Wise women plan, prepare, and purchase properly. Become backpack savvy by finding your unique fit for backpacks, cook stoves, tents, shoes, and clothing by following a backpacking checklist. We’ll discuss site set up, etiquette, safety, and lessons from the trail. This course will NOT include an actual hike.

A variety of cooking styles, including dutch oven cooking, will be used to prepare easy delicious one-pot meals, breads and deserts. You will also prepare and sample each dish.

Learn to take and what to leave behind. Discuss equipment best suited for your camping needs: tents, sleep systems and cook stoves. Demonstrate how to put up a tent and build a fire with little to no impact on the environment.

In this course you will learn the basics of operating a handgun. This entails how to select a handgun for personal protection and hunting. We will practice shooting and cleaning revolver and semiautomatic handguns. Other topics discussed will be handgun safety, shooting techniques, proper hand placement and grip, caliber selection for game, and proper sight alignment. Please DO NOT bring personal firearms, one will be provided. PREREQUISITE - Firearms and Firearm Safety course or Certification in the Hunter Education course.

Learn the basics of casting and fly presentation, types of flies, selection of equipment and other helpful facts. You may bring your own equipment however, equipment will be provided.

Learn how to identify birds using color, shape size and songs to guide you. How to use behavior and habitat to help distinguish birds will also be covered. Participants will get instruction on basic equipment use and will practice their new skills on a short hike looking for local birds. Some Binoculars and Bird Guides will be available, but you may bring your own. Wear appropriate walking shoes.

Demonstrations and discussion will involve basic La. freshwater boating safety rules and legal requirements. Boat trailering tips. Actual experience includes selection and care of Personal Flotation Devices, hauling a boat, and backing up a boat trailer.

Class will cover deer biology, senses, preferred habitat, how to locate deer signs, different deer stands, management and hunting, and gun and ammo selection. This class is a requirement to attend the Beyond BOW Deer Hunt.

A variety of cooking methods will be demonstrated utilizing a campfire as a heat source. Prepare and consume numerous delicious meals including wild game and fish as well as domestic fare. Come enjoy cooking around the campfire, but come hungry!

Explore the use of trail cameras to capture still images and video of wildlife in the outdoors (or maybe indoors!). Participants will experience the excitement of discovering what wildlife is really out there from their backyard to their hunting property. An in-depth overview of camera setup will be discussed as well as the when and where of camera placement to help get the most out of your camera. Class time will be split between an indoor camera overview and a field equipment setup activity.

This is a hands on (actually mouth on and nose on) presentation with fresh and dried samples of edible and useful plants. Brew fresh tea from an assortment of dried plants plus participant are encouraged to graze on salad plants. You will identify and review plant species found around the campground during a plant id walk.

Discover the world of hunting with trained raptors. Learn the laws and best practices of falconry. Learn how to properly care for and hunt with a hawk. The class will consist of both classroom instruction with PowerPoint and hands-on training as well as live birds of falconry exhibited. Participants will not be allowed to hold the birds but photos with the birds will be allowed. Following the classroom presentation, the plan is to go to the field with an actual hunting bird being flown (As conditions and birds allow). Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for “in the woods” hiking. Insect repellent and cameras are encouraged.

The class will cover the basic types of firearms, firearm safety, and selecting and purchasing firearms. No actual shooting, but THIS IS A PREREQUISITE for handgun, rifle, shotgun and muzzleloader courses.

Learn to make stone tools like humans have been making for thousands of years. Flint knapping is using pointed tools to control the flakes that run across obsidian (volcanic glass), chert or novaculite. Participants will use tools and palm pads to make a stone arrowhead or blade that are to be taken home. Wear closed shoes and full-length pants. Safety glasses and supplies will be provided as well as band-aids.

Learn waterfowl ID, blind building techniques, safety and ethical issues, hunting specific areas, duck calling, and cleaning. Also, experience basic wing shooting techniques if weather permits.

Learn how to take care of your harvest. This class deals with hands-on field dressing while identifying the biological parts of a white-tailed deer. Then you move straight into cutting and packaging.

Class will cover alligator line set demonstrations with types of bait. Also learn how to get the alligator off the line then use your own two hands to help skin and process the hide. More in this class is how to preserve the meat and hide and if time permits you will enjoy the taste of fried alligator.

This class will teach you about the different traps and different ways to make a set. Learn about the different tools needed for trapping and hide preparation plus what baits and lures are needed as you get hands on experience in trap setting. If weather permits you will go to the nearby stream and wooded area to set traps.

An introduction into the study of herpetology (Study of Amphibians and Reptiles) Class will introduce common amphibians and reptiles found in Louisiana, how to identify certain animals and techniques on how to “herp” on your own. There will be a classroom portion and guided exploring time. Please wear closed toed shoes/boots that can possibly get wet and long pantsI

In this course you will learn about canning and preserving, how to get started, deciding what to can and preserve, the various methods of canning. You will learn how to make jams, jellies and pickles. This course will teach you the importance of reducing safety risks and about all the benefits of taking part in this age-old tradition! Once you finish this course you will be well on your way to getting started in canning and preserving.

An introduction to the wonderful world of archery. Students will be informed about archery by means of brief lecture and printed handouts. The majority of time will involve hands on experience with archery gear. Equipment will be provided but you may bring your own. Also included is an introduction to bowfishing.

The course will include equipment selection, types of lures, knot-tying, baitcasting and actual fishing. Learn fish biology, fish identification and site selection for fishing. You may bring your own equipment however equipment will be provided.

Improve your shooting skill in skeet or to fine-tune your bird hunting techniques. This is the fastest growing shotgun sport in the United States. Equipment, guns and ammo are provided. Please do not bring your shotgun. PREREQUISITE - Firearms and Firearm Safety course or Certification in the Hunter Education course.

In this on-water seminar, you'll learn everything you need to know to learn how to paddle a flatwater kayak efficiently. We'll cover all the basics including terminology, the best ways to enter and exit a kayak as well as all the basic strokes. Our goal is for you to be able to easily paddle your kayak in a straight line, turn quickly in both directions and to do it with techniques that will minimize effort on your arms. These are double tandem, sit on top, kayaks. Please wear shoes that you don't mind getting wet!

Many people find wildlife watching to be relaxing and educational. Whether you have the old family farmstead or a postage stamp patio, this course will provide you with information that will help turn your property into a good wildlife habitat with general tips as well as ways to target particular species or groups of animals.

Learn about common wildlife species, their habitats, and their behaviors. Learn how to live among wildlife and how to resolve wildlife issues. Identify wildlife, their tracks, and their sign.

Ever wondered what it would be like to carve your own hummingbird from wood? Find out in this class and learn about the instructors’ specialty of carving beautiful and delicate hummingbirds. Learn about the types of wood that is best for carvings, proper equipment, and safety. Sharp knives will be used in this class.

Identify and define biological parts of fresh and saltwater fish. Experience how to hold and clean the fish. Then after all that, you get to cook and eat the fish using various delicious recipes.

Participants will learn techniques in selecting a location and setting up equipment. Special concerns for the nature photographer and other useful information for the beginning photographer will be covered. Tips will be given on how to use your photos to create unique items. NOTE: Bring your digital camera for hands-on experience during an outdoor photo session. Please bring the camera’s instruction manual.

Learn the How To’s, the Do’s, and the Don’t’s with weed eaters, chain saws, lawn mowers, and other power equipment. Operate, change oil, learn basic repair, and practice safety handling with a variety of engines. Please wear long pants and fully enclosed shoes.

Students will be coached in markswomanship techniques and have the opportunity to practice their shooting skills at a fully operable shooting range. Rifles are provided. Please do not bring yours. PREREQUISITE - Firearms and Firearm Safety Course or Certification in the Hunter Education course.

This course will cover cleaning, processing, cooking small game such as squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons. This course is a hands on course which will entail participants cleaning and processing animals. All equipment will be provided and topics covered will include proper knife selection, how to properly skin squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons. Once skinned we will go over meat preparation, and storage. At the end of the course samples of the game will be available for participants.

Learn to use a traditional muzzleloading firearm. This class will teach you about basic parts and black powder accessories. You will learn how to load, shoot, breakdown and clean a muzzleloader to keep it functioning properly. Experience first-hand the meaning of “The Smoke Pole”. PREREQUISITE - Firearms and Firearm Safety Course or Certification in the Hunter Education course.

Learn the lifestyle of early trapping/fur traders along our bayous and rivers, also known as "mountain men". Participants will see replica "trading post" items from the era as well as trapping techniques and methods for native American brain-tanning of deer/animal hides taught with hands-on examples by historical re-enactor Buckskin Billy.

Learn how a Global Positioning System (GPS) works, the terminology, and benefits. During field exercises you will navigate yourself to a specific destination.

Learn the skills needed to address injuries that may occur in remote areas where professional help is not available or will be significantly delayed. Participants will learn how to treat minor injuries and trauma with minimal supplies. There will be hands-on exercises, so dress comfortably.

Class deals with emergency survival techniques such as shelter, fire building, food and water needs, signaling, and the Psychology of Surviving. Lots of hands-on exercises and use of survival tools and techniques. (This is NOT an overnight, sleep in the woods, class)