Bull Creek and Bull Creek Members Featured in Post Gazette Article

Female participation in outdoor activities is rising

Sunday, June 12, 2011

By Shannon M. Nass, Special to the Post-Gazette

Trepidation and expectancy was in the air as women of all ages and from all walks of life gathered to try their hand at trap shooting, bird watching and archery. The activities were part of the annual National Wild Turkey Federation's Women in the Outdoors event at Bull Creek Rod and Gun Club in Tarentum June 4. 


The 25 seasoned outdoor veterans and first-timers represented the increasing number of women who are participating in outdoor pursuits.

"Women are the fastest growing segment of the sporting community," said Jeff Souders, Pennsylvania Women in the Outdoors coordinator. Souders was present at the event, a National Wild Turkey Federation outreach program. 

"It's a non-competitive, easygoing, friendly atmosphere and it's non-threatening, so women are more likely to try it out," he said.

The event was coordinated by the Allegheny Valley chapter of Women in the Outdoors and included courses in archery, bird watching, Dutch oven cooking, handguns, rifle marksmanship, shot guns, trapshooting, self-defense and soap making.

The federation launched the program in 1998 in response to an increasing number of women participating in outdoor activities.

"We saw that there was a growing interest in women wanting to get outdoors and wanting to try new activities," said Teresa Carroll, coordinator of the program for the federation.

Events such as the one at Bull Creek and numerous women-only hunts are organized by local chapters all across the country each year. With 84 Women in the Outdoors chapters, Carroll said Pennsylvania is one of the strongest states.

It's not surprising since, according to the Wild Turkey Federation, women are Pennsylvania's fastest growing group of hunters.

This trend sparked the interest of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and in June 2010, it partnered with the federation to help provide more outdoor opportunities to women in Pennsylvania. Carroll said the game commission is closely monitoring the events to see what impact the program has on the recruitment and retention of female hunters in Pennsylvania.

In addition, funding provided by the commission enabled the federation to hire Souders as a full-time, Women in the Outdoors coordinator in Pennsylvania, making it the only state with its own coordinator.

He said he is working to increase the number of events in Pennsylvania and reach out to women who have never participated in the program. He also supports the volunteer coordinators who help with events.

Lori Lojak of Fawn Township is the volunteer event coordinator for the Allegheny Valley chapter of Women in the Outdoors. "I want to make women aware of what's out there and get people involved with the outdoors," she said.

Lojak said the event at Bull Creek draws new women every year with varying levels of skills.

Firearms classes are the most popular, she said. "A lot of the women are taking the gun classes," she said. "The firearm instructors are busy all day."

Upon Lojak's prompting, Melissa Garstecki of South Side attended the event at Bull Creek for the first time and signed up for the archery and firearm classes. Garstecki said she considers herself a city girl and was nervous about coming to the event.

"This is a very different experience for me," she said. "This is very unlike me." Garstecki proved to be an excellent markswoman and as a result of her experience, she said she plans to spend more time in the outdoors.

"I've never experienced anything like this before," she said. "I love it." The events are open to women ages 14 and older. Carroll said the women-only environment helps participants feel more comfortable and is less intimidating.

"A lot of women are not sure about the program, but if you can get them to one of our events, the event sells itself," she said. "The women who come really get an unexpected surprise."

The Bible Chapel in Peters Township is reaching out to women as well through their Viva program, an outdoor adventure group for women.

Women's ministry director Laura Ankrom said that when Viva was launched a few years ago, it didn't take much coaxing to get women involved. "Women were ready for something like this," she said. "We didn't have any trouble finding people who wanted to get outside."

Vonnie Teagarden of Waynesburg is the Viva leader and a veteran outdoors enthusiast.

"I'm happiest when there's blue sky over me and green grass under my feet," she said.

Some of the activities Teagarden plans each year are cross-country skiing, hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding and caving. New this year is zip lining.

Ankrom said there is camaraderie among the women and new friendships are formed at every event. She also noted the sense of accomplishment among first-timers.

"Once they've completed an activity, they are very proud of themselves," she said. "They had this little twinge in their head that maybe they wouldn't be able to finish it, and when they finish, there's a great amount of joy and pride in the fact that they accomplished something. They really like that feeling."

Souders said camaraderie and newfound confidence are also present among the women at the events and may very well be the driving force behind their increased participation.

"At every event, you can see the ladies come in, and they're passive when they first get here. By lunchtime, they've shot the guns, they've looked at some birds, and they're best friends," said Souders. "Their confidence builds, and hopefully they'll take the confidence that they build here and they'll continue to pursue it on their own or with their families."

For more information, visit www.womenintheoutdoors.org For more information on Viva, visit www.biblechapel.org.

Women in the Outdoors holds a training program at Bull Creek Rod & Gun Club near Tarentum. Scott Rafalko, right, of the Allegheny Valley Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, instructs Julie McClelland of Allison Park in how to use a shotgun. Other women are, from left: Donna Betza of Lower Burrell, Brittany Thomas of Deer Lake, and Sara Flasher of the North Side.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11163/1153139-358-0.stm