50 Nebraskaland • March 2020
Other Workshop Opportunities
The four workshops I selected, on
camping, kayaking, bowfishing and
biking, were just a few that were offered.
A number of workshops had a hunting
focus, such as Hunting with Handguns,
Beginning Shotgun Shooting, Rifle
Marksmanship/Muzzleloading, and Deer
Processing. Those interested in fishing
had several other opportunities as well,
with workshops covering fish cleaning and
cooking, fly-fishing and advanced fishing
tactics. Rounding out the workshop
list were sessions covering a variety of
other outdoor interests: canning and
preserving, birding and bird identification,
photography, hiking and backpacking,
reading the woods, and more. The
selection of workshops differs from year
to year; to learn what is offered this year,
visit OutdoorNebraska.org/bow.
Volunteer instructor Doug Ellis of Allen teaches Liz Lancaster of
Cody in the Beginning Shotgun Shooting workshop.
Due to high winds and fl ooding conditions, our
next session, River Kayaking, was cancelled. Pushing
back my disappointment, I joined the bowfi shing
group. I'd tried archery once before, and though I had
terrible aim and bruised myself with a mighty thwack
to the arm, I wasn't opposed to trying it again. After
wrangling with the equipment a little, I started
enjoying myself. By the time we moved to aiming at a
plastic gar in the river, I'd gained some technique and
hit the target several times in a row. I found myself
grinning, enjoying the adrenaline. Later, we relaxed
by the shore, learning how to clean fi sh and nibbling
on freshly cooked carp.
That evening, the participants gathered in the
headquarters to judge desserts made that afternoon
by women in the Dutch oven cooking workshop, a
delicious way to fi nish the day.
Day 3
Our final workshop was Introduction to Biking.
I hadn't biked since early grade school, and to my
surprise, it was harder for me than I expected. I
struggled to get going, to stay upright. Tears sprang to
my eyes. Instructor Jennifer Greer came to my rescue,
taking me aside for one-on-one instruction so I could
learn at my own pace. By the end of the session, I
can't say that I felt totally confident on the bike, but
After getting familiar with the equipment, participants take aim at
a fl oating gar in the bowfi shing workshop.
PHOTO
BY
ERIC
FOWLER
