On a POWR Trip
As the sun rises over Lake Thurmond in McCormick County, SC, I hear excited chatter from the 200 women at breakfast. They are exchanging stories about the classes they took yesterday, and what’s on their schedule for today. Debbie mentions how patient her instructor was in helping her step into a kayak for the first time, and how quickly she learned to maneuver the boat. At the next table, Jasmine excitedly tells her friends that she successfully hit a moving balloon with an arrow during archery class! Nearby, Susan and Rebecca fidget with their cameras, and discuss questions they will ask their Nature Photography instructor later that morning. I hear a little nervousness in Emma’s voice as she talks about heading off to her Boating & Trailering class, but also anticipation to learn a new skill and have more confidence next time she’s at the boat ramp.
As the 8am class time approaches, ladies start to head in various directions to their classes, toting binoculars, yoga mats, water bottles, towels…their tools for the day. Even our staff- the South Carolina Wildlife Federation employees- get to participate; either leading or taking classes. This day has become one of our favorite days of the year.
For more than 20 years, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) event called the “Women’s Outdoor Retreat” has been an extremely popular event to introduce participants to several different outdoor skills in a comfortable setting with like-minded women. While each class at the Retreat focuses on a particular skill or recreational activity, all of the classes together leave the participants with a greater understanding and appreciation of their natural world and a desire to get active outdoors and do their part to conserve natural resources for future generations to enjoy. This message helps to achieve the SCWF mission: to conserve and restore South Carolina’s wildlife and wildlife habitat through education and advocacy.
The Retreat generally has about 200 women in attendance, and about 50 volunteer instructors and event staff. Ages of participants typically range from 16-80, with the average participant aged 55. Approximately half of the women have attended more than 1 event, with many attending 10 or more. The other half are new to our program, and newer to outdoor recreation in general. The SCWF has significant demand for this program, and registration typically fills up in just a matter of hours! In response to this demand, this year’s event is being transformed and expanded into an entire series and re-named as the “Palmetto Outdoor Women’s Retreats” or “POWR.”
The POWR program series has been designed to introduce women to the outdoors in a relaxed environment with knowledgeable instructors, and then also provide additional learning and fellowship opportunities, in an effort to make the introductory experiences become lifelong activities.
During the main POWR event in the spring, participants are introduced to up to 8 activities, such as archery, kayaking, outdoor photography, birding, shotguns, fishing, paddleboarding, hunting, knot tying, fish cooking and cleaning, habitat enhancement, and more. Participants learn the basics of getting started and actually get to try the experience. In some cases, participants will enjoy it and move on to the next skill, but in some cases, the experience will lead them to want to learn more about that specific topic. For example, one participant took the Introduction to Hunting class and was inspired to then register for a women's deer hunt hosted by our state Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). This experience along with countless others led us to create additional opportunities for women to explore the topics they want to learn more about in a more intensive and immersive setting.
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”
“POWR Up” is a two-day event in the fall with 3 in-depth class sessions. The fall 2023 event in Santee features classes on: Backpacking, Bass Fishing, Kayaking, Kayak Fishing, Nature Photography, Pine Needle Basketry, and more.
“POWR+” classes are day-long intensive events focused on one particular skill, and they are held throughout the year at different locations across the state. Recent POWR+ classes included Inshore Fishing, Boating & Trailering, Sporting Clays, Dove Hunting, and Fly-Fishing. Heather told us that the Fly-Fishing class was one of the best days of her life!
SCWF has also created a Facebook group (Palmetto Outdoor Women) to foster ongoing fellowship and exchange of ideas and experiences. Research has shown that connecting to like-minded people in a social setting, specifically during outdoor activities, ensures ongoing participation. Several scholarships for the spring POWR event will be available for women underrepresented in the outdoors to learn new skills and make connections for future outdoor recreation opportunities.
In years past, at the end of the retreat, many participants come by the registration table to thank the staff, tell how great their classes were, and to ask about dates for future events. It’s a very rewarding time for staff members who have spent so many hours planning and coordinating the event. Participants express the desire to bring friends, daughters, or mothers next time. (Fun is almost always more fun with more people.) We hear of plans to buy kayaks, backpacks, tents, or fishing rods…. These women want to continue practicing their new skills, and that is exactly what the SCWF hopes will happen. Now, with even more opportunities to learn and hone these skills in the future, the learning won’t end.
Whether it is with us at a POWR event, or on your own, we at the SCWF encourage you all to go outside and play. In the words of John Muir, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” Time spent in nature has been shown to decrease stress and anxiety, and South Carolina has a treasure-trove of amazingly beautiful places to visit and extremely diverse wildlife to see. We hope that each of your walks with nature will inspire you to take action to preserve wildlife and their habitat for future generations to also enjoy.
Registration is open now for upcoming POWR events here.
