NEW TRIPOLI - For women who enjoy participating in outdoors sports and activities, they can say with pride "We've come a long way, baby."

Today, the one demographic that continues to grow and support the outdoors industry is females. And, it has never been easier for women to improve upon and learn new outdoors skills because of the National Wild Turkey Federation's Women In The Outdoors program.Again this year, the Jerry Zimmerman/Walking Purchase Pennsylvania state NWTF chapters are sponsoring one of the largest WITO programs in Pennsylvania at Ontelaunee Rod and Gun Club in New Tripoli, Saturday, June 8. Activities begin at 8 a.m. and participants may choose eight of the 22 classes being offered.Participants are required to preregister, which can be done online at

www.nwtf.org/pennsylvania/wito_events.html or print out an application and register by mail. For information, contact Dana Krisko at 610-217-9770 or

krisko@ptd.net.Here are the activities being offered:Emergency Survival: What do you do when the electricity goes out? Get to know what you need for survival in emergency situations, and what gear to have ready for the unexpected.Outdoor First Aid: This course is hands-on, providing the skills and confidence needed for making medical care decisions for those who spend time outdoors. Preparedness, stressing the "buddy system," fracture stabilization, bandaging, recognizing serious injury/illness and animal bites, will be covered.Handguns: The instructor will provide a broad spectrum of information about the operations and fundamentals of shooting handguns. At the end of this class, you will be able to safely shoot a variety of handguns.Concealed Weapons - Should I Carry?: If you are considering carrying a handgun for defensive reasons this course is for you. Participants will get a basic review of the application procedure to obtain a Pennsylvania concealed carry permit, learn the areas/circumstances where they can and cannot carry a concealed handgun, review available options to conceal a handgun, and most importantly, determine what situations would justify the use of deadly force.Self Defense: Effective self defense incorporates the mental attitude and physical fortitude to significantly raise the chance of getting out of a threatening situation. The workshop trains participants to suppress panic and react immediately.Rifle Marksmanship: Learn to shoot .22 caliber rim fire rifles and the fundamentals of marksmanship skills. Come join us for fun and action on the firing range.Shotgunning/Trapshooting: You will become familiar with different types of shotguns, ammunition, proper gun fit and gun cleaning. Participants will also have the opportunity to shoot clay targets on the range.Archery 101: Experience the thrill of hitting the mark using a bow and arrow. Whether you're interested in the sport for backyard recreation, competition target shooting, or hunting, you'll learn about equipment selection, and get lots of hands-on instruction at the outdoor range.Advanced Archery: We will do plenty of 3-D target shooting in this class with a focus on form and technique to improve and maintain accuracy. Proper equipment, shot placement and recovery in a hunting setting will also be discussed. Feel free to bring your own archery equipment for this class.Crossbow Basics: If you've never tried shooting a crossbow, it's easy and a lot of fun. In this hands-on introductory course you will learn the basic functions and dynamics of the crossbow. Our instructors will cover modern crossbows and accessories, shooting and handling, responsibility, laws, and safety.Turkey Hunting 101: This class is all about wild turkeys and will focus on anatomy, how to distinguish between males and females, and help to familiarize the participant with sounds and habitat of the wild turkey. We will also discuss preparation, scouting, equipment and strategies associated with hunting them.Fly Fishing: Learn basics of fly fishing techniques providing fundamental knowledge you'll need to get started in the most refined form of fishing. The course offers information which will help you select a rod and reel, line weight, baits, and lures.Wildlife Forensics CSI: Join the Pennsylvania Game Commission for a workshop that will focus on techniques used in wildlife crime solving. Determining time of death, identification of animal species, tracking forensic entomology and collecting evidence are topics that will be explored.Dog Training: Mark Wolfskill, proprietor of Pheasant Valley Farm, and Karen Keen, guide and dog trainer at PVF, will present an overview of basic gun dog training, including basic field obedience, introduction to birds and gunfire, and a demonstration of a simulated hunting situation using live birds.Cast Iron Cooking: This is such a great way of cooking because you can make anything with cast iron, from scrumptious roast meats, delightful vegetarian dishes, delectable hors d'oeuvre, aromatic breads and sinful desserts. This class introduces the basic skills required to cook with cast iron along with cleaning and caring of them.Outdoor Cooking: Cooking in the great outdoors is a big adventure for most. A good starting point is to learn a few basic outdoor cooking methods as well as types of equipment. So sit back, relax and let master outdoor chef, Mike Vaka bring out the culinary genius in you.Incredible Wild Edibles: Enjoy the unique flavors of some of the most common wild edibles one might find outdoors. Focus on native plants, berries and flowers with edible and other uses, getting down the basics of wild food usage and study. Come see what nature has to offer.Composting: Learn how to take kitchen scraps and garden waste and turn them into "black gold" to amend your soil. Compost also adds micro-nutrients and makes other nutrients more readily available for your plants. This will be a hands-on demonstration to get you psyched-up about starting your own composting at home.Basket Weaving: This workshop is intended to give the beginner weaver a good start in learning the basics of basket making. You'll have personal instruction in creating a basket to take home.Geocaching 101: Geocaching is a hi-tech treasure hunt that challenges participants to find hidden treasures, and has become the fastest growing sport in the world. This class will explain Geocaching and how the game is played. We will also review the history of the GPS, and of course we will go on a hunt or two.Kayaking: After you learn about the types and styles of kayaks available, you will have the opportunity to practice paddle stroke techniques and safety procedures on the water.Reading The Weather: Nature gives us many and various signs of changing weather. In this class you will learn how use these signs to forecast the weather, and how to read a weather map when planning your favorite outdoor activity.