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Event
Details:
Join hundreds of other women for up
to 5 days of learning, camaraderie, fun and begin
to master the outdoors. Women of all ages are
encouraged to experience, explore, and develop an
understanding of the natural world through over 27
different hands-on programs.
The event is held at the Alford
Lake Conservation Education Centre for
Excellence. The first session was held in 1993
and has grown in popularity ever since. Women
participate at their own speed and level of
interest. They are welcome to try their hand at
everything from fly fishing, shooting, backing up
a trailer, trapping to overnight survival
sessions. Classes run about 3 hours and cover a
host of topics, as listed below.
Patient and knowledgeable
instructors encourage each woman towards her own
level of confidence and competence with each new
skill.
Not sure if this weekend is for
you? Ask yourself these questions:
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Is
there an outdoor activity that you have never
tried, like shooting a shotgun that you would
like to learn in a safe and controlled
environment?
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Are
you a beginner who is looking to improve her
outdoor skills?
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Are you already active in the
outdoors but you would like to add to your
skills?
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Are you seeking the camaraderie
of other like-minded individuals?
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Are you seeking a brand new
adventure totally apart from your day-to-day
life?
If you answered, "Yes," to any of
these questions, then please join us for an
unforgettable weekend of adventure. Our highly
qualified instructors are looking forward to
meeting you. We take pride in initiating new
people into the enjoyment of the great outdoors.
Bring
your own camping gear or share a cabin with other
ladies, or stay in your own trailer or RV. Modern
showers and bathrooms are available and meals are
included. There is a wide range of program
sessions to choose from and participants may
attend for two, three or five days.
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From a Hunters Diary
Tracy Dickinson
I was at the Willow Valley Trophy Day
in Pincher Creek, AB this year, and appreciated the
opportunity to hear you (Kelly Semple) speak. Wow! I must say that I
was inspired to continue to do what I do, and continue
to be involved in supporting the outdoor groups and
organizations that I do. I am so glad that you made the
trip down to Pincher Creek, and I am interested in
learning more about your organization, and perhaps
becoming more involved in it as well!
As a young girl, I grew up in the East Kootenay region
of British Columbia in a rural area between the
communities of Cranbrook and Kimberley.
I remember my
family spent all the time they could in the outdoors.
We camped, fished, went horseback riding, and my parents
also hunted.
I grew up appreciating the environment we
lived in and glad that I lived where I did.
I received my first fishing rod, a present from my Dad,
when I turned 5 years old and was always the first one
in the truck when we were taking the boat out. We spent
many hours on Kootenay Lake, Koocanusa Lake, and Moyie
Lake. As I grew older, I hoped that I would be able to
actively partake in hunting trips as well. I had been
along on many excursions, but I could hardly wait till I
turned 14, took my Hunter Training and could try my
luck.
As time went by, my Dad lost interest in hunting, so by
the time I was 14 he hadn't been out for quite a few
years. I was disappointed, to say the least. When I
was 16, I had the opportunity to take Hunter Training
with a friend of mine. Both of us were truly
intimidated being the only girls in the class, but
decided that if we both took it together, it would be
fine. We had to endure a few stares from our younger
male classmates (they of course were all 14, and we were
16!), as well as the Dad's that were accompanying their
sons to the classes. Our instructor was great, and we
both passed and received our B.C. Hunting Certificates
in the mail following the class. I thought for sure
that this would prompt my Dad back into wanting to hunt,
and into taking me out, but he never did.
As I grew older, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career
that involved the outdoors in some capacity. I attended
the University of Lethbridge, and received a Bachelor's
of Science Degree in Biology in 1995. I have worked
many contracts with a variety of employers, all
involving some sort of field work, and am now
permanently employed as a Research Technician at the
Research Station in Lethbridge for Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada.
It was at the Research Station that my dream of hunting
finally started to fall into place. I met my boyfriend,
Gary, at the Research Station in 1995, and he is an avid
hunter! I started bugging him about taking me hunting
soon after we began dating, and was able to go with him
spotting, and along on a few trips before he knew that I
was serious and not just trying to impress him! I
enrolled in, took and successfully completed an FAC
course in 1998, and received my certificate soon after.
I applied for an Alberta WIN Card, and I purchased my
first rifle that year (a 6 mm). I also bought a
membership to the Lethbridge Fish and Game so that I
could use their gun range, and Gary began teaching me
how to shoot. The following year I purchased a second
rifle (25-06) brand new, and Gary knew that I was
committed to giving hunting a try. I purchased tags
that fall and went on my first hunt with him for
Whitetail Deer near Enchant, Alberta. We spent two
weekends (Thurs-Sat) out there, and he finally said that
I was going to have to shoot the rifle in order to say
that I tried it! On the last Saturday that he took me
out, I finally decided to shoot a little buck that was
feeding in the cat tails. I hit it the first shot, and
I don't think my feet touched the ground until much
later the next day. It was an amazing feeling, and one
that I will never forget. I was so happy that I finally
realized a dream I had been holding ever since I was a
little girl. My deer was no where near a trophy, but I
have the skull and antlers proudly displayed in our
bedroom, and when I look at it, all the pride in myself
returns.
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Since my first deer in 1999, I have shot a 140 Mule
Deer in 2000, one White Tail buck in 2001 and another
this year, a sow Black Bear in 2002, and a 78 Pronghorn
this year. I have had the opportunity to hunt for Elk
since 2000 with Gary, and was with him when he took an
amazing Bull Moose in 2000. I have seen wolves,
grizzly, deer, elk, cougars, coyotes, antelope, and so
many other things when I am out hunting that I am so
glad that I am finally where I always wanted to be.
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I am a member of the Lethbridge Fish and Game, Ducks
Unlimited, and the Willow Valley Trophy Club. I
volunteer and am a member for Pheasants Forever, and I
hold an executive position with the Oldman River Basin
Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Now that I have heard about
Hunting For Tomorrow, I am very interested in becoming
involved in some way.
When I listened to you speak at Willow Valley, it just
reinforced everything I feel about the outdoors, and why
I think it is important to continue to pursue these
activities. I just wanted to e-mail you and say how
impressed I was with hearing you speak, and let you know
that I want to be involved with your organization
because I share the same vision.
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