University News
Becoming an Outdoors Woman
August 29, 2002
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But for those females who want to take an active role in outdoor activities -- and not just the cooking and cleanup -- there's hope. The national "Becoming An Outdoors Woman" program can teach future outdoorswomen a thing or two about getting out there and getting their hands dirty. Katharine Pawelko, Western Illinois University recreation, park and tourism administration professor, and Karen Peitzmeier, program coordinator at WIU's Horn Field Campus, have teamed up to teach women how to appreciate the great outdoors through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IL-DNR) program. The pair taught a group of women at Loredo Taft Field Campus in June, and will also teach at the upcoming three-day program at Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton.
Pawelko and Peitzmeier teach wilderness backpacking and camping, backpacker cooking techniques and nature readings for the outdoorswoman. Other courses taught during the weekend include canoeing, riflery, wild edibles, plant identification, fly fishing, archery and hunting.
"The biggest thing we heard from participants is they hate camping because they end up doing the cooking and cleaning. A lot of women want to learn how to do more so they can play a leadership role in the outdoor activity experience," Pawelko said. "They want to take their kids fishing, hiking or canoeing, and take on a more active role in developing their outdoor skills and experiencing the fun stuff firsthand. And it's really a great feeling of accomplishment for these women to be able to do these new activities."
Peitzmeier said the women they teach are engaged and enthusiastic about the program. The duo shows them how to prepare first and foremost for an outdoor experience, how to set up a camp and a tent, how to build a fire, the necessary gear needed for the outdoors, how to cook on a backpacker stove, how to have minimum impact on the environment, safety issues such as women traveling alone and much more.
"We get cascades of questions. They are truly excited about being in the program," Peitzmeier said. "They leave with such a sense of empowerment. They learn practical skills and gain confidence."
"Becoming an Outsdoors Woman" was created in the early 1990s at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Pawelko and Peitzmeier teamed up together as instructors when Illinois started its own program four years ago. Participants range from Ph.Ds to waitresses to stay-at-home moms
"It's an even playing field out there. They are getting the nuts and bolts of the outdoors experience; the nitty-gritty information they need to have an enjoyable experience," Pawelko added.
One such trick of the trade the pair teach participants is starting a fire with a "jelly roll," which uses simple household materials. A "jelly roll" is simply petroleum jelly spread on a piece of long cotton and rolled into a film canister. The petroleum jelly acts as the accelerant for a small cooking fire and the whole package is lightweight and waterproof.
Peitzmeier said a major concern for many women is hygiene and cleanliness when they are miles from the closest restroom and shower. So the pair made sure to include a session on "billy baths" (sponge bathing in the wilderness) and other essential hygiene necessities geared toward women.
"I really like to stress how important it is not to share cups, spoons and other items as bacteria and viruses can be spread very easily," she explained. "Whole camps have had to be evacuated due to illnesses that were spread as a result of sharing utensils."
Just as important is food in the outdoors, the duo said. Campfire food does not have to consist of merely hot dogs and marshmallows. With some ingenuity and armed with plenty of interesting spices, participants learn how to make easy and delicious meals in the backcountry.
"It's not that hard to make nutrious and interesting meals in the wilderness. You can really eat well if you know some of the recipes and creative culinary twists," Pawelko said. "The dishes we show these women are healthy, inexpensive and taste a lot better than freeze-dried, ready-to eat meals, which also tend to be more expensive and laden with excess salt and sugar."
The most essential information these female participants take away from the weekend, however, may be their new "can do attitude."
"This gives them a sense of just how important their leisure time is. It's 'their time,'" Peitzmeier said.
"Besides learning outdoors skills, the side benefit is they often discover themselves," Pawelko added. "They learn they have a special place in the outdoors and can share meaningful leisure experiences with family members and friends."
For more information on Illinois' "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" program, visit http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/BOW/index.htm.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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