Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Weekend Set for Oct. 3-5 at Lums Pond State Park

 Last year’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman event held at Killen’s Pond State Park, offered a variety of courses such as foraging, archery and fishing along with the opportunity for participants to enhance skills that encourage enjoyment of outdoor activities. /Delaware DNREC photos: Errol Ebanks

Three-Day Weekend Event Expected to Sell Out Quickly with Registration Opening Sept. 2

Lums Pond State Park near Bear will welcome participants to the 2025 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program the weekend of Oct. 3 to 5. The annual outdoors recreation and nature event marks Delaware BOW’s 26^th year under the sponsorship of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. BOW registration opens Tuesday, Sept. 2 and closes Wednesday, Sept. 17, or when all spots are filled – usually within 48 hours. This year’s BOW event promises to be Delaware’s biggest yet, not only because Lums Pond offers expanded accommodations over previous gatherings, but also attributable to the program’s recent surge in popularity.

BOW offers a variety of 3.5-hour and 1.5-hour courses taught by DNREC staff and volunteer instructors, all of whom share their expertise and provide instruction in a safe, supportive and non-competitive atmosphere. The cost of participating in the full BOW weekend is $210, which includes meals, lodging and instruction – as well as the use of necessary equipment and supplies. A small fee also will be charged for online registration, which is first-come, first-served.

BOW participants can choose from a wide range of hands-on courses. This year’s offerings include kayak fishing, backpacking, foraging, nature photography, nature identification workshops, rock climbing, paddleboarding, archery workshops, an introduction to waterfowl hunting and more.

A specialty course for the 2025 BOW is a mentored crossbow deer hunt at Lums Pond State Park, which is limited to five participants. The course emphasizes hunting as a conservation management tool at the park and involves the BOW hunters learning how to safely use a crossbow and taking part in the mentored deer hunt. Participants in the hunt are required to have a Delaware hunting license and hunter education certification prior to the event. Each hunter will be partnered with a mentor for the managed hunt by the DNREC Office of Hunter Safety.

While the three-day weekend event is expected to sell out quickly via online response, BOW registrations must be received by Wednesday, Sept. 17. More information about Delaware’s Becoming an Outdoor-Woman program, including online registration, can be found at de.gov/bow.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 68,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Alyssa Imprescia, Alyssa.imprescia@delaware.gov

###