The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is bringing back one of its most popular seasonal programs this fall, with the 12th annual Ohio Women’s Outdoor Adventure weekend set for September 25–27 at the Salt Fork State Park Lodge and Conference Center in Guernsey County.
The three-day event is designed to introduce women and girls ages 16 and older to a broad range of outdoor skills in a structured, beginner-friendly setting. Activities rotate through hands-on sessions that can include paddling, fishing, archery, hiking, firearm basics, and range shooting, along with nature-focused programming and creative workshops.
Organizers say the goal is to lower the barrier for people who may not have grown up with regular access to outdoor recreation and give participants a comfortable entry point into Ohio’s public lands.
“Helping people feel confident and connected in the outdoors is central to our mission,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said in a statement. “This weekend shows how powerful those experiences can be.”
The program is run through ODNR’s Division of Parks and Watercraft, with additional support from wildlife, forestry, geological survey, and natural areas staff. Instructors guide small groups through each activity, with an emphasis on safety, basics, and repetition rather than prior experience.
The setting for the weekend is the Salt Fork State Park Lodge and Conference Center, located within Salt Fork State Park, Ohio’s largest state park. The area includes miles of trails, lakes with marina access, open meadows, and forested hills, along with recreational amenities such as boating access points, an 18-hole golf course, and historic sites.
Lodging is included on-site at the lodge during the event, which helps keep participants together for evening programming and group activities.
Registration is capped at 95 participants. The cost is $425 per person based on double occupancy and includes lodging, four activity sessions, five meals, transportation between venues, a T-shirt, and evening programming.
Registration opens July 8 at 10 a.m. for first-time attendees, followed by a second wave for returning participants on July 16 at 10 a.m. Demand has typically outpaced availability in previous years.
More details and session listings are available through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
