Women - Shoot, Paddle, Rope & Cook in the Outdoors

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The Lee Sportsman’s Club proved to be a beautiful setting for the Southern Berkshire Chapter of the Nation Wild Turkey Federations’ Women in the Outdoors event, held at the club on September 24th. Twenty women, all over the age of 14, gathered from throughout the tri-state region of MA, NY and CT to learn how to shoot, rope, paddle & cook as part of the NWTF Women in the Outdoors Event. “Fun was had by all” stated one of the three key program organizers, Dawn Goodrich of Lee, MA, who was joined in organizing the event by Mary Smith of Lee, and Laurie Lee Sawin of Otis. Women were introduced to a number of interesting activities, including the safe handling of pistols, shotguns, rifles, muzzleloaders and archery equipment. Individuals learned from qualified instructors how to shoot moving clay targets with a shotgun (women had the opportunity to experience both Skeet & Trap shooting). They also learned how to hit the bulls-eye with a rifle, pistol or bow and arrow, and how to load, shoot and care for a variety of muzzle loading firearm. The hands on archery presentation by Patsy Leader, owner of Shooters Highland in Valatie, NY allowed them to experience the use of compound bows as well as traditional archery equipment. They received instruction on the selection and safe use of archery equipment and its application in both target shooting as well as hunting situations. Kayak instruction was presented by PJ Hunt, manager of the Expeditions Outdoor Sports Store in Great Barrington. The women had the opportunity to paddle a variety of kayaks while learning the basic of kayaking in flat water. Additional programs were presented in tree-stand basics, turkey calling, stamping, cowboy roping and outdoor cooking. Outdoor cooking featured an interesting presentation titled: Trashcan Turkey. Here the women learned to cook a whole turkey outdoors using a metal trashcan. The trashcan was in essence converted into a convection oven by piling hot coals around the trash cans edge. In about one hour and twenty minutes a whole 15 pound turkey was perfectly cooked and ready to eat. The program achieved the following goals in many ways. All the women in attendance said they had fun while learning how to handle firearms safely. They also learned the importance of responsible wildlife management. Programs like this convince women that they can truly enjoy the outdoors. These women specific events have also proven to increase women’s comfort level and participation in outdoor related pursuits, a key goal of the program. The NWTF developed The Women in the Outdoors program to increase women’s participation in outdoor activities, and it has proven to also serve as a networking activity that brings men and women with similar outdoor interests together. Women interested in the program can get more information from their local NWTF chapter. Chapter information can be found on the www.NWTF.org web site. Or contact one of the organizers whose information is shown below. For more information on future Women in the Outdoors Events please contact: Dawn Goodrich at 413-243-6145 thegoodrichs@earthlink.net Mary Smith at 413-243-2710 Ssmith570@adelphia.net Or Laurie Lee Sawin at 413-269-0226 Darrylldee@gillanet.net Or visit the NWTF website at www.NWTF.org
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Senior Golf Series Returns in September

Community submission
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Berkshire County Fall Senior Golf series returns in September with events on five consecutive Wednesdays starting Sept. 18.
 
It is the 22nd year of the series, which is a fund-raiser for junior golf in the county, and it is open to players aged 50 and up.
 
The series will feature two divisions for each event based on the combined ages of the playing partners.
 
Golfers play from the white tees (or equivalent) with participants 70 and over or who have a handicap of more than 9 able to play from the forward tees.
 
Gross and net prices will be available in each division.
 
The cost is $55 per event and includes a round of golf, food and prizes. Carts are available for an additional fee.
 
Golfers should call the pro shop at the course for that week's event no sooner than two weeks before the event to register.
 
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