OUTDOOR SKILLS -- Women can learn the basics of fishing, hunting and other outdoor skills at a September weekend workshop presented by Washington Outdoor Women.

The annual workshop is scheduled Sept.18-20 at Camp Waskowitz near North Bend.

WOW is a non-profit program dedicated to teaching women outdoor skills and natural resource stewardship. It was founded 18 years ago as an educational outreach program of the Washington Wildlife Federation.

• A similar one-day event is being organized in North Idaho for Aug. 8 by the Idaho Fishing and Game Department.  Info: (208) 769-1414; or email Julie.bryant@idfg.idaho.gov or go to the event's Facebook page.

The 28 certified and experienced instructors for the WOW event, including women staffers in the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, will teach 16 classes. Sessions include archery, basic freshwater fishing, fly-fishing and fly-tying, big-game hunting basics, map and compass reading, survival skills, beekeeping, birding, duck hunting, first aid and other subjects.

Workshop participants must be at least 18 years old and must have a current Washington recreational fishing license to participate in the fly-fishing sessions.

Sign up:  http://www.washingtonoutdoorwomen.org.

Partial scholarships from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are available for first-time participants.