An Oakland County Parks program gives local women a chance to sample winter sports during its annual Women in the Wilderness Winter Expedition.
The expedition, now in its third year at Independence Oaks Park in Clarkston, lists winter survival skills, geocaching, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing among this year's workshops.
Recreation specialist Derenda Howard said the expedition drew about 50 participants last year. Women ages 17 and up are invited to choose five workshops, offered in two- or three-hour blocks on Jan. 20 and 21.
Instructors are provided by the park system, Michigan Geocaching and the program's sponsors: The School of Outdoor Leadership Adventure (SOLAR); Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI); and Women's Weekends, Inc.
Participants can choose to stay overnight in tents, quinzee huts (weather permitting) or the Two Chimneys Lodge, an on-site cabin heated by two fireplaces.
Two of the expedition's most unusual classes are quinzee-hut building and geocaching.
Geocaching is an increasingly popular treasure-hunting game, played outdoors with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. Geocachers use GPS technology to pinpoint the location of hidden "caches" filled with small, inexpensive treasures.
If snow is on the ground, expedition workshoppers will get the chance to build quinzee huts — "snow tents" or domed snow mound huts that, when built correctly, can provide more warmth than a tent in wintery weather.
More familiar events include ice-fishing, winter hiking, winter camping and, of course, snowshoeing.
Kathy Thomas, an assistant naturalist at the Independence Oaks Park Wint Nature Center, said the center will be lending some of its space and equipment to the workshop, including sets of snowshoes for the snowshoeing class.
The center hosts its own snowshoeing events, such as this year's Snowshoe Campfire Treks on Jan. 14 and Feb. 3.
Once participants get used to having "three-foot feet," Thomas said, snowshoeing is a breeze.
"It's a slower way to experience nature," she said. "You don't have to be as coordinated as a person doing cross-country skiing."
One of the program's greatest benefits, Howard said, is helping participants feel more comfortable working and playing outdoors in winter.
To help encourage cold-weather safety, first-time participants are required to take the winter survival workshop.
The workshops are designed to help participants discover winter activities they enjoy. Sponsors such as SOLAR offer more advanced winter workshops for those interested in pursuing a newfound interest.
"This is kind of a stepping stone to some bigger things, if that's where they choose to go with it," Howard said.
In addition, she said, the program helps women connect with others who are interested in winter sports. For many participants, the expedition is also an introduction to the Oakland County parks system.
Women in the Wilderness will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20. Enrollment is limited to 40, with a Jan. 12 registration and cancellation deadline. Some workshops are weather-dependent.
If weather is unfavorable, Howard said, workshop participants will be contacted.
Registration forms are available at www.oakgov.com/parksrec, under the Women in the Wilderness calendar entry. Cost is $65 per person and includes meals, lodging, parking, instruction, program materials and use of demonstration equipment.
For more information, call Howard at (24
858-1486.
Alyson Iott is a reporter for the South Lyon Herald. She can be reached at (24 437-2011, or by e-mail at aiott@gannett.com.
The expedition, now in its third year at Independence Oaks Park in Clarkston, lists winter survival skills, geocaching, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing among this year's workshops.
Recreation specialist Derenda Howard said the expedition drew about 50 participants last year. Women ages 17 and up are invited to choose five workshops, offered in two- or three-hour blocks on Jan. 20 and 21.
Instructors are provided by the park system, Michigan Geocaching and the program's sponsors: The School of Outdoor Leadership Adventure (SOLAR); Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI); and Women's Weekends, Inc.
Participants can choose to stay overnight in tents, quinzee huts (weather permitting) or the Two Chimneys Lodge, an on-site cabin heated by two fireplaces.
Two of the expedition's most unusual classes are quinzee-hut building and geocaching.
Geocaching is an increasingly popular treasure-hunting game, played outdoors with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. Geocachers use GPS technology to pinpoint the location of hidden "caches" filled with small, inexpensive treasures.
If snow is on the ground, expedition workshoppers will get the chance to build quinzee huts — "snow tents" or domed snow mound huts that, when built correctly, can provide more warmth than a tent in wintery weather.
More familiar events include ice-fishing, winter hiking, winter camping and, of course, snowshoeing.
Kathy Thomas, an assistant naturalist at the Independence Oaks Park Wint Nature Center, said the center will be lending some of its space and equipment to the workshop, including sets of snowshoes for the snowshoeing class.
The center hosts its own snowshoeing events, such as this year's Snowshoe Campfire Treks on Jan. 14 and Feb. 3.
Once participants get used to having "three-foot feet," Thomas said, snowshoeing is a breeze.
"It's a slower way to experience nature," she said. "You don't have to be as coordinated as a person doing cross-country skiing."
One of the program's greatest benefits, Howard said, is helping participants feel more comfortable working and playing outdoors in winter.
To help encourage cold-weather safety, first-time participants are required to take the winter survival workshop.
The workshops are designed to help participants discover winter activities they enjoy. Sponsors such as SOLAR offer more advanced winter workshops for those interested in pursuing a newfound interest.
"This is kind of a stepping stone to some bigger things, if that's where they choose to go with it," Howard said.
In addition, she said, the program helps women connect with others who are interested in winter sports. For many participants, the expedition is also an introduction to the Oakland County parks system.
Women in the Wilderness will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20. Enrollment is limited to 40, with a Jan. 12 registration and cancellation deadline. Some workshops are weather-dependent.
If weather is unfavorable, Howard said, workshop participants will be contacted.
Registration forms are available at www.oakgov.com/parksrec, under the Women in the Wilderness calendar entry. Cost is $65 per person and includes meals, lodging, parking, instruction, program materials and use of demonstration equipment.
For more information, call Howard at (24
858-1486.Alyson Iott is a reporter for the South Lyon Herald. She can be reached at (24
437-2011, or by e-mail at aiott@gannett.com.