Registration is open for this summer’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman program, set for May 31 through June 2 in Marquette County, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced.

This will mark the 27th annual summer BOW gathering for women ages 18 and older who want to improve their outdoor skills in a relaxed, noncompetitive atmosphere.

“Becoming an Outdoors Woman is a program where each individual is encouraged to learn at her own pace,” said Michelle Douglas, BOW program coordinator. “The emphasis is on the enjoyment, fun and camaraderie of outdoor activities and sharing in the success of one another.”

The summer BOW program is sponsored by the DNR and offers instruction in more than two dozen different types of activities, including kayaking, basic land navigation, lake fishing, mountain biking, shooting sports, boating and boating safety, birding, outdoor photography and backpacking.

“Volunteer BOW instructors provide basic and advanced teaching that is tailored to each participant’s individual ability, helping participants learn the basics in a short amount of time,” Douglas said.

BOW participants stay at the Bay Cliff Health Camp, an accessible facility overlooking Lake Superior that is about 30 miles north of Marquette at Big Bay.

Participants will be housed in a dorm-style facility with amenities including a sauna, hiking and biking trails, along with easy access to northern hardwood forests and Lake Superior.

“The summer program typically fills quickly, so early registration is encouraged,” Douglas said. “We do maintain a waiting list.”

The $300 registration fee includes all food and lodging, as well as most equipment and supplies. A limited number of partial BOW scholarships are available to help low-income participants. The scholarship application deadline is Wednesday.

Class information and registration materials are available online at Michigan.gov/BOW. Registrations must be mailed, with payment, to the Marquette Customer Service Center stated on the form.

For more information on the BOW program, contact Douglas at 906-235-2076 or by email at DNRBOW@Michigan.gov.