WHEN Debbie Coffin sets up her fly-fishing class at Westmoreland State Park in late September, it'll have one basic, underlying theme.

"Breaking the myth that it's extremely difficult," said Coffin, who has been tossing flies on rivers and streams since the early 1990s. "That and getting beyond the notion that fly-fishing is somehow just a man's sport."

Coffin, the assistant manager at James River State Park, will be one of dozens offering classes at a unique "Women's Wellness Weekend" Sept. 25 through 27 at the state park.

It's part of a new statewide program of weekend getaways designed for women looking to reduce stress, learn about nature and enjoy the outdoors.

The pitch: "Refresh and relax while enjoying a wonderful weekend in nature in the fellowship of other women."

The Westmoreland weekend, with classes ranging from outdoor photography to medicinal herbs to building an aquatic garden, will be the second of its type. The first was at Hungry Mother State Park earlier this year; others will happen next year.

Annette Bareford, a public relations and development coordinator for the state parks, came up with the notion of offering the special weekends for women.

A district employee who works out of Westmoreland State Park, Bareford said she and others with her position across the state were asked to come up with new programs to lure new users into the parks.

Bareford, a nature lover who grew up kayaking and enjoying the outdoors, honed in on giving women a reason to visit.

"We're trying to have a variety of things that will interest women and help them deal with the everyday stresses and challenges we all face," she said. "One way to deal with those is to get outdoors and let nature reduce that stress."

Bareford said there's plenty of hiking, kayaking and other typical outdoor activities packed into the Wellness Weekends.

"But there's also some pampering and easily accessible offerings like classes on skin care, guided meditation, aroma therapy and wine education," said Bareford. "There's also self-help classes like car and home maintenance designed to help women deal with challenges they have every day."