EDGEFIELD, S.C. – Cindy Garrison, host of ESPN2’s “Get Wild With Cindy Garrison,” became the newest Women in the Outdoors spokeswoman at the official signing of her agreement in Edgefield, S.C., Sept. 11. Women in the Outdoors is an outreach program created by the National Wild Turkey Federation, and Garrison is one of television’s most recognized outdoor women.
“My entire life revolves around women and the outdoors,” said Garrison.” When I first met the leadership of this women’s outreach program, their energy was amazing. The fact that the Women in the Outdoors program asked me to be a national spokesperson is such an honor. I think, working together, we can make a huge difference.”
The California native guides viewers on hunts, fishing trips and serves as a tour guide into the hidden cultures of the places she travels. The show airs each Sunday July through Dec. 2006 at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. EST on ESPN2 television.
“The great thing about Cindy is she’s authentic,” said Patty Molinaro, Women in the Outdoors southern region national coordinator. “She’s an outdoor enthusiast first and television host second. She carries a genuine passion for the hunting traditions and conserving wildlife, both missions of the NWTF. It’s a really nice fit, and we’re pleased to have her on board for our Women in the Outdoors program.”
Garrison discovered the outdoors on her grandparents’ Oregon ranch and in Northern California where she grew up. There, among other things, she spent time fishing, hunting and roping. Garrison’s parents were both avid fishers and hunters, two activities that the Women in the Outdoors program emphasizes in their more than 400 events hosted across the country each year.
With a new understanding of what women want, thanks to data from a 2005 study commissioned by the NWTF and funded by a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a revamped Web site and nearly 44,000 members, the Women in the Outdoors program is posed to make a greater impact among women eager to get outdoors and get involved.
The study surveyed females in the general population as well as current and former members of the outreach program designed just for women, giving program leaders a better understanding of women and their interests in outdoor participation.
“I believe Women in the Outdoors has a great message of opportunity for women and, with Cindy, we’ve got an excellent chance to get that message out to women across the country,” said Tammy Mowry, Women in the Outdoors northern region national coordinator. “There is tremendous room for growth. We know that, among the general population of women surveyed, the amount of interest in outdoor activities is greater than the amount of actual outdoor participation. This suggests an unmet demand for these activities and a great future for Women in the Outdoors.”
Checkout a complete list of program events at the newly redesigned Women in the Outdoors Web site, www.womenintheoutdoors.org/wito/events.html.
The site allows for easier navigation, and new pages showcase accomplished outdoor women and events. Another page connects moms to educational outdoor information, created with children in mind and provided by NWTF’s youth outreach program, JAKES. There’s also a department where Women in the Outdoors members can upload photos for scrapbooking, submit stories and download wallpaper and turkey calls.
To find out more about the Women in the Outdoors program or upcoming events, contact Kathy Gore at (800) THE-NWTF.
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