 providing public fishing access

§  4 providing public hunting access

§  11 providing permanent protection of big game habitat

§  8 providing permanent protection of big game migration corridors

§  10 providing protection of habitat for sage grouse and Columbian sharp-tail grouse

A Chance for Your Story to be Published!

There is a fairly new women’s magazine on the market that may be of interest to all of you – Outdoor Woman Magazine.  It is published quarterly and covers great topics from seasonal outdoor activities to women outdoor professionals.  Every issue includes articles titled Around the Campfire, Get Involved, Outdoor Adventures, Naturalist’s Notebook, Gear and Product Guide, and the Advertiser Index. 

Take a look at their website www.outdoorwomanmagazine.com.  If you have a great outdoor adventure that you’d like to share, know of women making a difference, or know of women serving as outdoor professionals, contact the Editor in Chief – Nancy Keller.  We may be reading your article in the next publication! 

 

Children and the Outdoors

A must-read for parents, teachers, grandparents, aunts and uncles is Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods:  Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. 

The book, published in 2006, resulted in a national movement to help get more children involved and immersed in the outdoors.  Last Child in the Woods demonstrates the incredible divide between children and the outdoors and how it relates to rising trends in childhood obesity, attention disorders, and depression.  Louv’s research shows direct links between spending time outdoors in nature and improving children’s emotional and physical health.  Unstructured play in the outdoors truly helps children further develop reasoning skills, creativity, and improves their confidence.  We’ve also learned that adults who are passionate about the outdoors were exposed to the outdoors between the ages of 5 and 18.  Playing outside is a critical component to understanding and developing an appreciation for nature.  Without that connection, we’re not only losing outdoor enthusiasts, but future stewards.