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REVOLUTIONARY TEAM HUNTRESS OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CLINIC

COMBINES OUTDOOR INSTRUCTION WITH THE PAMPERING WOMEN LOVE

Just because a woman wants to learn outdoors skills doesn’t mean she wants to stop being a woman. That’s why Team Huntress created the Outdoor Adventure Clinic, a revolutionary three-day event that caters to women who want to learn or expand on their outdoor skills while enjoying beautiful accommodations, spa treatments and the camaraderie of like-minded women.

Following the resounding success of its inaugural Outdoor Adventure Clinic for women June 12-14 at the Pheasant Phun/OJ Bar Ranch in Hitchcock, S.D., Team Huntress has announced plans for its second clinic to be held at the beautiful Buffalo County Outfitters in Mondovi, Wisconsin Aug. 21 -22 - 23. 2009.

The Outdoor Adventure Clinic offers training in archery, firearms, wildlife photography, gear and survival skills from the expert Team Huntress staff of prominent women hunters while a team of clinicians offers the kind of pampering women love: massages, facials, foot rubs, nature walks and wine tasting.

Because the majority of the teaching staff is female, the environment is particularly welcoming for women who are interested in learning outdoor skills, but intimidated by the overwhelmingly male nature of the shooting sports. Team Huntress understands that women want and need a supportive and pleasant environment for learning - no ribbing about missed shots, no competitive bravado, no substandard accommodations that make a woman cringe.

That formula - instruction, female staff and pampering - proved highly effective at the inaugural Team Huntress Outdoor Adventure Clinic at Pheasant Phun in June. Women who’d never fired a gun felt secure taking those first steps and found they really enjoyed what they were learning. By the end of the weekend, participants were abuzz about the shooting sports and the new friendships they’d formed.

The Team Huntress Outdoor Adventure Clinic is the ideal gift, whether it’s a woman treating herself to something she deserves, or an outdoorsman who’s been looking for a way to bring his wife, daughter or girlfriend into the lifestyle he loves.

Team Huntress Wisconsin Outdoor Adventure Clinic

Empowering Women for Outdoor Success

DATE: August 20. 21, 22,& 23, 2009

 SPACE IS LIMITED: Only 20 Participants; Call today!

LOCATION: Buffalo County Outfitters, Mondovi, WI 54738  

FOR: Women ages 18 and over who want to learn or expand their outdoor skills 

BY: Team Huntress, an expert staff of prominent women hunters and outdoor enthusiast including Terri Lee Pocernich Camp Wild Girls, Kirstie Pike Prois Hunting Apparel, Barbara Baird the Women’s Outdoor News, Stacey and “Hawk” Huston A Focus in the Wild, Holly Heyser NorCal Cazadora, Jane Keller Team Huntress

 INSTRUCTION: Archery, firearms, gear, wildlife photography  

SPA SERVICES: Massage, facials, foot rubs, nature walk, wine tasting

ACCOMMODATIONS: 2-3 women per room, 5 full bathrooms, spacious great room

TRAVEL: Mondovi is 25 miles south of Eau Claire, 1 hour and ½ from MSP airport; pick-up and drop-off will be offered on the 20th & 23 if August. 

COST: $995 - includes instruction, meals, spa treatment, gifts from sponsors (clothing, skin care, and food), lodging and transport two and from airport for those who fly in. 

SHOPPING: Women’s hunting apparel from Prois, Camp Wild Girls will be available for purchase at discount Team Huntress rates. The Team Huntress camp store will be open.

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CONTACT: Team Huntress founder Jane Keller, jane.keller@yahoo.com, 605-450-0931

I often see hunters, that wait until their children are “old enough”, to take them out in the woods. I feel this is a big mistake. My kids went with from us from day 1.

I have never let having little ones stop me from enjoying the great outdoors. I just adapt to bringing the child in the woods. For me this often means bringing the diaper bag along with snacks and drinks and toys to keep the little one busy.

My youngest, has been riding with us in the Rhino, to check deer stands and enjoy nature, since she was 2 months old. We buckle her car seat right into the ATV. She loves riding through the woods and seeing all of the things in the outdoors.

Children love to explore and see all the things in the woods. Touching the leaves and climbing the rocks, looking at the sky and clouds, and especially seeing all the animals with them is such a blast.  On our rides or walks will often see deer, birds, turkeys, mice, snakes, and occasionally a bear. Little kids get so excited when they see animals. We can teach them right at this point, that we have to be quiet or we will scare the animals.

My older kids were always in the woods playing in the woods. (For those that don’t know me, I had 3 kids in 3 ½ yrs, and then 19 ½ yrs later, had one more.) They even came back to the house with what they thought was a great big set of “sheds”. They were absolutely ecstatic at their priceless find! You couldn’t wipe the smiles off of those beaming little faces!

In reality, it was my first 10 point buck. A bear had stolen the rack and scull a couple of weeks earlier from the top of the old truck. They happily chopped the scull in half with their little hatchet, making it easier to carry, and brought it to me announcing… “Mom, mom, look at these sheds we found!” to which I sadly sighed and answered. “Good find kids, but sheds don’t have the sculls attached!” Oh well, they thought themselves pretty cool, and I would never have had it back if they hadn’t found it!

As they grew older we started taking them with us hunting. It was usually a frustrating yet rewarding day, when we would take one or two of them with us. (One per adult) Those of you, that have taken kids with you, know exactly what I mean. Children don’t have much of an attention span and usually get bored easily. Holding still, well that is almost impossibility.

I remember having my oldest daughter with on the stand one time (we group hunt, stand one drive one). I had her sitting slightly behind me next to a tree. I was trying to minimize her movement and desperately hoping that she might even fall asleep. First came the breaking of the logs. Ok they were little twigs, but they sound mighty big when you want the cherub to be quiet.

I told her, “be quiet and sit still”. She replied, “I can’t see.” So I answered back, “Alright stand up very slowly and quietly so you can see”. Of course she jumped up quickly and not so quietly.

I waited and watched, even knowing nothing would be coming my way. There was still a lot of movement behind me. I whispered again very sternly this time, emphasizing each word, “What, is, wrong? To which she replied, “I still can’t see!” At this point I turned around to see what was going on. There she was, with her orange stocking cap pulled clear down over her eyes, and moving her head back and forth like Stevie Wonder!

Now this story would be really very comical, if she had been four, but she was twelve (ok it is still funny). I was really not amused, but I couldn’t help but laugh. I realized at that moment that it didn’t really matter. There would be other chances to see deer, and that that day was about learning and having fun together and fun we had. (We did however have a discussion later about the importance of being quiet and staying still while hunting.)

Things like this are going to happen when you take kids into the woods, they are just learning and exploring. Like any other skill, while they are being introduced to kids need to, and will make mistakes! How we respond to those mistakes will determine if our kids continue hunting or not. Our attitude is everything!

I have seen kids that have not been in the woods much when they were young and when they finally are allowed to go it is very hard for child, as well as their parents because they have not been taught how to act in the woods. It is much easier to teach them when they are young. I have also seen kids that were brought into the woods very early, and those kids are as comfortable in the woods as any experienced hunter. Sometimes they even teach me a thing or two! It makes a huge difference.

Is it easy to take kids into the woods? No, absolutely not. I am not saying you have to take them every time.  No, there are definitely times when it is not appropriate. As parents we know our kids and what they can handle, but don’t leave them out just because it is easier for you.  They are our future and it is well worth the hard work, taking them with when they are young. You will teach them skills that will last a lifetime and build memories that will amuse you forever!

Monday was just one of those days. You know the kind I am talking about. You get up in the morning and wish you hadn’t!

The day started out with the typical Monday morning flurry of phone calls. Now Tali, is not a very patient two year old (patient 2 year old would be an oxy-moron), and she wanted her breakfast right now. So we got her made her some “wheat”, (maple flavored cream of wheat) and got her settled into the highchair. The whole time, I was speaking to a potential product sponser, with the phone tucked into my shoulder, as I so often do.

At this point I was no longer giving my cherub my full attention. I continued talking with the gentleman, as Tali was making raspberry sounds with her “wheat” in the background. I am most certain that the potential sponser was thouroughly impressed by my professional ablility, to completely ignore what was going on, in the background.

As I was finishing that conversation, I heard, “Uh Oh mommy, mess!” You guessed it “wheat all over her, her hair, the highchair, wall and floor! No problem, I can handle this! I take another phone call while I clean up the sticky mess, put child into the tub, and answer questions for a potential client.

Wow, I think I am doing great, until I heard that sweet innocent voice announce, “Uh Oh, momma, poop…float!” to which the client bursts out laughing, while I am apologizing profusely and asking him if I can call him back in a couple of minutes! I am sure he was also impressed with my professional manor!

O.K. dry off the rug-rat, get diaper on, get her dressed and clean out the tub. Throw the new birthday movie, into the VCR we are good to go for a while. I finished the call with the client who was very understanding and quite amused.  The morning finished pretty smoothly.

Lunch went by, pretty uneventfully too and lulled me into a temporary but peaceful existence. It is now naptime for Tali and I am excited to get back to my work! With her asleep I can really accomplish something, without being interrupted to go monster dance or stack blocks only to knock them back down.

Day is looking better and then…unexpected company shows up! I now have to entertain, because her husband dropped her off for a visit! (I am at home all day anyway, Lol)

No big deal, I will work later this afternoon! Two hour naptime is over, the company is still here, and the phone is still ringing! Frazzled is beginning to take on a whole new meaning! Finally, company returns home and we eat supper, a very uneventful boring supper! (I like it).

Hubby calls from out of town, and during the course of the conversation says “You, really need to get a ‘real job’!” (If this isn’t real honey, get me out of this dream! Lol) Now, I know what he meant was, that I should get paid for what I do, but on that particular day, in my state of mind, his choice of words could have been a little bit better chosen!

Loosing my patience fast, I know it is time to go outside, shoot the bow and blow off a little steam! Shooting my bow always makes me feel better! It’s a beautiful calm evening and Tali and I go outside. She is playing so nicely on the deck, and as I unzip the case I hear that sweet little voice saying once again…Uh Oh mommy…mess! I look inside my bow case and she has hit it right on. Mess.

A critter had chewed its way through the nylon zipper of the case and made a nest inside. I gingerly removed the unoccupied nest and took my bow out to examine it. Wouldn’t you know it, those dirty little mice had chewed my sting, which was now unsafe to shoot.

I just sat down and started laughing. Tali and I laughed until she got the hiccups. I guess the site of mommy loosing it was quite amusing to her! My dad always told me…”cheer up things could get worse,…and sure enough you cheered up, and they got worse”.

We finally decided to go inside and get ready for bed, knowing that the next day would be better. As I started to drift off to sleep, I could smell the unmistakable odor of our former, under-the-garage occupants. Can you believe it, the skunks were returning home after being gone for weeks!