Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation offering a wintertime edition of its popular Women’s Outdoor Weekend

Women who enjoy winter and want to learn more about frosty outdoor pursuits are in luck—the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation is now offering a wintertime edition of its popular Women’s Outdoor Weekend (WOW) program, which already includes spring and fall sessions.

Slated to take place at the Hannin Creek Education and Applied Research Centre this March 28 to 30, the winter WOW will feature an entirely new line-up of activities, says the SWF’s director of public outreach and education, Courtney Devins. On offer will be ice fishing, snowshoeing, fire building, winter plant identification, snow shelter building and more.

According to Devins, part of the reason the federation is launching the winter program is to keep up with the high demand. “There’s a big need for this,” she says, noting that women from across the prairies attend WOW events, many of them repeat customers. “The weekends sell out every time and there’s a big wait list.”

And while the winter activities might differ from those offered during the spring and fall editions, one important aspect will remain the same—all the instructors will also be women. “That’s really important for me and for building the confidence of women who go to the events,” Devins says. “Women find it very empowering to see another woman do something that they wish they could do. Nothing against men, but I think we just learn and teach differently.”

Along with the female faculty, Devins points to another reason for the program’s popularity. “The participants love the community we’ve built,” she says. “And as long as they want to come back, we’ll keep hosting them.”

The winter WOW can accommodate up to 30 women aged 19 and older, with a registration fee of $250 for SWF members and $275 for non-members. In addition to the workshops, the fee covers accommodations and meals. “We are very blessed to have 10 fully renovated, heated cabins,” Devins says. “There’s a fully functional dining hall with a personal chef on site who cooks the majority of our meals.”

Learn more about the SWF’s programs and positions at www.swf.sk.ca.