Welcome to the Outdoor Skills Academy!
Your Gateway to Outdoor Confidence!
The Outdoor Skills Academy is more than just a program — it’s a movement. This program is designed for adventurous women aged 18 and up, as a hands-on experience that empowers you to explore, learn, and thrive in the great outdoors. Whether you're brand new to outdoor activities or looking to sharpen your skills, our expert-led workshops in shooting, hunting, fishing, and conservation are built to boost your confidence and independence in nature. Join a welcoming community of like-minded women and discover just how capable, and unstoppable you are. It’s time to step outside your comfort zone and into your power.
Adventure starts here. Confidence lasts a lifetime.
What is an Outdoor Skills Academy event like?
Outdoor Skills Academy events can be held in a single day or an entire weekend. Events will be held across the state throughout the year. You’ll experience a variety of classes but will pick a specific skill to spend the majority of your time on during the weekend training.
Women attending Skills Academy events are not experts. In fact, we anticipate that you may never have experienced some of these skills before. We are here to support you in a fun, safe and non-competitive environment.
This program is for you if…
- you have never tried one of the many outdoor skills such as hunting, shooting, fishing, hiking, etc. and want to give it shot.
- you are a novice and would like to improve your skills.
- you would like to learn a new skill, but don’t have the equipment to try it out.
- you already do some outdoor skills but would like to learn new ones.
- you enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded individuals, and you seek time away to reconnect with nature.
2026 Events
May 30, 2026, 8:00am - 4:30pm: Outdoor Skills Academy for Women Sampler (Coastal)
- Pechmann Education Center, Fayetteville NC
- Pre-registration is required at: Go Outdoors North Carolina
- One day sampler event for the Outdoor Skills Academy for Women.
Join us for a FREE hands-on, engaging introduction to the Outdoor Skills Academy for Women! Participants will rotate through four sessions, each representing one of our core tracks: Fishing, Hunting, Shooting Sports, and Conservation.
The four sessions offered at this event include:
- Introduction to Birding and Habitat Improvements
- Fishing Basics and Techniques
- Introduction to Archery
- Introduction to Deer Hunting
No prior experience is required for any session. All materials and equipment will be provided unless otherwise noted. Lunch will be included.
October 9-11, 2026, Noon Friday - 1pm Sunday: Outdoor Skills Academy
- Millstone 4-H Camp (Richmond County)
- Registration and more details coming soon!
A weekend of outdoor skills galore. Women will be able to choose the classes they would like to take. We encourage you to choose a track to participate in which will allow you to hone your skills throughout the weekend and build relationships with other women working on the same skill set. If you are a first timer you do not have to pick a track if you need to experience a variety of classes to determine what skills you are interested in.
Please Note
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible environment. If you have questions about accessibility, please contact Casey Williams at womensoutdoorskillsacademy@ncwildlife.gov.
Coordinator Contact Info:
Casey Williams
Email
Phone: 252-904-9873