We'll meet again!
Here's a look back at what we did in September 2019
Jackson's Lodge, Canaan, Vermont
Schedule | Courses | Registration | Instructors | Sponsors
We all have that special way we like to spend time outdoors! Whether you like to challenge yourself physically and play hard all day or prefer to connect with nature in a quiet way, VOW Camp has something for everyone!
You'll spend each day learning from knowledgeable, friendly Instructors, meeting new friends, and gaining new skills. Visit our Instructors page to learn more about the folks who will be teaching each course.
Plan your ideal weekend using the course descriptions below. We can't wait to see you there!
THIS INFORMATION IS FROM OUR CAMP IN 2019
Courses will be held rain or shine. Dress for the outdoors! We recommend you bring hiking shoes/sneakers, rain gear and warm outwear for cool nights. Please read the course descriptions carefully for details on what clothing/gear and levels of physical activity and experience are expected.
Courses schedule may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Some classes fill quickly, so sign up for alternates. If there is availability, you might be able to switch to your favorite course at camp.
Equipment is provided except as noted in the course descriptions. However, feel free to bring your own equipment. Your firearms MUST be stored unloaded and kept in a locked case or with trigger lock. If you intend to fish, please bring along your Vermont fishing license. You can get it online at https://www.vtfwdsales.com/online/cid_entry.php.
Physical Levels: E= Easy M= Moderate D= Difficult
You'll spend each day learning from knowledgeable, friendly Instructors, meeting new friends, and gaining new skills. Visit our Instructors page to learn more about the folks who will be teaching each course.
Plan your ideal weekend using the course descriptions below. We can't wait to see you there!
THIS INFORMATION IS FROM OUR CAMP IN 2019
Courses will be held rain or shine. Dress for the outdoors! We recommend you bring hiking shoes/sneakers, rain gear and warm outwear for cool nights. Please read the course descriptions carefully for details on what clothing/gear and levels of physical activity and experience are expected.
Courses schedule may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Some classes fill quickly, so sign up for alternates. If there is availability, you might be able to switch to your favorite course at camp.
Equipment is provided except as noted in the course descriptions. However, feel free to bring your own equipment. Your firearms MUST be stored unloaded and kept in a locked case or with trigger lock. If you intend to fish, please bring along your Vermont fishing license. You can get it online at https://www.vtfwdsales.com/online/cid_entry.php.
Physical Levels: E= Easy M= Moderate D= Difficult
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ARCHERY All equipment supplied, but you can bring your own
Beginner Archery (Compound Bows) - (E) Beginning Archery class teaches positioning of your body, proper alignment of arms with the bow, and addresses the focusing of your eyes in conjunction with proper targeting position. It also teaches proper draw alignment and the length of the bow. (experienced archers will also benefit.) It involves listening and following instructions at the beginning; but once you get comfortable, you are able to practice on our targets. Instructions usually take approx. 30 minutes and the rest is practice shooting. Max 12 - Instructors: Linwood Smith and Tom Houde Modern Archery (Compound Bows provided, but feel free to bring your own equipment; crossbows welcome) (M) Instructors: Linwood Smith and Tom Houde Traditional Archery Skills - Lessons from Our Past - 90 Minute Session Instructor: Murphy Robinson Traditional Bow Skills (Recurve Bow) Immerse yourself in the way of the bow: exploring the powerful and focused state that archery creates in the human mind. Whether you want to learn archery for personal enjoyment, as a spiritual practice, or to work towards becoming a bow hunter, this course will introduce you to the foundational skills of instinctive archery. Instructor: Murphy Robinson FISHING If you participate in fishing classes, be SURE to purchase a fishing license PRIOR to arrival at VOW Camp. You will not need a license for fly fishing classes. Intro to Fishing (E) This hands-on class with help you become more proficient with spin casting and more familiar with basic lures to target your preferred fish species. After gaining some experience, we will put your new skills to the test off the shore. **VT Fishing license required to fish**. Max 8 - Instructor: Cheryl Frank Sullivan, AKA "WildFisherWoman" Fishing Field Trip (M) Venture off site to fish for a few hours. This course is for those who have taken Intro to Fishing or have prior knowledge of how to cast. Trip may include a short hike into the fishing site. **VT fishing license required**. Max 6 - Instructor: Cheryl Frank Sullivan, AKA "WildFisherWoman" HEALTH/FITNESS Introduction to Remote First Aid (E) Being outdoors can be rewarding and fun. What do you do if you get hurt or have an accident far from the trail head or emergency care? This session will provide participants with an introduction to Remote and Wilderness First and is an essential beginning to anyone who is getting out and about in remote or wilderness settings. Some topics of discussion and practice are general principles, patient assessment, bleeding control, and splinting. This is a hand-on session. Bring your questions and clumsy self. Max 10 - Instructors: Robin Nesbeda and Sawyer M.L. Alberi First Aid on the Trail for your Furry Companions Being outdoors is even more fun with a dog, but what to do when something unexpected happens to your furry companion? This session is an introduction to handling doggie emergencies when you are far away from your vet and some guidance on when rushing to the vet is the best option. We will cover some basics of assessing and treating common injuries and issues. Bring your questions and stories! Instructor: Robin Nesbeda Medicinal Herbal Tinctures In this intro to herbal medicine course we will take a look at the world just outside our door to find remedies to life's bumps and bruises. We will discuss how to research plants, what grows during the seasons, and how to harvest. We will take a walk to see what we can find before learning to prepare plants into teas, tinctures, and salves. Instructors: Sarah Nutt and Sawyer Alberi Yoga - Early Morning Session NATURE & ARTS Basket Weaving (Introduction to Basket Weaving) (E) Learn to weave a simple basket. Basket weaving is fun, practical and a great way to exercise your creative side. Caution: basket weaving is addicting and you may never clean your house or cook another meal again! Max 8 - Instructor: Johanna Laggis Intro to Crochet (E) Make a hat in a weekend. This class will include basic stitches and materials for making and completing your own hat. No previous experience necessary. This a great introduction into this relaxing and practical craft. Max 10 - Instructor: Meridy Capella - Evergreen Alterations Intro to Needle Felting (E) Needle felting is a process which uses barbed needles to interlock wool fibers to form a more condensed material. This can be anything from a 3 dimensional animal or a flat picture. For the “not-so-artsy” cookie cutters can be used to get a general shape…or you can implement watercolor techniques. Any age can do this craft, it’s absolutely addicting. Come and give it try! No two projects will be the same! Obviously, anyone with a wool allergy need not join in…sorry. All materials will be supplied. >Click on this link for examples of needle felting Max 10 - Instructor: Meridy Capella - Evergreen Alterations Whimsical Rainbow Trout Trophy Painting Take home your unique trout trophy, hand painted using acrylic paint on wood. Each participant will be supplied with a precut pine "rainbow trophy" along with paints, brushes, and hardware for hanging. Have fun painting your 'inner trout' and please bring your fishing stories to share with the group. Max 10 - Instructor: Janice Decooman Know Your North Woods - Tree ID for Beginners (E/M) Take a walk in the woods of the Northeast Kingdom and learn to identify trees, shrubs, and other plants. We'll teach you how to confidently identify Vermont's common north woods species and how they fit into the forest ecosystem. As we walk along, we'll discover wild edibles, beautiful ferns and trees about to change into their autumn splendor. Instructors Barbara and Johanna have many years of outdoor experience between them and are eager to share their knowledge about everything that pops up on our walk. Max 12 - Instructors: Johanna Laggis & Barbara Schultz Know Your North Woods - Tree ID with Moss and Mushrooms (Advanced) (M) If you know what “MAD Horse” means (or can identify opposite branched trees and already know that Fir needles are Flat), but want to know more about the plants on the ground or what’s wrong with that tree, join us on a hike up Brousseau Mountain. The .8 mile trail to the summit (2723 ft) is an easy/moderate hike through northern hardwoods and spruce/fir forests. As two long-time woodswomen, we’ll share what we observe about the trees, other plants, and the forest site characteristics we encounter. Max 12 - Instructors: Johanna Laggis & Barbara Schultz Photo Workshop for Beginners: This class is designed as an introduction to photography, and to answer the question “What makes a great photograph?” All camera types are welcome! Basic camera equipment, features and settings will be discussed. We will concentrate on composition and the photography exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed and ISO).Class includes instruction, hand-outs, and photography at on-site locations practicing camera techniques and photography principles. We will end with a short critique of student photos and Q&A. Max 8 - Instructor: Mandy Applin Forest Bathing - 90 Minute Session An opportunity to take time out, slow down and connect with the nature around you. A slow meandering walk, leading your body where it wants to go, following your nose and your senses. You are savoring the sounds, smells and sights of nature and letting the forest in. Max Unlimited - Self Guided Meditation - 90 Minute Session Max Unlimited - Self Guided SHOOTING, FIREARMS, AND HUNTING Equipment will be provided. If you choose to bring your own firearm, be sure it is properly transported and stored with security lock and/or a lockable storage case. Bring a cleaning kit, two boxes of new factory loaded ammo, shooting glasses, and hearing protection rated at 21 decibels or above.
Advanced Level shooters will be given longer range targets. Advanced Clay Target Shooting, Intermediate/Advanced The primary focus will be shooting a variety of clay targets. You should have previous firearm safety and shotgun shooting experience prior to this class. We will start with fundamentals for success in hitting clay targets. Technical skills such as leading the target line, determining lead in the front, break point, hold point & look point will be covered. Varying speeds & target presentations will keep the challenge exciting. This 3-hour class will "fly" by. Max 10 - Instructor: Brent Allaire Clay Target Shooting (Beginner) (E) Intro Beginning with basic firearm safety, become familiar with shotguns, loading, unloading and safe handling in a real setting. Learn about the different shot-gunning clay fields of trap, skeet, and sporting clays. We will learn shooting techniques, have the opportunity to develop or improve marksmanship, and discuss how to find a range or club in your area and what events are available on both a local and state level for women interested in additional instruction or competition. You will have a "blast" shooting fast moving clay targets. Warning: Clay Target shooting can be very addictive. Max 10 - Instructor: Brent Allaire Handgun Skills & Marksmanship Safety and Skills (E) Beginning with basic firearm safety, become familiar with pistols, loading, unloading and safe handling in a real setting. We will learn shooting techniques, have the opportunity to develop or improve marksmanship, and discuss how to find a range or club in your area and what events are available on both a local and state level for women interested in additional instruction or competition. Max 10 - Instructors: Mariah Mitchell and Larry Hamel Muzzleloader and Rifle Safety and Skills (E) Beginning with basic firearm safety, become familiar with rifles, loading, unloading, and safe handling in a real setting. You'll also get the chance to take a step back in tie to learn the pioneers' most important tool - the muzzleloading rifle. We will learn shooting techniques and positions, will have the opportunity to develop or improve marksmanship, discuss how to find a range or club in your area and what events are available on both a local and state level for women interested in additional instruction or competition. Max 10 - Instructors: Mariah Mitchell, Larry Hamel Becoming a Deer Hunter: What the total beginner needs to know (E) Do you dream of hunting your own wild meat but don't know where to start? Hunting Guide Murphy Robinson has taught many women the essential skills of deer hunting and guided them to their first successful kill. In this workshop she will help you understand the steps to success: what you need to know about hunting laws, finding land to hunt on, finding deer in the woods, guns and bows, other essential hunting gear, and what to do after you've shot your buck. We'll make room for a discussion of how ethics and spirituality impact our hunt. What you should bring: enthusiasm & questions. Max 10 - Instructor: Murphy Robinson, Mountainsong Expeditions. Bow Hunting and Tree Stands (M) Learn the basics of tree stand safety, placement and shooting from elevated positions. Participants must have their own bow and arrows for this session. Max 10 - Instructors: Linwood Smith, Tom Houde and assisted by Cheryl Frank Sullivan. Intro to Trapping Max- 10 - Instructors: Linwood Smith and Tom Houde Turkey Hunting - 90 Minute Session Max 12 - Instructors: Linwood Smith and Tom Houde SPORTS, SURVIVAL & RECREATION Camping Gear for Maximum Versatility If you choose the right equipment, you can carry everything you need for comfortable roadside camping in a sub-compact car. And, you'll have the option of putting your camp in a canoe, kayak or backpack to get away from the roads and the crowds. This is a hands-on class. You'll get to set up lots of tents, lounge on a variety of mattresses and camping chairs, assemble and light up stoves, lanterns and headlamps. Max 10 - Instructors: Tim Jones and David Shedd, Eastern Slopes Coping With Critters While Camping (bears, coons, mice, blackflies, ticks, etc)- 90-minute Session(E) Learn the AAA (Avoidance, Armor, and Alchemy) strategy for minimizing unpleasant encounters with everything from bears, raccoons and mice to blackflies, mosquitoes and ticks. Max 10 - Instructors: Tim Jones and David Shedd, Eastern Slopes How to Pick, Pack and Carry a Backpack (E) Too many women hike with ill-fitting, poorly packed, hand-me-down backpacks and wonder why they aren't having more fun. These days, there are lots of backpacks made specifically for women (which work well for some women, and not so well for others). We'll show you what manufacturers mean when they market a pack as a "woman's backpack” and help you decide on the size and features you need. Then we'll show you how to load it efficiently and fit it to your body for comfort. If you already own a backpack (or several!) bring them to class and we'll help you assess them for fit and suitability for the types of trips and seasons you plan to hike. While this is primarily an “indoor” class, we may have time to take a short hike with backpacks, so come prepared. Max 10 - Instructors: Tim Jones and David Shedd, Eastern Slopes Solo Camping (E) Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend a night in the woods completely alone? No one to worry about but yourself? We'll show you some equipment that will make you more comfortable, talk about how (and why) to plan a solo adventure, and help you prepare for "the sunset syndrome." We might even explain why that bear you heard crashing around in your camp was actually a jumping mouse! Class participants will have the option of doing a bonus "chaperoned" solo overnight campout with our equipment (or yours…bring what you have, and we’ll evaluate it with you) on Sunday night, but this must be signed up for in advance. Max 10 - Instructors: Tim Jones and David Shedd, Eastern Slopes Core Survival Basics (M) What are the basic needs of a person in a survival situation, and what are the most essential skills they should know? Come find out and learn them to ensure you and your loved ones make it out of an ‘excursion gone wrong’ safely. There are many stories of folks making a poor decision or lacking a basic skill that results in sorrow. Not only will you learn and get a solid understanding of what to do when things go wrong in the back-country, we’ll also have a lot of fun. In this class we’ll cover things like knife sharpening, essential knots, making shelter, finding water, and making solid survival kits for every occasion. Max 12 - Instructor: Jessie Krebs, SERE Training School Shelter Shenanigans (M) Shelters are our second line of defense, protecting us from extreme weather. There is little more satisfying than being tucked warm and cozy in a shelter you built while a storm rages outside - knowing you are safe. Living in the mountains, going on day hikes we never can be sure what the weather will do next, and getting stuck out above timberline as a line of menacing clouds quickly advances can fill us with a sense of terrifying dread. Making a solid shelter really is a craft. There are many factors to weigh when deciding what, where, and how to build it in any given circumstance. Leave this class with a knowledge of the options available to you when you find yourself without protection among the elements. Max 12 - Instructor: Jessie Krebs, SERE Training School Land Navigation Basics, Moderate (M) You know that lost feeling? Far too many folks have felt that and not known what to do much to their detriment; sometimes to the point of death. Having a map and compass is pretty useless if you don’t know how to use them, and if you DO know how to use them it opens up a whole lot more world to safely explore. Come learn how to really read a map and use a compass effectively as well as how to determine what type of each best suits your needs. Learn YOUR basic pace count so you can effectively measure walked distances, and a 6 point checklist to get you to your destination EVERY TIME. Max 12 - Instructor: Jessie Krebs, SERE Training School Applied Orienteering: Map the Woods (M) We’ll apply navigation skills to make a woodland map. We’ll start by brushing up on a few compass and mapping basics. Then, we’ll pace through nearby woods, stopping to assess the terrain we’re walking through, what’s growing and why, and how to map these and other features. You’ll be able to use the same skills on a piece of land near home. Dress to walk through uneven terrain and possibly some brushy areas. Max 10 - Instructor: Barbara Schultz Five Flames - Primitive Fire (E/M) 90-Minute Session The ability to kindle fire is a big part of what defines the human species, but how many of us feel at ease with this essential survival skill in the modern world? In this class we will cover how to pick a safe location for a fire in the woods, how to find dry kindling for your fire in any conditions, the best tinder materials in the North Woods, and five different methods for starting your fire: Lighter, Matches, Ferro-Steel Fire Starter ("Metalmatch" and similar), Flint and Steel, Bow drill friction fire. You will leave this class feeling empowered to build a safe, warm fire in the woods, no matter the conditions. Max 8 - Instructor: Murphy Robinson, Mountainsong Expeditions Game of Logging & Chainsaw Safety: (M) Start with the basics of chainsaw handling, safety, and maintenance. Each participant will run the saw, making several cuts. Bring suitable boots, eye protection, work gloves, long pants, and chaps if you have them. Some safety equipment will be provided. Northeast Woodland Training works with anyone who uses forestry equipment. The three objectives of our training: Safety - don't get hurt or hurt a co-worker, Efficiency - Get the job done in a timely manner, Quality - When working in the forest, keep any negative impact to a minimum. Max 10 - Instructor: John Adler, Northeast Woodland Training, Inc. Log Rolling (M/D) The sport of log rolling grew from the logging industry from the early 1800’s. Moving 100,000’s of logs down river, loggers sometimes had to run out over floating logs to release log jams – a dangerous job that required bravery, strength, and agility. Log rollers today don’t need to be brave - this unique sport is not only safe but also a ton of fun! Log rolling promotes balance, agility and coordination, leg and core strength, and cardiovascular endurance. Participants will learn the basic steps of rolling on traditional milled red cedar logs and on the new synthetic Key Log. Max 12 - Instructor: Danielle Rougeau Beginner Kayaking (E/M) We’ll review and practice basic strokes and their purposes, and move on to more advanced strokes depending on the participants’ interests. We’ll talk about safety and rescue techniques, and do rescues if participants so wish. Max 10 - Instructor: Bonna Wieler Intermediate Kayaking (M) We’ll review boating safety, basic and advanced paddling techniques, assisted and self-rescues. We will play on a buoy course for maneuvering, and paddle around the pond. Max 10 - Instructor: Bonna Wieler Canoeing Beginner/Intermediate (E) This will be a tandem canoe class suitable for beginner or intermediate paddlers. We will work on turning strokes from the bow and stern and correction strokes for straight paddling. A buoy course will be set up to practice maneuvers. Intermediate paddlers will work on static strokes like the hanging draw and supportive/bracing strokes. Canoe designs and their application will be discussed, along with boating safety. Max 6 - Instructors: Deb Weinstein and Bonna Wieler Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) This class is designed for beginner paddlers to solidify the basic SUP techniques. We will focus on proper paddle grip, body posture, balance techniques, as well as getting on and off the paddleboard. From there, we will use new stroke techniques to explore the beautiful area with our boards. Max 10 - Instructor:Sarah Nutt |
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