Upcoming Events: Virginia Outdoor Women

Registration for this virtual series opens February 27th @ 8:00am!

Beginning in 2026, the VOW Program will be hosting an annual Women's Mentored Hunting Virtual Series covering all topics related to hunting in Virginia. Virtual classes will be held every other week beginning on March 30th and concluding on August 31st. This series will cover hunting in general, and will not focus on any specific species, but instead is designed for beginners and women interested in hunting and need the basic information and resources to get started. Throughout the series, there will also be scheduled in-person opportunities and additional events/workshops throughout the state to promote a sense of community.

The Virginia Outdoor Women (VOW) program's goal is to help women feel comfortable and confident in the outdoors - no matter their experience level. DWR is committed to developing a community of women who enjoy the outdoors, value the importance of conservation and outdoor recreation, and want to have opportunities for personal growth, independence, and empowerment.

Please NOTE: All virtual VOW courses do not qualify for any of the VOW Certificates. By registering for this event, you are automatically registered for ALL classes. Separate registration is not required.

Classes will generally be 45 minutes of instruction/presentation, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. Please see the registration page for class schedule and agenda.

Registration for this virtual series opens April 17th @ 8:00am.

Beginning in 2026, the VOW Program will be hosting an annual Women's Mentored Flyfishing Virtual Series covering all topics related to flyfishing in Virginia. Virtual classes will be held every other week beginning on May 20th and concluding on September 5th. This series will cover flyfishing in general, and will not focus on any specific fish species, but instead is designed for beginners and women interested in flyfishing and need the basic information and resources to get started. Throughout the series, there will also be scheduled in-person opportunities and additional events/workshops throughout the state to promote a sense of community.

The Virginia Outdoor Women (VOW) program's goal is to help women feel comfortable and confident in the outdoors - no matter their experience level. DWR is committed to developing a community of women who enjoy the outdoors, value the importance of conservation and outdoor recreation, and want to have opportunities for personal growth, independence, and empowerment.

Please NOTE: All virtual VOW courses do not qualify for any of the VOW Certificates. By registering for this event, you are automatically registered for ALL classes, EXCEPT the final workshop on Sept. 5th. Separate registration is required for the in-person workshop and will be a first come - first served basis at the conclusion of the August 12th virtual class.

Classes will generally be 45 minutes of instruction/presentation, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. Please visit the registration page for class schedule and agenda.

Virginia Outdoor Women (VOW) is excited to offer a VOW @ the Outdoor Adventure - Intro to Kayaking! Come learn from certified DWR boating instructors and get to spend time on the water! All equipment is provided, but if you have your own life vest, you are strongly encouraged to bring it!

There is a strict 10-person maximum for this event. Please do not register unless you are sure you can attend!

Registering for VOW events and not showing up ("no-shows") prevents other women from participating in the VOW Program. DWR makes every attempt to offer free/low-cost educational opportunities, however, no-shows waste valuable state resources/staff time and continued no-shows may result in implementing participation fees and other increased event costs. Please help DWR/VOW keep our free/low-cost educational programming!

This beginner-friendly class covers the fundamentals of archery, proper stance, shooting technique, and safe range etiquette. If you have your own archery equipment, feel free to bring what you have! Otherwise, all equipment will be provided.

To register through Freedom Outdoors, click the Registration button below. Once on the Freedom Outdoors website, click on the "RVA / DWR Archery" option to select classes/dates.

VOW Course: This event qualifies as a VOW @ the Archery Range. This event can be used to complete the Hunting Certification in the Virginia Outdoor Women (VOW) Program. This event is open to all registrants.

Come learn all about the game of 3D archery! We will be going over everything from scoring to strategy. Archers do not need to bring their own equipment but are highly encouraged to bring their own bow and arrows. After taking this course, archers will be ready to hit the trail at their local 3D course.

VOW Course: This event qualifies as a VOW @ the Archery Range. This event can be used to complete the Hunting Certification in the Virginia Outdoor Women (VOW) Program. This event is open to all registrants.

VOW is excited to offer a VOW @ the Outdoor Adventure - Intro to Kayaking! Come learn from certified DWR boating instructors and get to spend time on the water! All equipment is provided, but if you have your own life vest, you are strongly encouraged to bring it!

There is a strict 10-person maximum for this event. Please do not register unless you are sure you can attend!

Registering for VOW events and not showing up ("no-shows") prevents other women from participating in the VOW Program. DWR makes every attempt to offer free/low-cost educational opportunities, however, no-shows waste valuable state resources/staff time and continued no-shows may result in implementing participation fees and other increased event costs. Please help DWR/VOW keep our free/low-cost educational programming!

This class is for archers that have learned the basics and are ready to take their skills to the next level. Equipment will be provided but archers are strongly encouraged to bring their own equipment. Our trained instructors will assist archers with both compound and recurve bows and help archers with the fine details of their shot process.

To register through Freedom Outdoors, click the Registration button below. Once on the Freedom Outdoors website, click on the "RVA / DWR Archery" option to select classes/dates.

VOW Course: This event qualifies as a VOW @ the Archery Range. This event can be used to complete the Hunting Certification in the Virginia Outdoor Women (VOW) Program. This event is open to all registrants.

This is a 4-hour basic paddling course designed to introduce the novice paddler (ages 16 and older) to the joys of flat-water kayaking. We will cover basic kayak nomenclature, getting into and out of your kayak, and some basic paddling techniques on the water. We will provide the kayaks and PFDs. You should bring drinking water, snacks/lunch, sunscreen, and closed-toed shoes. Parking fees are required to enter the State Park.

VOW Course: This event qualifies as a VOW @ the Outdoor Adventure. This event can be used to complete the Outdoor Skills Certification in the Virginia Outdoor Women (VOW) Program. This event is open to all registrants.

NRA First Steps Pistol Orientation (Fees required). There is a strict 6-person maximum for this event. Please do not register unless you are sure you can attend!

Registration for this event has TWO (2) STEPS! After you register, you will receive an email with additional information on the second step of registration. Completing the second step of registration is REQUIRED for participation in this event!

This is a private NRA First Steps pistol orientation course for participants in the DWR Virginia Outdoor Women Program. This course is suitable for all individuals regardless of previous experience. Topics include gun safety, operation of semi-automatic pistols, ammunition knowledge, pistol selection, storage, and shooting fundamentals.

The course will be held at NRA Headquarters, with live fire to follow in a private NRA range. Students will receive an NRA Pistol handbook, and a course completion certificate that meets the training requirement to apply for a Virginia Concealed Handgun Permit.

Pricing does not include ammo or the NRA Range fee. See total cost breakdown below. You will need to purchase 50 rounds of factory ammunition of the correct caliber for your firearm. This can be purchased at the Range. Payment can be made at the NRA Range any time, including the day of class. If you do not have a firearm, we will supply one for your use at no charge.

Registering for VOW events and not showing up ("no-shows") prevents other women from participating in the VOW Program. DWR makes every attempt to offer free/low-cost educational opportunities; however, no-shows waste valuable state resources/staff time and continued no-shows may result in implementing participation fees and other increased event costs. Please help DWR/VOW keep our free/low-cost educational programming!

Our advanced course is to help experienced archers perfect their shot process. Instructors will work with archers on the mental game of archery and overcoming challenges on the shooting line! No equipment will be provided as this class will be focused on archers that have purchased their own archery equipment. Archers without their own equipment are strongly encouraged to sign up for the intermediate or intro course.

To register through Freedom Outdoors, click the Registration button below. Once on the Freedom Outdoors website, click on the "RVA / DWR Archery" option to select classes/dates.

VOW Course: This event qualifies as a VOW @ the Archery Range. This event can be used to complete the Hunting Certification in the Virginia Outdoor Women (VOW) Program. This event is open to all registrants.