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About TOWN
Texas Outdoors Woman Network (TOWN) is a network of women encouraging independent and self-initiated outdoor activities for women. TOWN is the offspring of the Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) workshops sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife. These workshops are primarily aimed at women who want an introduction to a variety of outdoor activities. The first TOWN group was organized by women in Houston who attended BOW workshops and wanted to continue their outdoors education while meeting women with similar interests.
San Antonio TOWN
San Antonio Texas Outdoors Woman Network (TOWN San Antonio) was "born" in 1998 from a passion of its founder, Karen Kott, to empower women through shared experience in the outdoors. Inspired by a Texas Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) workshop she attended at the Prude Ranch in Ft. Davis, Karen garnered the support of BOW and friends to organize our TOWN. It has been active ever since.
Other TOWN chapters exist in the state. Each is unique, yet shares the common purpose of encouraging women of all ages to get outdoors. TOWN San Antonio is organized as a social group with a leadership team and dues-paying members that meets monthly often featuring guest speakers. It offers opportunities to both connect with others of similar outdoor interests and to try new adventures. Guests are always welcome at our meetings (see “Where Do We Meet?”).
As leadership and membership have changed over the years, TOWN San Antonio has maintained its viability. We have had many adventures as a group---a trail ride in Big Bend State Park, camping at Seminole Canyon State Park and exploring surrounding petroglyphs, kayaking the coast and local waters, hiking, birding, biking, fishing, sky diving, zip lining--you get the picture! Not all outings are exotic, however. We have been known to have Christmas parties around a campfire or to gather to eat, chat, explore or relax (outdoors, of course). No matter what, the foundation of our organization is a bond with the out-of-doors and with each other.
Want to know more? Check out http://www.meetup.com/TOWNSA/ to find out what's happening at our meetings, what our members are doing, and what activities are planned. Some of our activities include, but are not limted to the following:
- Backpacking
- Bird Watching
- Camping
- Day Hiking
- Swimming
- Kayaking/Canoeing
- Fishing/Flyfishing
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting
And, we're always interested in learning something new!
TOWN San Antonio “Piddle Paddlers”
Inside of TOWN San Antonio, we have a loosely organized group of kayakers called the “Piddle Paddlers” because we paddle hard, stop frequently for time to laugh, rest, snack and piddle around catching up on news paddlers want to share. All TOWN San Antonio members are welcome to join in, but SAFETY is a large part of outdoor enjoyment. The basis point is the “Piddle Paddlers” encourage all interested members to take some kayaking classes to be sure they have basic technical and safety skills. The group enjoys both lake and river adventures for the warm months.
About BOW
The BOW Program began in Wisconsin when university professor Christine Thomas realized that women did not have the same opportunities as men to learn and enjoy outdoor activities. She conceived the first BOW weekend workshop in 1991. There are now BOWs offered in 47 U.S. states and Canada. Contact Heidi Rao at BAOW@tpwd.state.tx.us. For information on the next BOW workshop, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/bow.
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