The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program:
Growth, Research and Future Directions
November, 2002
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point,
College of Natural Resources
Shaping Attitudes
Enhancing Participation
Addressing Diversity
Welcoming All
Additional Research
Shaping Attitudes
In
1995, former BOW Director Diane Lueck published her Master's thesis on the effects of the
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program on attitudes of women who attended
workshops in Arkansas, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin. Her research
showed that women who attend BOW are more likely to increase participation
in outdoor activities compared to women who do not attend a workshop.
BOW participants who responded to a survey conducted in conjunction with
this research indicated they felt more positive about hunting, fishing, and
other outdoor activities as a result of the program. These same women were
more likely to hunt or fish in the future than women who did not attend a
workshop.
The value of BOW workshops was highlighted by data that pointed to more
women learning to hunt and fish with less trepidation because of the
program.
Enhancing participation
Master's thesis research conducted from 1997-1999 surveyed women in
Colorado, New Jersey and Florida and showed that women's involvement in
outdoor activities is enhanced by availability of inexpensive programs,
equipment, companions to participate with, and activities available close to
home. Participants who responded to the research survey said they are happy
with the structure of weekend-long BOW workshops and the program's focus on
adult women.
The survey also showed that the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program is
positively influencing the sales of hunting and fishing licenses, and park
permits. BOW participants are significantly more likely to be able to
identify the resource management agency in their state, and have a positive
opinion of that agency.
Addressing Diversity
In 1999, a primary concern was how few ethnic minority women participated
in workshops. The Breaking Down Barriers II conference helped identify three
major barriers to participation: lack of minority role models at workshops,
distance of workshops from urban centers, and the perception that minorities
are not invited.
-diversifying publicity with images of women from different ethnic groups
-inviting women in person to make them feel welcome
-creating role models by training minority women and men to be instructors with program.
BOW held an instructor orientation program in Missouri to that trained seven African-American women and men to serve as role models to BOW participants.
A pilot field day to test strategies for welcoming ethnic minorities to BOW was held in Wisconsin in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service. The workshop attracted the highest percentage - 19% - of ethnic minority women to a BOW event to date. In addition, 42% of the instructors represented ethnic minorities and served as role models to the participants.
In 2002, minority BOW participants in California and Texas are being interviewed to determine how well the strategies designed to welcome them are working.
Welcoming All
Breaking
Down Barriers III - No Limits broke new ground in 2002 by examining barriers
and strategies to participation for outdoor recreation as experienced by
women with physical disabilities.
As a result of the conference, BOW plans to form an Accessibility Committee
to implement pilot workshops to test the strategies and action plans
identified by the Barriers III participants.
International BOW continues to research accessibility issues. BOW Director
Diane Lueck is focusing her PhD. dissertation on the experiences of women
with disabilities at BOW workshops.
The Alabama and Florida BOW programs are currently initiating strategies to
include more women with disabilities.
Additional Research
Wisconsin BOW explored the educational needs of women who own
non-industrial private forestland. Research done as part of a master's
thesis found that only a third of them have management plans, participate in
tax programs or even believe that they have the knowledge to manage their
land. Two pilot forestry workshops were conducted to assess the need for
women-specific forestry education opportunities. BOW found that women would
attend forestry skills workshops if invited.
Through an education grant from the International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, International BOW conducted research to determine better
ways to recruit female participants in hunter education certification
courses. Female hunter education graduates in New Mexico, Massachusetts and
Wisconsin were surveyed. BOW found that hands-on experiences taught by good
instructors (not necessarily female) is the primary requirement. Live fire
experiences valuable in raising the comfort level with firearms. Women
enjoyed the all-female classes they experienced. If constructive changes are
added to classes, we'll get more comments like this one: "Hunter Ed was
cool."
Wisconsin BOW continues to reach out to new audiences by incorporating
research and special programming involving teachers. Workshops are being
designed for teachers based on central Wisconsin's unique population of
prairie chickens. Recognizing teachers as a group that can benefit from
outdoor opportunities, this project will help teachers better infuse
environmental education into the classroom. A Wisconsin Environmental
Education Board Grant has provided funding with additional support from the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
BOW programs in Alabama, South Carolina, Texas and others have conducted
research and continue to gather information on BOW participants within their
states.
