I remember weaving together two square pieces of vinyl tablecloth stuffed with magazines that would become my sit upon, and sitting in a circle singing “make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold.” These activities might sound familiar to you if you participated as a Brownie or Girl Scout growing up. I still have my green sash somewhere with my badges handstitched onto it in one of my memory boxes. I loved learning new things, and we did experiments, arts and crafts, identified wildlife and plants, and so much more than sell cookies. I’m still fascinated that we cooked meals using tuna fish cans lined with cardboard soaked in paraffin and a large tin coffee can as a stove.

I was in a troop until seventh grade when it just became too “un-cool” to go to school in a green jumper dress or green shorts with long white knee high socks on meeting days. These were the early days of tight Jordache, Calvin Klein, and Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans with clunky Candies Clogs. “Grease” was my favorite movie that year and this Sandy was giving up her saddle shoes and looking for her Danny at the local mall.

Throughout my earlier married years, I enjoyed travels to many State and National Parks, but we stayed in hotels and accessed the easy to reach tourist sites. My husband, at that time, wasn’t what I’d call a great outdoorsman, and I wasn’t confident enough in my skill level with two young girls in tow to venture too far.

Fast forward to a whole new life back in Houston, and around 2011, a good friend of mine introduced me to a program called Becoming an Outdoors-Woman sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife. This program is designed to “provide an atmosphere where women feel comfortable learning new skills associated with hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities, in a supportive and non-threatening environment.” The original BOW program was started many years ago by the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point to encourage women in a supportive environment and help them gain confidence with activities in the more traditionally male-dominated fields. You can find a BOW program in almost every state now.

My first BOW trip was thrilling. I met women of all ages, from 18 to 85, and backgrounds. All of them were there to try something new and sometimes to overcome specific fears. During a typical BOW weekend, the attendees sign up for six to eight different activities. The women leadership is strong at BOW, but every male leader I have met has been compassionate, supportive, and non-judgemental as well. I learned basic fishing techniques, from how to correctly tie a hook onto the line to getting a fish off the hook and releasing it once caught, to properly filleting and cooking it for dinner. I geocached for the first time. Geocaching is a type of navigational treasure hunting. I learned basic kayaking and spent an afternoon on the lake happily paddling around. Two of the most important classes I took that year were backpacking and survival techniques. I’ve used the skills I learned there in emergency situations over the years at home, not just on the trail, and shared safety tips with many friends. I even have a few of these items stored in my car at all times in case of emergency.

The list of pursuits and interests I’ve explored through BOW over the years is a lengthy one, but here are a few of my favorites: Dutch Oven and Outdoor Cooking, Fly Fishing, Basket Weaving, Geocaching, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Hiking, Camping, Clay Shooting, Archery, Bird Watching, Plant Identification, Geology, and Making Birdhouses. The birdhouse I made is on my fence and has lodged a family of bluebirds the last two seasons. This year I watched them raise five babies through my kitchen window.

Reconnecting with the outdoors as an adult has given me the opportunity to overcome fears, encouraged my sense of adventure, and nurture a braver life. I am terrified of heights, and I completed a high ropes course and came away with a sense of pride in myself for meeting the challenge head on one year. I went outside of my comfort zone one year and tried archery on for size. I would have never thought that archery would be something that I’d enjoy, but it was a blast. I skipped another class to attend this one a second time the same weekend. I also learned that one of my best friends is a natural with a bow and arrow. She made her mark dead center regularly after the first round of instruction leading to a series of hilarious and preposterous remarks about what she might take aim at next.

A couple of years ago a group of us from all over Texas that met at BOW decided it was time we started to put what we’ve learned to good use. We have been on two trips, and our third is planned for this October to meet on the Frio River for fishing, hiking, cooking, birdwatching, kayaking, and storytelling. I’ll confess that there will be at least one side trip to Neal’s Dining Room for the best chicken fried steak in Texas.

I’m hoping that there will be a spot for me this winter or next spring to visit a BOW to make friends and maybe take a more advanced level class or try something new. It is on my bucket list to make an appearance at BOWs in other states like California, Montana, or New Hampshire. Being a part of BOW has helped me to reshape my life outdoors and changed how I connect with nature. I am braver, stronger, and more capable. If you are looking for fresh ways to enrich your life and live brave, I encourage you to give the outdoors a try and catch a spot in a BOW near you.

If you are a mom or grandmother, and getting away on your own is a challenge, many of the organizations that sponsor BOWs also have groups like Texas Outdoors Family or day trips you can attend. The cost for these pursuits is very reasonable. Many of them also have scholarship programs or financial assistance to help enable as many women as possible to attend their programs. There are also local Outdoor Woman Networks through most BOW groups, and you can search for one near you.