Women in the Wild 2026 registration is now closed! We have filled this event. If you would like to join us next year, keep an eye out for our pre-registration page, which will be set up later this year (early November). Thank you to all who signed up for this annual event!

Cost is $45 per participant and includes lunch as well as 4 expertly taught classes of your choice. This is open to ladies 12 years of age and older. Some classes fill quickly, so register early to ensure you get your top picks! We will update this page and our social media often to show if any classes fill. 

Class Descriptions
 
PA 250: Colonial Crafts – Session 1
Want to try your hand at a new art? Join us for a crash course in Colonial Crafts! In this session, we will try our hands at several common colonial-aged art forms, including rug making, stitching, and scherenschnitte (paper cutting). These are fun hobbies that you can do for very little money as well as any time of the year!
 
PA 250: Colonial Food Preservation – Sessions 3 & 4
We’re partnering with Penn State Extension to provide a class on historic food preservation! This is a lecture & demonstration-style program that will touch on many aspects of food preservation, including freezing, drying, canning, and fermenting. This program is normally a paid program through Penn State Extension, but is available for this special program for free!
 
PA 250: Garden Structure Building – Sessions 3 & 4

Want to learn more about shelter or garden structure building and lashing? Use these skills in a survival situation, in a garden, or for cooking over a campfire! Try your hand at making
a cucumber trellis, teepee, panel, and drop-down structures that can be used
for a variety of purposes.
 
PA 250: Fire Starting Fundamentals– Sessions 1 & 2
Whether it’s in a survival situation or to simply impress your friends at your next BBQ, join us
for a practical, hands-on class focused on essential fire-starting skills. Participants will learn multiple fire-starting methods, including traditional and modern techniques & of course safety! The class will cover how to make effective fire starters using common materials, along with guided hands-on practice lighting fires using different tools and methods. Whether you are interested in outdoors skills, emergency preparedness or simply learning a valuable and empowering skill, this class provides a supportive environment to learn, practice and build confidence.
 
PA 250: Processing Fiber – Sessions 1 & 2
Get a crash course on how to process your own fiber! Whether its hair or plant fibers, you can learn to spin your own yarns with DIY drop spindles, made from common household objects!
 
PA 250: Nature-based Wellness - Colonial Style – Sessions 1 & 2

Explore Pennsylvania’s role in nature-based wellness in the 1700s. Learn
how “granny witches” (healers) utilized knowledge of native trees, shrubs,
wildflowers, and other natural materials in their healing remedies. This
session will touch on knowledge collected from various Indigenous nations and
the early settlers of the Pennsylvania Appalachian Mountain region. In the
spirit of forest bathing you will be invited to tap into your “granny witch” as
we explore the colonial healing ingredients that may still be found in Little
Buffalo State Park. 

*This session offers a historical look at colonial wellness practices in the
1700s. There will be NO diagnosing, treating, prescribing, or casting of spells
at this session.
 
PA 250: Dutch Oven Cooking – Sessions 2 & 3
Cast Iron & campfire cooking can be intimidating for some, but it doesn’t
have to be! Camping is made more fun with some great Dutch oven recipes. Learn
how to make and sample some favorites in this program!
 
PA 250: Falconry – Sessions 2 & 3
A sport that dates back thousands of years, falconry uses wild birds of
prey to hunt birds and mammals. Though it didn’t gain much attention in
colonies, falconry has remained deeply rooted in many European and Asian
cultures, and there are some documented falconers that brought the sport to the
Americas as early as 1500. It is a form of hunting, and becoming a licensed
falconer is no easy task. Learn what it takes to get into this sport, meet some
hard-working birds up close and personal, and learn why these birds choose to
work with the falconer.
 
PA 250: Blacksmithing – Sessions 2, 3, & 4 – Very limited space!!
Try your hand at an age-old art of metal forming! Limited to 3
participants per session due to the hands-on nature of the craft. Those on wait
lists from previous Women in the Wild will have first choice at this session. Additional
participants may be permitted to watch if they desire. This is a hands-on kind of program— you will make a small item to take home!
 
PA 250: Colonial Plant
Foraging - Sessions 2 & 3
Interested in Wild Edibles? Learn about some fun edible plants that may be growing in your
backyard that your ancestors used! We will cover the basics of plant
identification and teach you how to be sure you are harvesting the correct plant
and doing it legally! Bring your appetite, because there will be some sampling!

 
PA 250: Colonial Woodworking – Sessions 2 & 3
How did people build before power tools? Gain real experience using historic woodworking tools of the past, and maybe pick up a new hobby of wood crafting! In this program we
will learn about the parts of the tree, layers of wood, as well as explore
annual rings and how to read the life of a tree from a wood cookie. We’ll also
discuss different types of soft and hard woods. You’ll have the chance to try
your hand at a brace and bit, mallet and chisel, hand and jack planes, and much
more. We’ll also include a hatchet splitting station if you’d like to become
more comfortable with splitting firewood.  
 
Hook to Cook - Sessions 3 & 4
PA Fish & Boat Commission
Ok, so you can catch some fish. Do you put them back, or do you want to learn how to process them? In this program we will present fish handling, filleting, and cooking of freshly
caught, local panfish! Some sampling will also be involved. This is hands on,
so be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get to work!
 
Kayaking – Sessions 1 & 2
Interested in getting into kayaking? It’s great exercise and a fun way to relax on the water. Our experienced kayaking volunteers will teach you all of the basics, including
getting in and out of your kayak, paddling, gear needed, and how to choose the
right kayak and gear for you. There will be one kayaking sessions 
that will take two time slots.
 
Mushroom Logs – Sessions 1 & 2
Mushrooms have been grown for thousands of years by humans, and the
process is a little different than your standard gardening. In this class
you’ll get your own log and use a power drill to create holes for mushroom
plugs. You’ll carefully “plant” your mushroom spores and take your log home
with you! Months from now, you will have a unique edible mushroom to harvest,
and you’ll learn the fascinating life cycle and importance of our fungal
friends.
 
Basic Fly Fishing – Sessions 1 & 2
After you learn spin fishing, try your hand at fly fishing. A very different style of fishing, fly fishing can be incredibly relaxing and rewarding. To actually have a hook in the water, you must have a regular fishing license for the program. Otherwise, you may join and simply
learn how to cast and choose equipment. Hands on, light activity.
 
Macroinvertebrates – Session 4
If you enjoy fishing or exploring the creek, you’ll love exploring macros! Join Trout Unlimited
volunteers as you flip rocks and net stream-dwelling organisms such as
crayfish, mayflies, caddisflies, and more. Learn how these tiny creatures can
help us determine stream health, and why we should be concerned with who’s in
the stream! Bring waterproof boots or stream shoes, because it’s not as fun
from the shoreline!

Fossil Collecting – Session 1 & 3
DCNR Bureau of Geological Survey
Join one of our state geologist on a fossil hunt at the park’s shale pit and you will
discover the creatures of Devonian Pennsylvania! You’ll learn all about
fossils, as well as how to find places to fossil hunt on your own! Light
activity involved.

Wildlife CSI – Session 4
Become a wildlife detective
as we explore the art of animal tracking! In this program we’ll cover animal
tracks, how animals move through their landscape, tracking a wounded animal, and
we’ll even learn how to ID that pesky critter gnawing on your hostas or
stealing your tomatoes. Get into your CSI mindset as we explore the signs of
wildlife!