BLAZE Magazine Special Edition 2006-2016 | Page 38

Outdoor Women
Unlimited
Southern Classic...
Southern
Style
By Rebecca Wood
You’ve always had the Power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself.
~ Wizard of Oz
N
estled in the foothills of the
Appalachian, two miles east of the
Coosa River, is a family owned
archery business that provides a
wide venue of opportunity for the outdoor
woman. Our trail leads us to another
Outdoor Women Unlimited Southern Classic
adventure to “Accept No Limits.”
Mike Bennett, Bennett’s Archery, indoor/
outdoor archery center, hosted our Outdoor
Women Unlimited (OWU) Southern Classic
located in Wetumpka, Alabama. With a
quarter century in hand, Bennett’s Archery
has provided the outdoors’ enthusiasts with
professional instruction while showcasing
the highest quality of product line archery
equipment custom fit to meet the needs of
all ages.
At sunrise, On June 6, 2015, thirty five
members were welcomed by our OWU
volunteers and instructors to escape into
another new OWU outdoor adventure.
Outdoor Women Unlimited is a 501C3
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| SPECIAL EDITION 2006-2016
outdoor education organization dedicated
to providing women and families with
the education and the excitement of the
outdoor experience through teaching
outdoor life skills, sharing the knowledge
of our natural resources, while building self
esteem, strengthening individual character,
and promoting self-reliance in a safe and
professional environment.
Through the years, we have conquered
the challenges, listened to the needs of
our members and continued to create new
innovative outdoor education classroom
environments. This year was no exception.
Archery was the center point of our
educational venue.
“The increase in women archers has
soared.” “We are pleased to learn that 1/3
of all archery participants last year were
women and that 4 million women were
involved exclusively in archery,” said Jay
McAninch, ATA’s president and CEO. In the
first nationwide survey shared 18.9 million
Americans age 18 and older participated in
archery and/or bowhunting in 2012. “Often
the number of archers and bowhunters in the
US is estimated by number of bows, arrows
and other equipment sold, and hunting
licenses issued within a given year,” said
Jay McAninch. In 2012, “nearly 60 percent
of America’s 5.8 million female archers in
2012 shot compound bows.” (Data from
comprehensive study conducted on behalf
of the Archery Trade Association by the
Responsive Management research firm of
Harrisburg, VA.
The vision of Outdoor Women Unlimited is
to continue to expand our opportunities for
outreach and awareness by sharing with
our members the most current information
on products, events and outdoor education
training.
Joella Bates, World Champion Archer/
Bowhuntress and Archery Instructor
Trainer, Marisa Futral, Hunter Education
Coordinator Alabama Department of
Conservation Wildlife Freshwater Fisheries
Division and Dawn Singleton, Media
Accept No Limits | outdoorwomenunlimited.org