Woodbine Ecology Center, a 61-acre outdoor environmental education center located in Sedalia, is preparing for their spring events, courses and workshops, said Shannon Francis, Indigenous permaculture design instructor at Woodbine.

"We're reaching out to the youth to teach them how to reconnect with the land," she said.

Woodbine's mission is to address the broader ecological and social crisis with education on ecological sustainability, preservation and composting among other objectives, said Pavlos Stavropoulos, sustainability coordinator at Woodbine.

"We want to let the land be our teacher and guide," he said. "This is an opportunity for transformation."

Glenn Morris, Indigenous project coordinator at Woodbine, said that the center wishes to remain a nucleus of the community.

"We don't intend to sub-divide (Woodbine)," said Morris. "Its historical integrity will be maintained."

According to Francis, Woodbine will be hosting a Spring Celebration in recognition of the spring equinox on March 21 and everyone - especially Douglas County residents - are encouraged to attend.

"We'll have demonstrations of some of the programs, food, a teepee raising and
possibly American Indian drumming," said Morris.

"We're part of the ecological circle, and by healing the circle we heal ourselves," Stavropoulos said.

For more information about the coming spring events, go to www.woodbinecenter.org.

Simon Moya-Smith: 303-954-2396 or moyas@yourhub.com