Let me set the scene for you. It’s 6:45 am, Saturday morning, and my alarm is going off. I yawn, grumble, and struggle to open my eyes to see 7 other women around me, most doing the same thing. Two or three may hail from the “morning person” mentality and have been awake for an hour, getting ready. Nothing wrong with that, but let’s be real, those that know me know that if I show up to a breakfast before 8 am fully clothed with my hair and teeth brushed, it’s a miracle. The promise of coffee, a great breakfast, and an exciting day is an excellent motivator, however, enabling me to zombie-shuffle over to the meal hall, grab some caffeine, and actually wake up. I have no idea what my hair looks like, and I’m pretty sure my shirt is on backwards, but it doesn’t matter because I’m thrilled to be here and can’t wait for the day’s activities.*
* I am not a morning person. Mornings here actually run very smoothly.
What’s going on? I, along with 100-some other women, both attendees and volunteers, are just getting geared up for a weekend of Becoming an Outdoors Woman events!
Getting there
If you’re new to BOW, you can plan to arrive early Friday afternoon (or Friday mid-morning if you’re attending one of the gun seminars and don’t yet have your PAL). Greenhill Lake camp seems isolated, but in reality, it’s only about 45 minutes out of Fredericton, and it’s very easy to find. Signage is excellent, but cell reception past Fredericton is pretty spotty, so don’t rely on that; try to write down the directions before you leave. You should have your cell reception back when you arrive at the location.
Upon arrival
You’ll arrive and head into the basement of the main hall to sign in and receive your lodge assignment so that you can get settled in. All of the cabins are nearby and have the same general set-up. Remember, this typically functions as a camp, so expect 6-8 beds per cabin, in a bunkhouse style, and 1-2 small bathrooms. Each bunk will have an outlet, but there’s not a ton of storage space, especially if you’re in a top bunk, so try to pack somewhat light.
The weekend
After you get settled in, everyone will meet in the main hall for kick-off, lunch, and then head to their respective events. There are plenty of posters up directing you to your event, and the volunteers are extremely helpful – they, or even other attendees, will be happy to help you find your event.
Friday evenings typically involved dinner, a group challenge, and sometimes an optional late-evening campfire. After this, Saturday morning comes early, but the coffee and breakfast is fantastic and all food is made in-house by wonderful cooks. This is followed by a full day of activities and, after dinner, draws, auctions, and fun! Things get pretty exciting and competitive here, so bring your A game. This is also one of the main fundraisers for the year, so it’s definitely worthwhile.
Sunday will have a morning of activities, followed by lunch, a bittersweet goodbye, and you’ll be on your way home, tired, happy, and full of lots of new memories and maybe even some new hobby skills to keep you entertained until next year!
What, exactly, do I bring?
You’ll get a list of what to bring with your registration package, but in a nutshell, you need to bring everything you’d bring for a weekend at a camp. No tent necessary, but you’ll need:
A sleeping bag,
pillow,
basic toiletries,
bug spray if you have it,
a towel for showering,
clothing appropriate for the weather
earplugs if you’re a light sleeper
camera or smartphone for photos if you’d like
Additionally, things you might want to consider are headphones if you listen to music or watch videos before bed, and maybe a small hairdryer just so you don’t go to bed cold with wet hair. Usually someone in your cabin has one they’re willing to lend though. Oh, and did I mention bug spray? It’s a good idea to plan to dress in layers here because it’s fairly cool and damp at night that time of year, but tends to warm up quite a bit in the afternoon. Also, if it’s rained a lot recently you’ll want something more water resistant than sneakers for your outdoor footwear as lots of the activities take place on the grassy lawn.
That’s it! All your food will be provided (and there’s a LOT of food). It’s all made by a fabulous in-house chef and there’s an ongoing coffee and tea bar as well. If you do have any allergies, please remember to inform the organizers well in advance. They may not be able to accommodate for everything, but they do try to make sure there are reduced-allergen options like salads and cold-plates. There is also NO alcohol permitted, and everyone adheres to this, so leave the wobbly-pops at home. Anything you need for the activities will be provided in-house, so you shouldn’t need much else.
Registration
One more thing to note – registration fills up FAST. It filled up in under 40 minutes last year, so have your list ready for when the online registration opens! Any female over 18 years of age can attend – you don’t need to be a member of the Moncton Fish and Game Association to take part. However, if you have a current membership, they generously offer sponsorship for a few attendees each year and you can apply for one of these coveted spots if you are already a member.
The brochure will be available February 10th this year, and registration will be opening February 21st, so mark the dates in your calendar and get ready for a weekend of fun!
That covers all the basics. Thanks for reading. For more information, check out the website and follow the facebook page. If you have any further specific questions, I also encourage you to email organizer Nathalie Michaud at hunterbabe.nm@gmail.com. The organizing team appreciates and encourage questions.
The promise of coffee, a great breakfast, and an exciting day is an excellent motivator,
- Submitted by Amanda D. - 2019 MFGA BOW Attendee