Get away from it all while taking advantage of a spring midweek cabin special and cottage package in the natural surroundings of a West Virginia state park. The midweek discount is for cabin/cottage rentals on Sunday through Thursday nights, beginning April 16 through May 23, 2002.

A minimum of two nights’ lodging is required and reservations must be made in advance. When calling for reservations, it is very important to request the “Midweek Cottage Package” to receive this special discount.

The special discount package is a 20% discount on cabin/cottage prices and includes a special West Virginia State Park gift and a 10% off coupon for a future state park overnight, off-season visit. Enjoy free game court usage and
many miles of hiking trails.

This package is only available at the following parks and forests: Babcock, Beech Fork, Blackwater Falls, Bluestone, Cacapon Resort, Canaan Valley Resort, Cass Scenic Railroad, Holly River, Lost River, North Bend, Stonewall Jackson Lake, Twin Falls, Tygart Lake and Watoga state parks and Cabwaylingo, Greenbrier and Kumbrabow state forests.

For more information or to make reservations call 1-800-CALL WVA.

Becoming an Outdoors Woman
Workshop Scheduled For May

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will sponsor the annual “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” workshop on May 3-5, 2002 at Camp Sandy Hill in Cecil County, Maryland.

First offered in Maryland in 1995, the workshops include courses geared to women in fishing and hunting, fly fishing, outdoor cooking, basic firearm safety and handling, outdoor survival skills, mountain biking, photography, archery, bird watching, canoe and kayak handling, hiking and backpacking skills and many other outdoor pursuits.

While participation is welcomed from all adults 18 and older, the courses are designed primarily for women with little to no experience who want improve or gain outdoor skills in a comfortable atmosphere. Enrollment is limited to provide smaller class sizes. The fee for the weekend is $175. Room, board, equipment, evening entertainment and the choice of four courses are included in the workshop fee.

In order to take any shooting courses, you must come with a hunter safety certification or sign up for a firearm safety course during the workshop. To participate in select fishing courses you must posses a current Maryland fishing license.

For registration information on this and other scheduled events contact Karina Blizzard at (301) 478-2146 or online at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/bow.html

Ohiopyle State Park To Change Reservation System For Campers, Boaters

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Executive Deputy Secretary John Plonski announced that Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County will change its reservation system this spring to better serve boaters and campers.

“Effective April 1, visitors to Ohiopyle will be able to take advantage of the toll-free telephone reservation system that has been serving Pennsylvania’s other 115 state parks with marked success since July 1998,” Plonski said. “The park no longer will have the ability to make direct reservations after this date.”

Based in Harrisburg, the reservation service was contracted by DCNR to provide park visitors with customer-focused and user-friendly system for accommodations and information. The toll-free number is 1-888-PA-PARKS (1-888-727-2757).

Unlike other state parks, Ohiopyle had continued handling reservation calls because of the need to closely coordinate whitewater launch permits with boaters’ requests for camping accommodations. An answering machine directed callers to a selection of park services and personnel.

“Now Ohiopyle visitors can pick up the phone and dial direct on one toll-free line to get information on whitewater boating, to obtain launch permits and to secure camping reservations,” Plonski said. “Good news for boaters is that their calls will be handled at the reservation center by someone who is well-informed on that park activity.”

Park officials said boating clubs have been notified of the change, and special arrangements have been made to accommodate boaters with season launching permits.

Among the state’s three most popular state parks, Ohiopyle attracts about two million visitors annually. Bicycling, camping and whitewater boating draw many of these visitors. Weekend launch permits will be required of boaters beginning April 6.

Located primarily in Fayette County, Ohiopyle State Park encompasses approximately 19,052 acres of rugged natural beauty and serves as the gateway to the Laurel Mountains. Ohiopyle’s focal point is the River Gorge that passes through the heart of the park, offering some of the best whitewater boating in the Eastern United States as well as spectacular scenery.

AbiliTech, a workforce-development firm in Philadelphia, has trained about 30 Pennsylvanians with disabilities to operate the reservation system handling Ohiopyle and other state park calls.

The reservation line is available Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Operators access a computer database linked to all 116 state parks. Visitors can charge reservations to their credit cards.