Virginia Outdoor Women Program is Coming Soon
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is launching a new outdoor program for women. The Virginia Outdoor Women (VOW) program will offer skill development to women of all ages focusing on hunting, fishing, and various outdoor skills. There is also opportunity for participants to earn certifications and work towards becoming instructors for the program.
The program kicks off Saturday, February 8 in Stafford, Va.,with an introductory session that will include raffles and giveaways. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet the various partnering groups who will be there to network and discuss outdoor recreation activities across Virginia.
For more information visit Virginia DWR’s event page.
REI Shuts Down Experiences Program, Ending Adventure Courses and Trips Across U.S.
Earlier month, REI announced that after 40 years, the outfitter is ending its Experiences business, eliminating over 400 jobs in the process. The now-defunct program offered a wide range of outdoor excursions, ranging from educational and skills building classes to single and multi-day adventure trips. REI’s president and CEO, Eric Artz, published a letter to the co-op’s employees explaining the decision.
“I want to acknowledge and extend my gratitude to the Experiences team for all they have done and accomplished over the 40 years of its existence.” Artz wrote. “…you have worked extremely hard, you have brilliantly educated and created wonderful experiences for nearly one million people over those years…you have done nothing wrong when it comes to the choice I am sharing today.”
Artz also wrote that the decision was due to the millions of dollars the program was losing and that REI had explored many business models in hopes of keeping it running while also preserving jobs.
In other company news, Artz announced this week that he is resigning at the end of March.
Hiker Rescued From Sinking Mud in West Virginia
Last month, a lone hiker trekking near West Virginia’s Summersville Lake required a complicated rescue after becoming stuck in waist-deep mud. The hiker was attempting to cross the lake, which has lower water levels during winter, when he began sinking in the thick mud under the southern side of Hughes Bridge.
The Summersville Fire Department was dispatched for rescue and initially tried walking out to the hiker, but found the conditions too dangerous. The Wilderness Fire Department and the Fayette County vertical rescue team were then called in to descend a platform down to the hiker and pull him up to the bridge. The hiker was sent to the hospital and was expected to make a full recovery.
Cover Photo: Old Rag Mountain trail in Shenandoah Valley National Park in Virginia. Photo By Bkamprath Courtesy of Getty Images.
