An interview with Joella Bates by Anne Marlowe
I see on social media you are super busy, so tell me what you have been doing?
Joella: I’ve been on the road teaching archery in conjunction with my JoCamps Archery Boot Camps business and youth programs. I love visiting bow shops and stores that sell hunting, shooting and fishing products. I enjoy finding and trying new and interesting products that can enhance my outdoor experience and sharing products that I use and believe give both me and others an advantage.
I am actively working to improve my shooting and teaching skills. I recently attended the USA Archery Coaches Symposium in Salt Lake City, UT. There, I was exposed to new concepts and approaches that I am incorporating in my shooting and archery programs. I was thrilled to meet many coaches from around the USA and the world. My biggest highlight was meeting and conversing with our USA Men’s Olympic Team Head Coach, KiSik Lee. As we speak, I am within an hour’s drive of where I attended my USA Level 3NTS coach training which opened my eyes to the USA Olympic method of shooting. Now, I am preparing to attend the USA Level 4 NTS Coach Training at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.
Please fill me in with your archery background (your credentials)
Joella: My first time shooting a bow was as the summer after my 9th grade year at 4H Conservation Conference in Milan, TN. I had won snack money off the guys at the rifle range, so the group leader suggested that I go try archery too. With little instruction other than keeping the arrow pointed down range and don't let go of the string without an arrow attached, I went home black and blue but intrigued. Since all active 4Hers are interested in winning their way to State Roundup, I saw archery as a way that I could accomplish that feat. After camp, I took dad's bow and arrows to the front yard with a small rectangular hay bale for a backstop and began shooting. It was difficult, but I drew the bowstring until it stopped back beyond my ear, before losing the string. If you know archery, you can just imagine the beating that my bow arm took. It looked like I had been on the receiving end of a butt whipping.
In 1983, dad bought me an Indian compound. Not knowing any better, I drew that 31-inch-draw-length bow way back behind my ear. I only thought that I had bruises before! Years later, I found that bow under a thick covering of dust in the basement.
In 1989, at the suggestion of Steve Nifong, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency training officer, I tried archery again with the goal of getting good enough for him to take me bowhunting. I told him of my other bad experiences, so with Steve’s guidance, I shopped at an archery pro shop, Odell’s Outdoorsman in Cookeville, TN. Odell Braswell fitted me to a High Country Trophy Hunter compound bow at my draw length. After he rigged the bow with an arrow rest, peep and sight, he chose a Pro Injector release aid, an armguard, and some sample arrows. Behind the store was an outdoor range with flat targets, that Odell used to create a positive first experience with the potential archer and the bow they were considering purchasing. At close distance, he guided me through shooting my first arrows. Within 30 minutes, I was ready to buy the bow. Because he showed me the right way to keep from beating myself up and helped me be successful hitting the target, I was excited and now hooked on archery. My archery catapulted to a new level. Failures on the first two deer in a bowhunting situation just made me determined to succeed.
My first archery deer was a 7-point buck. It received the 7th arrow that I launched during my first season bowhunting. Even though it didn’t hit anywhere near where I was aiming, the heavy blood trail easily led me to the trophy which I recovered with the aid of my Mammie and two very young children. For many years, the three of us would trail and recover all deer that I shot on the home place in Waverly, TN.
The opportunity to represent ASAT Camo in a team bowhunting event that was to take place in LA (lower Alabama) opened my world to the sport of 3D archery. Each team included a female bowhunter, so I was determined to be an asset to my team…not a liability. The prize of an all-expense-paid elk hunt was incentive enough for me to practice my shooting to become the best that I could be. Since the event would include shooting at 3D targets, I sought out places to shoot 3D. During 1991, I took a job with TVA as an environmental scientist which required moving near Chattanooga, TN. During the house hunt, I found a duplex in Hixson, TN with the perfect yard for shooting archery; it was there that I acquired the skills to become a much better archer and bowhunter, but only after I experienced finishing last and losing most of my arrows at my first of many 3D tournaments.
My determination to succeed took me from last to first in my second 3D tournament. Equipment trouble and the need to find a bow technician who I could depend on to help maintain my gear lead me to Red Man Archery in Ringgold, GA. Blacky soon put me on the store shooting staff. Most days, my after-work routine was to pick up the kids from KinderCare, buy dinner and go to Red Man Archery where I would shoot until dark or end the evening shooting under the floodlights. By late summer of 1992, I routinely was the female archer to beat and then THE archer to beat.
Tell me about your championships and a quick background into the organization that you have won them with.
Joella: Conversations among the guys about competing in the IBO 3D World Championship intrigued me, so I became determined to also check it out. I traveled over 7 hours to shoot a qualifier that would enable me to shoot the IBO World Championship (http://www.ibo.net/) in Anniston, AL, but becoming stricken with viral meningitis just days before the event created a much different outcome than I had planned. Again, my world expanded when I met and shot with Tim Strickland, the coach who had recently returned from guiding the American Olympic hopefuls to medals at the Pan Am Games. Tim turned me on to competing for money at the national level in the inaugural year of the ASA (Archery Shooters Association) tour. (https://www.asaarchery.com/)
Archery became an obsession with me. I set goals to become the Female Amateur National Champion so I could shoot the Classic against the women pros. I traveled to as many tournaments with my 6 and 8-year-old children in tow. I practiced almost daily and shot tournaments with many distractions that strengthened my power to focus. Another turning point occurred when I was introduced to Dan Hart of Huntsville, AL; he became my coach and lifetime friend. Eight days after my first lesson with Dan, I won the ASA Amateur National Championship and the next month, I won the IBO World Championship in the Female Bowhunter Class.
In 1994, I went pro and began competing against the best women compound shooters in the US. At the end of the season, just two weeks before the 3D World Championships, I was faced with the ultimatum that I had to decide between being an environmental scientist on the Elk River Watershed River Action Team with TVA or being a professional archer. I had just read the book, “Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow.” I took that advice. I resigned from TVA and won $7,000 over the next two weekends with a 3rd at IBO World and I claimed the ASA Classic to take my first Professional World Championship as a rookie. In 1995, my job was shooting archery. I worked hard to be successful. I worked out at Harvey’s Gym in Columbia, TN five days a week. After breakfast, I studied archery, judged distance and shot my bow. After a short nap, I would do more shooting and judging then spend afternoons and evenings focused on Bo and Jana. During the offseason from 3D, I would shoot in an indoor league. The hard work proved to be beneficial, with me winning $35,000 and three additional Worlds in 1995: IBO Indoor, IBO Indoor Team, and the ASA Classic. I became the ASA Woman Pro Shooter of the Year as well as being named 3D and Target Archery’s Woman Shooter of the Year. In 1998, I again focused on training with much gym work and pounding targets on my home range. It worked to garner me nine straight podium finishes to start the year and $42,000 in tournament earnings.
In 2001, I accepted the challenge to pursue Black Death, the African Cape buffalo with only a bow and arrows. Again, I hit the gym and trained to become the first woman to successfully arrow a Cape with an 85-pound Mathews Ultra II. With continued weight training and lots of shooting, by 2003, I had worked my way to accurately shooting a Mathews Safari at 104 pounds in preparation for bowhunting an elephant. Feeling invincible, I arm wrestled a big dude on Valentines Day evening that ended tragically. Without either of us being able to take the other down, my male opponent stood up and slammed my hand down. Never expecting him to pull an unethical shenanigan, I continued to resist until the loud pop was heard and I felt excruciating pain in both my chest and right triceps. Within a split second, my career changed. I knew that I was hurt but still chose to shoot and win a competition the following day. The following week, I struggled to even shoot 40 pounds for the BE A WINNER motivational programs and shooting seminars that I conducted in Birmingham, AL for Bob Coker’s Turkey Classic.
In March, I was offered a free bison hunt in Saskatchewan. I refused it initially, but I was convinced to accept the offer when the outfitter assured me that I could shoot it with whatever I chose. The stipulation was for me to publish the story. By this time, I was counting species taken with my bow. I thought it would be cool to bow hunt the bison. Since I had a 72-pound bow sighted in, I justified that I only had to be certain that I could draw it. I shot just enough to ensure it was hitting on target. After three or four shots, the right side of my face tingled and numbed. The hunt was on. Amid snow and single digit temperatures in Saskatchewan, I successfully shot the bison at 20 yards.
My comeback was on. During the spring, I arrowed Kansas Rio Grande turkeys and a Nebraska Merriam turkey. A few months later, I found myself bowhunting 11 animals and filming a promotional video in Africa with Africa Active Safaris. On the last day bowhunting Africa, the outfitter received a call offering me the opportunity to bow hunt an injured elephant on the nearby National Park. It was heartbreaking to turn down a free elephant hunt, but being unable to draw the required bow weight, prevented me from realizing my dream at that time.
After taking an assignment to write an equipment review on the Bear Instinct, I began to get the bug to compete in 3D again. I decided I would test my skills with a hunting bow against my women pro competitors. Having been challenged by an audience member at a seminar in New Orleans, I decided to shoot the Bear Instinct outfitted with a moveable sight and short stabilizer at the first leg of the IBO Crown in Bedford, IN in May 2004 to prove my point. When the guy threw an insult at me that anyone could shoot the fancy bows and win, I assured him that the best shooters could shoot basically any bow well. I had not seen or shot at a 3D target since the Turkey Classic the previous year, but I finished 4th with one miss. Momentarily, I lost focus during the let-down and my back-tension release aid prematurely fired the arrow which deflected off the back of the alligator target. Despite that shot, I had proved that the Dan Hart judging method prevents horrendous judging errors. I was more determined than ever to share my knowledge with others.
I found myself traveling, hunting, fishing, speaking, and writing. I wasn’t getting rich in dollars, but certainly was living my dream making rich and lasting memories. My communication skills and abundance of outdoor contacts opened many doors including opportunities to represent companies and sell their products. I moved to Kentucky to work in sales and marketing when a chance meeting at the magazine counter opened a new door. At Tractor’s Supply, I met a lady who struck up a conversation with me about the archery shirt that I was wearing. She had a friend with a boy that loved archery. She said that her friend wanted to find a coach for her son. I gave her my business card and a few days later, I met the family and the boy. After four months of coaching, Austin Nolen and Caylee Marshall, Austin walked on stage to claim his 2nd place medal at the NASP World Championship in Orlando, FL. With coaching the kids, I had found my calling and a new personal inspiration. My self-image reflected the new confidence that my revived spirit possessed. I was lean and fit to take on all of life’s challenges.
In June of 2011, I accepted an invitation to assist with a Free Fishing Day Derby in Heber Springs, AR. My friend David Mitchell, best known as Mountain Man, had arranged several trout fishing opportunities which supplied story material. He introduced me to a young friend who had recently attended guide school where he became a certified hunting guide. At the Mountain Man cabin, the three of us shot bows. I tuned Jake’s bow and taught him how to work on it along with providing several shooting tips to help him improve as an archer. Jake was very anxious to provide exceptional service to the hunters that he would guide, so he soaked it in.
David dusted off the old Pearson recurve that hung on the wall of the Mountain Man cabin and brought it outside. He challenged me to a shooting contest. I was a compound shooter, but I had little experience with a traditional bow. I accepted his shooting challenge. Since I had taught Austin to shoot his Genesis bow using a tab with his fingers, I just applied that technique as I shot the recurve. It was very intriguing and challenging. I held my own. Jake had a self-bow which Gene Steed also of Camden, AR had custom made. Jake asked if I would shoot one if he helped Mr. Gene make me one. I graciously accepted the show of his gratitude.
In August, I touched her for the first time. “The First Lady” was a beautiful bitternut hickory bow backed with deer sinew and timber rattlesnake skin. I fell in love with her almost mystical arrow flight. Within a month, while conducting a shooting demonstration at the Lindsay’s Resort Outdoor Kids Retreat, I proclaimed to outdoor writer and radio personality “Tom Cat” Tommy Garner that one day, I would return to competitive archery and win my sixth world championship with a traditional bow. I did that in 2016.
Now, I have claimed 11 3D Archery World Championships in four different classes. I have arrowed 80 different species while bowhunting. I'm the first and only lady bowhunter to arrow the Big 5 of Africa, the first to arrow a Turkey Grand Slam and an African Cape buffalo.
What made you want to begin JoCamps?
Joella: There were a series of occurrences that lead to my decision to officially start JoCamps. After the arm-wrestling incident, I really didn’t know what I was going to do to earn an income. With prayer and God’s vision, I changed my focus to writing, speaking, teaching and bowhunting. I knew that I could take my archery and bowhunting knowledge and share it with others to help them shoot better for competition and bowhunting. I increased my efforts to book speaking engagements and acquire writing assignments. I started booking more shooting clinics. They weren’t called JoCamps, but the idea of sharing the sport with others, became my lifeline.
Successfully teaching good archery to Austin and Caylee in Kentucky was very fulfilling. Then teaching Jake to tune bows and shoot better for bowhunting had given me an immense feeling of accomplishment very similar to what I felt when I won archery tournaments and even World Championships. In 2012, I traveled to South Alabama, where, as a guest trainer for a summer archery camp, I trained six parents as BAIs (Basic Archery Instructors) for NASP. Together, I oversaw instruction for the 62 kids at Saint Luke’s Episcopal School. The following year, I was elated to learn that one of those parent’s had coached the elementary school to an Alabama State Championship.
I desired to have a profound influence on preserving and protecting our outdoor heritage. When I read of S3DA’s formation, I emailed Jennie Richardson about her new program. Receiving no answer until January 2015, my husband shared the news of an instructor training for S3DA that would be held on Super Bowl Sunday in Pegram, TN. Right after he told me, insightfully, he booked my flight from Las Vegas back to Nashville where I became a certified Basic and Advanced instructor for S3DA. Just a few days later, Jennie asked me to become the state coordinator for Arkansas. I traveled between Tennessee and Arkansas to begin program expansion. Before long, Mike Lundeen became the S3DA National Director and offered me the chance to travel broadly and train instructors and state coordinators, helping expand S3DA opportunities to communities all over the eastern United States.
My first certified instructor candidates completed their training at Taylor’s Archery in Tullahoma, TN. They wanted more hands-on learning, so I offered to conduct an Archery Boot Camp in their town. Graduates of the Taylor’s Archery Boot Camp “earned their stripes.” Pictures flooded Facebook. I spread the word at the Tennessee NASP State Championship. I trained Mount Juliet NASP coaches to become instructors, so their kids could join S3DA and have more opportunities to compete in 3D. Following the Archery Boot at Old Hickory Bowman Club in Hermitage, TN, more pictures of happy Archery Boot Camp(ers) found their way to Facebook.
By the summer of 2015, my husband Joe Breneman and I continued actively looking for other opportunities for me to travel to communities that were willing to host an Archery Camp. We knew that I needed a Website and Facebook page to promote my rapidly expanding business. Since both of us are “Joe’s,” we tossed around name ideas containing JOE. After internet searches, together we came up with JoCamps as a name.
Joe had previously designed me a t-shirt to sell at events. We decided to sell them, but also give each JoCamps’ participants at my Archery Boot, so we asked the designer if he could create a JoCamps logo. He found an interesting font and I suggested it be combined with a silhouette of me helping my grandson Laken Crowell shoot a longbow.
Years ago, I had that photo of us taken specifically to be used in the local newspaper to promote a local fair appearance where I invited kids to shoot archery. The photo captured what had been my mission and focus for years, my philosophy of passion on passion. It started with me and my children, Bo and Jana Bates. Then passed to every child who I could get interested in shooting with me. Even before my first grandson, Laken was born, one of my industry friends gave me a bow for him. When he was very young, I taught him to shoot. Then as a 4-year old, Laken taught my 75-year-old Mammie to shoot a bow. Laken reminded his great-grandmother the same thing that I had on many occasions imparted to him, "You can hit the target if you will just listen and do what I tell you to do." I can hear it now, “Mammie, just listen!”
My passion is sharing and teaching archery and passing on the outdoor lifestyle to others. I have introduced 100s of thousands of kids to archery since 1993. I’ve trained over 200 archery instructors since 2015. I’ve taught archery to hundreds of youngsters in my JoCamps Archery Boot Camp program.
You know that having experienced such a rough beginning in archery is what has motivated me to start my mobile JoCamps Archery Boot Camp business. I don't want people to start archery without finding a good pro shop with knowledgeable staff who can provide for their individual needs, creating a turn-off from the sport. I don't want anyone to feel the pain of doing it wrong and the frustration of losing or breaking expensive arrows to run them away from trying archery. Starting wrong, with ill-fitting equipment can be expensive. I provide proper guidance, and stand behind my statement that, no matter what brand or kind of bow someone shoots, I can help them shoot it better.
Many of us older gals have overcome the obstacles that stood in our way. Women are being treated with more respect and taken seriously as outdoor consumers. My nightmare of being told, "Little lady, you need to just shoot, this don't matter to you," told to me by the owner of a bow shop many years ago was demeaning and frustrating. I was later told how proud he was of me for my archery accomplishments and for sticking it out when many men resented my rise to archery success.
Who are the camps designed for and how do you run them?
Joella: JoCamps are designed to teach archery skills to beginners, intermediate and advanced archers and can be customized to meet the specific needs of the team or group. For instance, I have done JoCamps to address the needs of archers preparing for ASA, IBO, NFAA, NASP, S3DA, 4H and the Youth Hunter Education Challenge. I also do JoCamps focused on teaching archery shooting skills for bowhunting.
JoCamps incorporate the National Training System shot process that is used by USA Archery to prepare our American archers for international and Olympic competitions. My objective is to systematically teach using methods that bring quicker more consistent success to archers of any skill level while keeping all participants engaged in learning skills that will benefit them in archery.
I offer multiple sessions at a location with participants of similar skill levels being grouped together and/or archers from the same team the option to train together.
Instead of an archer experiencing years of failures learned from the school of hard knocks, I promote learning a method that gets archers on target quickly, which tends to keep more folks in the sport. With all of the distractions on our time, experience shows that folks gravitate toward activities that provide instant gratification. JoCamps can't ensure that you will have instant success, but I strive to get you as close to instant gratification as I can.
How long are JoCamps?
Joella: I offer JoCamps as both an after school one evening or multiple evenings all the way up to multiple day events held for a whole week or even a weekend. To accommodate more archers while I am in an area and to provide more focused attention on each JoCamps attendee, I recommend breaking the time into 2-hour sessions for most Elementary archers and either 3-hour or 4.5-hour sessions for Middle, Junior High, High School or College archers. I find that consecutive days with the session lasting 4.5 hours tends to be difficult for archers just getting started or for shooters whose bodies are not conditioned to shoot for a long period of time. Two or three days of 3-hour sessions seem to provide the most benefit and engagement with archers. Adult archers or experienced youth archers benefit from an all-day weekend or week-long camps.
How many kids can you work with at a time etc.?
Joella: It takes a minimum of 10 archers for me to travel and conduct a JoCamp. If I am traveling over 300 miles, the cost increases slightly and for distances over 500 miles, both the minimum number of archers increases to 15 or possibly more and the cost is slightly higher.
I divide the sessions into smaller groups with up to 10 kids in a session, but with assistance from additional trained instructors, the group size can increase to up to 20 kids. If there are more than 10 kids attending a JoCamps Archery Boot, I will divide the group into smaller numbers for each session. If more than 20 kids are attending, I will conduct as many as 3 sessions per day.
Where does the equipment come from and what is the cost for a program?
Joella: In most cases, the archers supply their own equipment. If the group arranges an Explore Archery Option, I can provide equipment or arrange for loaner equipment.
The cost is variable depending on the number of participants and length of exposure. A 9-hour camp ranges from $150 up to $250 per participant. Contact me at www.jocamps.com to get pricing based on your needs. Special pricing is available for after-school programs. Week-long camps can also be arranged and pricing is variable depending on your specific program requests.
Can adults participate?
Joella: I gladly schedule JoCamps for recreation, competition and bowhunting, for both adults and children. I do events for couples and parent/children that are designed to address the skill set that will make the sport enjoyable for your group.
I conduct instructor training for teachers and parents wishing to work with youth. Combining a JoCamps and instructor training opportunity into a single trip makes for a very effective and efficient learning environment.
How are instructors trained?
Joella: I can train instructors for S3DA, USA Archery, Centershot Ministry Program and anyone desiring to work with summer programs or camps with minimum ages varying depending on the organization. Training requirements vary depending on the desired certification. Minimum times are 8 hours in a single day and 2 days for USA Archery Level 2 or S3DA Advanced Instructors. Contact me at www.jocamps.com for more details.
Where do you see JoCamps in the future?
Joella: I envision conducting more JoCamps around the country and internationally. I do envision training instructors and providing JoCamps Active Archery certifications. I plan to conduct large JoCamps at colleges or other large properties that will be staffed with certified instructors who are trained to administer my training method.
I will be conducting some “ARCHERY ALL STAR” camps aimed at giving more skilled archers and teams a more advanced learning opportunity to prepare them to have a competitive advantage at national and international events. There will also be JoCamps Archery Boot Camp Learn and Hunt events that will include an archery shooting skills learning opportunity followed with a skills application hunting opportunity several months later. Maybe I will franchise JoCamps someday.
How do JoCamps differ from other programs of the same type?
Joella: I travel to communities around the USA instead of requiring the whole team or group to come to me. It makes it much less costly when the archers don’t have to pay travel and lodging beyond their hometowns or area. Additionally, JoCamps Archery Boot Camps participants will be engaged in archery skill development to include stretching, strength building, cardio as well as bow shooting to prepare archers to become archery athletes possessing a competitive advantage in their respective disciplines. JoCamps teaches proper fitness and healthy lifestyle choices with the intention of providing outdoor engagement and enjoyment.
What are some of your favorite moments while doing JoCamps?
Joella: My mind goes back to the first Archery Boot Camp at Taylors where we provided almost all equipment. I spent so much time turning poundage up and down. Few kids had eaten any breakfast, so they were yawning and out of energy. All week, it was blazing hot and the kids consumed mass amounts of water because I kept making them drink. We lost lots of arrows, but they had fun. By day two, kids remembered what they had learned about eating to win; they ate protein and munched on fruit which yielded more energy to keep going. On the final day, the kids ran an obstacle course and shot bows that were waiting at each target station. I had a difficult time running behind them filming with my video camera. They wore me out. Just as soon as one would complete the course, another would go. They were so anxious to try to better their best time and score. I come to the realization that kids DID love running, exercising and shooting archery. At our graduation ceremony, I presented certificates and Sandy painted stripes on their faces. Our star of the show was a 5th grade girl who embraced the shot process and excelled.
Practicing using obstacles prepares archers to deal with the adrenaline coursing through their veins during the heat of competition, so I add obstacles before shooting the final scoring round of the JoCamps. Archers focus on controlling their breathing then making their shot. The funny thing is most archers rise to the occasion and shoot better.
I am always thrilled when I receive a precious message from a camp attendee. I must share this one with you. Christopher Edwards from Norwood wrote, “…I went to one of your camps back in June. I have been practicing quite a bit since. This evening I shot this group at about 30 yards. I wanted to say thank you and I definitely believe in your methods. Thanks for helping me step up my game. Also, yesterday, with some extra warm-up rounds, I shot a 291. I am ecstatic with the improvements I’m making, thanks to you and the good Lord. I agree. I haven't changed a thing since camp and I’m reaping the rewards. You don't know how excited I was to show you.”
What can others do to help you?
Joella: Please spread the word and share my information with parents, teachers, coaches, churches and young folks interested in becoming better archers and learning new life skills. Financial contributions are always welcome and help provide opportunities for well deserving, but financially strapped individuals. Donations of gently used equipment are welcomed and will be passed on or used to provide less fortunate or newbies with opportunities to explore archery.
If you have a facility that you would like to make available or you have a group that you want to schedule a JoCamps Archery Boot Camp for, or if you are an outfitter and wish to host a JoCamps Archery Boot Camp Learn and Hunt event, please contact me through the Contact Me section of www.jocamps.com website.
I would love for anyone interested, to become a sponsor of JoCamps. Every person who attends receives a JoCamps T-shirt with sponsor logos or names on the back. I also need several portable pop-up canopy’s or tents to protect archers from weather elements for outdoor events.
How do people contact you and how can they host a JoCamp?
Joella: Contact me through the contact page on www.jocamps.com or email me at joella@jocamps.com. It takes organizing a group of at least 10 people or being willing to divide the difference among the participants, so I can come to your community. I require a $500 deposit for me to hold a date on my calendar. I will provide you a contract with the specifics and require payment in full, to reach me at least a week in advance of the first day of camp. If more persons above the minimum desire to attend the JoCamps, they can either pay through www.jocamps.com store or pay by cash, check or credit/debit card at the beginning of the first day of camp.
Learn more about Joella’s beginning at http://johninthewild.com/bowhunters-vicki-cianciarulo-joella-bates-open-doors-women-outdoors/
Anne Marlowe has been an outdoor writer for 15 years. She writes about hiking, hunting, travel, great places to eat and whatever else catches her fancy. Please look for more articles on www.AnneMarloweOutdoors.com.