A Basic Boating Course instructed by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission staff is being held Tuesday and Thursday, April 9 and 11, from 6-9 p.m. both nights, at Beltzville State Park.

There is no charge for the course, but all participants must pre-register by calling the park office at 610-377-0045 and must attend both sessions of the Basic Boating Course, that is designed to supply boaters with practical information so they can make better informed decisions on the water.Instructors will provide students with information via a classroom setting to help them reduce the risk of injury and conflict on the water.Students who successfully complete the course may apply for a Boating Safety Education Certificate for a $10 fee. A certificate is required of all operators of personal watercraft or anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1982 who operate a motorboat of more than 25 horsepower.More information about this course or boating safety can be found by visiting the PFBC website at

http://www.fishand boat.com/.**********"Ladies Day Out," a bi-annual event features hands-on seminars focused on the shooting sports, archery and fly fishing taught by local experts free of charge, is today at Cabela's, Hamburg. Participants will also be eligible to win door prizes and a $1,500 Cabela's gift card.No preregistration is required for the following seminars: Introduction to Firearms, 9 a.m.; Handgun Safety, 10 a.m.; Introduction to Personal Protection, 11 a.m.; and Introduction to Archery, 12 p.m.Preregistration is required for Introduction to Fly Fishing, 1-4 p.m., by calling the Fly Shop at 610-929-7000.**********Four Mile Outfitters comprised of retired U.S. military personnel, including Army Lt. Col. Tom Frendak, a Coaldale native and former Panther Valley athlete, is the recipient of the Humanitarian Award presented by the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show and Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association.Frendak, who now lives in Maryland, and the three other retired Military personnel from Pennsylvania Steve Sharpless of East Stroudsburg, Scott Spaeth of Philadelphia and Neil Spaeth of Northampton - formed Four Mile Outfitters two years ago to support the Wounded Warrior Project by providing pheasant hunts with the cooperation of the Wil and Michele Dise at Clover Hollow Preserve near Slatington.Four Mile Outfitters held its first pheasant hunt for U.S. Marine. Sgt. Jonathan Tompkins, a Keystone Wounded Warrior and Marine Corps Reservist with Battery I, 3d Battalion, 14th Marines, Reading. Last year the group expanded its mission by incorporating the Pennsylvania Game Commission "Hunt With A Veteran" campaign and provided a hunt at Clover Hollow for local servicemen Nate Wehr, who served one tour in Afghanistan with the Air Force; Jim Mulholland, who served one tour in Iraq and one in Afghanistan with the Army; and Steve Bretzik, who served two tours in Iraq with the Army.This year's Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show was cancelled after a mass boycott by the outdoors industry in protest of an anti-Second Amendment position by the Great Britain-based owners of the show, its three service awards were still presented. Schuylkill County Chapter of Trout Unlimited is the recipient of the ESOS Conservation Award and Randy Cassell of Mechanicsburg is the recipient of the Youth Mentor Award for his unique teaching ability that introduces students to nature for the last 31 years at Cumberland Valley High School.**********A simulated hunting 3D course is open daily through October 12 from dawn to dusk at Bears Head Archery, Delano, off I-81 exit 134. Sundays, the course is closed from 1-4 p.m. for trap. For information, email

docblazer@verizon.net.**********Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," hosted by award-winning Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410-AM WLSH, at 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5-FM and on the Web at

http://www.wmgh.com/ by clicking the link to the program, features "Petersen's Bowhunting Magazine" editor and Tamaqua resident Christian Berg.**********Two fund-raising fishing events are being held at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Pine Grove, beginning with "Angling for Miracles," which benefits Janet Weis Children's Hospital at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and for information call 570-271-6188 or access the SALCP website at

http://www.sweetarrowlakepark.com/.Family Fun Fishing Event, to benefit outdoors educational events of the Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Association, is Sunday, May 5, beginning at 8 a.m., and for information, registration and becoming a sponsor contact Craig Morgan at (570) 617-8223, (570) 739-2627 or email

crmorgan1@hughes.net; and to download a registration form access the SALCP website at

http://www.sweetarrowlakepark.com/.