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Jeff Souders
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Jeff Souders: the Man for Women
in the Outdoors
By Karen Lee
Jeff Souders is a self-taught hunter, and that’s why he feels he’s the man to energize Pennsylvania’s women about the outdoors.
“I didn’t grow up in a family of hunters showing me what to do,” he said. “My dad would take me out on the first day of deer season, and that was about it. So, having the opportunity to introduce someone new to the outdoors is my motivation.”
Souders, of Middleton, Pa., joined the NWTF ranks as the Pennsylvania Women in the Outdoors Coordinator in June 2010. His job is to promote the program in the Keystone State, offering women the chance to try outdoor activities and find their niche outside. His goal is simple: to see every NWTF chapter in the state host a Women in the Outdoors event.
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Photo by Michael Turbyfill
Souders’ local NWTF chapter is Stony Valley, but he works with chapter volunteers across the state to promote Women in the Outdoors and host outdoors events for women. |
He developed a vast network in the sporting community through his previous job as the membership coordinator for the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’ Clubs. Match those contacts with a passion for the outdoors, and you have a recruiting machine that’s making strides for women in Pennsylvania.
“I’ve spent my life in the Pennsylvania outdoors,” Souders said. “I love to backpack, participate in trail runs, fly-fish and deer hunt, but my all time favorite thing to do is turkey hunt.”
How do Pennsylvanian outdoorswomen feel about having a man leading their charge?
“It’s really been a non-issue,” Souders said. “The volunteers have been great. They’re just excited to have someone focused on the Women in the Outdoors program in their state.”
Want More? > Learn more about what’s going on with Women in the Outdoors in Pennsylvania. E-mail Jeff Souders at jsouders@nwtf.net.