NEW TRIPOLI - In a twist on that long-ago advertising slogan, the National Wild Turkey Federation can say "We've come a long way, baby" in regards to its highly successful Women In The Outdoors program.
When the NWTF began holding WITO events in 1998 the idea was to provide women with the basics in various outdoors activities and skills. Each of the organized events was designed especially for women by providing expert instruction and hands-on education that allowed participants to develop outdoors skills and emphasize the importance of wildlife management and the role of hunters in conservation.
Now, the growing number of women in the shooting sports and hunting, the challenges of combating anti-firearms and animal-rights rhetoric and more women who have a basic understanding of outdoors activities has resulted in changes for the WITO program. While not forgetting to provide some basic courses for those new to the game, a greater emphasis is now being placed on providing advanced courses to those who already have limited experience in the field or a background of attending such grassroots events as youth field days and other educational events at the local level.
Not that anyone is complaining, but WITO has become so popular and in demand that the program has outgrown some of the smaller venues where the event has been held. As a result, local participants will have to travel a bit farther than in recent years, but the rewards are well worth the time and effort.
This year, the region's first WITO event will be held Saturday, June 14, at Ontelaunee Rod and Gun Club, New Tripoli, under the sponsorship of the Jerry Zimmerman and Walking Purchase NWTF Pennsylvania State local chapters. A two-day event will be held Saturday-Sunday, July 19-20, at Pheasant Valley Farms, Robesonia, under the sponsorship of the Reading Ridge NWTF Pennsylvania State Local chapter.
At last year's WITO event at Ontelaunee Rod and Gun Club there were participants who attended from as far away as New York City. Because of the Big Apple's anti-firearms city administration many of those participants made the trip for the express purpose of learning how to shoot handguns safely and self defense because such courses are difficult to find in New York City.
Participants who attend a WITO event usually have their choice of four classes per day, and all are taught by fully qualified instructors. In addition, there are T-shirts, prize drawings, lunch, snacks and other extras that vary from venue to venue.
In addition to covering the cost of the event, included in a WITO registration fee is a new or renewal NWTF membership and a subscription to the organization's "Turkey Country" magazine, which has special features, especially for women. Many of the features are written by Brenda Valentine, who appears on NWTF's "Turkey Call" television program on the Pursuit Channel.
"Our Women in the Outdoors program is about encouraging women to try new outdoor activities in a safe environment that makes them feel at ease," Valentine said. "These events are also an opportunity for women of all walks of life - from singles, to moms and daughters and young and old - to spend a day outdoors, away from home, having fun and making new friends."
According to Dana Krisko, the coordinator of the WITO event at Ontelaunee Rod and Gun Club, basic instruction of the most popular classes will continue, but the schedule has been expanded to offer some new and advanced classes. Being offered are the following:
Basket Weaving, Cast Iron Cooking, Crossbows Basics, Self Defense, Archery 101, Advanced Archery, Fly Fishing, Geocaching 101, Handguns, Outdoor Cooking, Outdoor First Aid, Rifle Marksmanship, Shotgunning/Trapshooting, Soap Crafting, Concealed Weapons - Should I Carry?, Turkey Hunting 101, Waterfowling 101, Kayaking, Dog Training, Animal-Human Conflict, Blue Bird Boxes and Old Fashioned Kettle Processing.
For information about the National Wild Turkey Federation Women In the Outdoors event at Ontelaunee Rod and Gun Club, contact Dana Krisko at (610) 799-4716 or email LehighValleyWITO@yahoo.com. For information about the National Wild Turkey Federation Women In the Outdoors event at Pheasant Valley Farms, contact Leslie Smith at (484) 634-0069 or email lwisesmith66@gmail.com.