There is a deep sense of finding your freedom when you are surrounding yourself in nature. The trees, grass, birds, animals, and breeze don’t judge you.  Outside we are all equally important, but with unequal strengths.

It is a beautiful spring day here in Texas, and I’m enjoying the view of the live oaks and magnolia trees that fill my backyard, and I can see our Azaleas blooming along the fence just beyond the swimming pool. I have a small piece of suburban paradise right here at home, but it isn’t the same as being away from the pavement and bright lights of Houston and out in the wilderness.

I can hear the birds in my yard chirp and sing. My friend, also named Lisa, would be able to identify most of the bird calls and songs if she were sitting here with me this morning. It was this friend, Lisa, who introduced me to what is referred to as BOW (Becoming an Outdoor Woman) after she had attended one of the weekend-long educational events. I am excited to say that I will be finding my freedom soon at an upcoming Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Becoming An Outdoor Woman event.

How I Found BOW

Finding our freedom from the trials and more challenging moments of raising children with special needs is a common theme within my circle of friends. But this is just one of the things Lisa an I have in common.  We were both Girl Scouts growing up, and it isn’t unusual for either of us to go off the beaten path or venture out on a side excursion during a trip. Attending the BOW workshops has increased our opportunities to explore outdoors and realize the peace and freedom both land and sea can offer.

It has been ten years now since my first encounter with this Texas Parks and Wildlife event and I have attended eight formal BOW weekends in a variety of locations throughout the state. They have Becoming Outdoor Women workshops in most states, and I would love to travel to BOWs in Colorado, Wyoming, Maine, Wisconson, and several other states someday. Can you say road trip?

One of the traditional ways to find your freedom is on a road trip. Traveling by car and stopping to see the sights along the way is exciting and full of opportunities for adventures of all kinds. I have always had a romantic notion of taking a road trip trailering a “canned ham,” a vintage style Shasta style trailer from the 1950s. I’ve signed up to participate in two new classes at this upcoming BOW.

Camping With Class

One is a teardrop trailer camping class, and I hope this will be the first step to fulfilling my romantic travel notion. The second is an introduction to canning which is a cooking skill I’ve always wanted to try. I will learn how to make pickles and jam, pack, rig, and hook-up a teardrop trailer to my Subaru, and camp in style this year all while we are staying in cabins around Lake Palestine in the Piney Woods of Texas.

Of course, I’m also hoping to get into one of the most popular classes, outdoor cooking. It has been several years since I have taken this class, but I love learning new techniques using my dutch oven cookware and new cooking travel hacks. In addition to general cooking instruction, we eat like royalty in this class!

What Is The Big Deal

You might ask how difficult can it be to enjoy the outdoors? Can’t you just walk outside or go to the park? My answer would be, that it’s not really difficult to enjoy nature, but it is much more pleasurable to enjoy it with the addition of feeling safe and being well fed!

Having the knowledge, tools, and the right equipment makes a difference in how you experience nature. It changes how you participate and engage with your surroundings, giving you much more than just a sense of being outside. These things dispense confidence and freedom to be a part of it all, not just an observer.

My seven years as a Girl Scout was not enough education to help me feel confident going deeper into the woods, onto the water, or being able to do more than cook on a homemade bunsen burner as an adult. Garnering new information about technology, a whole new range of materials, and equipment has made it easier for me to find my freedom outdoors.

You can rough it or “glamp” it up as much as you like now. I don’t know that I will ever be “a leave-no-trace backpacker” kind of camper. I mean the type of woman who walks into the wilderness, Reese Witherspoon “Wild” style, with everything she needs in a single pack. But if I wanted to learn how, I could do it at a BOW event. In fact, I’ve taken a few of these classes so that I can learn to day-hike and feel safe in case of an emergency.

Finding Freedom With BOW

As a result of my years attending BOW, I regularly go out on my own and with friends to practice what I’ve learned. I have a fishing license, and State Park Passes in both Texas and Florida. We bought a trailer, and I pull it with ease behind my car carrying the multiple kayaks and gear we now own, and I can launch my kayak without assistance. I have an outdoor kitchen set-up and can make a meal I’d be proud to serve anyone using my dutch oven and tabletop grill. I can weave a basket, shoot clay pigeons, photograph dew on a leaf, identify fossils, shoot an arrow, camp in comfort, build a birdhouse, stand-up paddleboard, make fire-starters, build a fire, and identify venomous snakes.

Attending these outdoor rendezvous has had a tremendous impact on my life over the years. It has connected me with new people, places, and activities that I love. It has helped me be prepared for challenges and given me a safe place to try new pursuits without worrying about failure or judgment. Being in a judgment-free zone for women is an incredible experience that I encourage all women to give it a try. I promise you will find an activity that speaks to you at a BOW workshop and you will come out of the event newly inspired.

Find Strength And Pride In Yourself

Being successful outdoors has given me a sense of pride. Most importantly it has given me a sense of freedom to go out and explore without needing to bring along a man to pitch the tent or clean the fish. I must admit to my readers though if Robert is with me, I ask him to clean the fish. Just because I can do it doesn’t mean that I like cleaning them as much as catching, cooking, and eating them!

I’d love to hear what experiences, workshops, or journeys you have undertaken that have helped you to find your freedom over the years. Please share in the comments section!