provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Sign-ups are open for free activities during the fourth annual Wellness in Nature @ “Ding” event, sponsored by the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) Jan. 23 – 26 on Sanibel Island.
“The purpose of the four-day event is to draw in and connect with new-to-‘Ding’ visitors about the value of conservation,” said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland. “It facilitates experiences that foster a deeper, more meaningful connection to nature and centers around the ways nature and humans help each other heal.”
Visit dingwellness.com for a schedule of activities and a link to Eventbrite registration. Activities range from a low-tide bird photography workshop to sunset yoga and Planting Seeds of Connection Workshop. Registration is free and limited. Ten spaces for walk-ins will also be available the day of the activity.
The event kicks off on Thursday, Jan. 23, with keynote lecturer Aimee Copeland from Atlanta, Ga., who will talk about her personal story of a crippling accident and her foundation focused on the importance of accessible recreation spaces and opportunities. Jim and Linda Winn sponsor the presentation.
On Saturday, Jan. 25, the event reaches its peak with a Wellness in Nature Fest including open-air live music, eco-creation stations, sunset yoga, refreshments, and other mind-body activities. One Sunday highlight is Walk for Wellness: Learn the Basics of Energy Medicine.
“The refuge has hosted Wellness in Nature events for three years, starting in 2021 with the unveiling of our self-guided Mindfulness Trail at the Bailey Tract, the first of its kind in the nearly 570 national wildlife refuges across the U.S.,” said Westland. “Each year, we fine-tune the activities with the purpose of getting people outdoors to better their health and well-being.”
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