Refuge, DDWS to present next lecture in series
At age 24, Aimee Copeland survived a flesh-eating bacterial infection after a zip-lining accident. She lost, however, both her hands, right foot and entire left leg. Her courage and resilience led her down a path toward nature and its healing effects. The journey has taken an activist turn with a mission to help others find the nature cure and to speak out on the importance of accessible outdoor recreation spaces and opportunities.
Copeland is a psychotherapist, activist, certified yoga instructor, motivational speaker and founder of the Aimee Copeland Foundation and All Terrain Georgia. She is the chief executive officer of the Grant Park Counseling Group in Atlanta, Georgia, and Asheville Center for Inner Healing in Asheville, North Carolina. She holds dual master’s degrees in psychology and social work and she is a licensed clinical social worker in Georgia and North Carolina.
As the keynote speaker for the Wellness in Nature @ “Ding,” Copeland will present her message of courage and self-awareness at two free lectures on Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the auditorium at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) co-hosts the annual “Ding” Darling Winter Lecture Series with the refuge and through financial support from sponsors Jim and Linda Winn.
The remaining lecture schedule is as follows:
– Jan. 30: Author/Indigenous native David Rahahę·tih Webb, “The Spanish Seminole: The Untold History of the Spanish Indians as Shared by a Descendant”* (sponsor Friends of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society)
– Feb. 6: “Python Huntress” Amy Siewe, “Burmese Pythons in the Everglades”* (sponsors Susan and Cliff Beittel)
– Feb. 20: Author Charles Sobczak, “The Great Florida Invasion — From Pepper to Pythons”* (sponsor Friends of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society)
– Feb. 27: Author/photographer Budd Titlow, “Bird Brains: Inside the Minds of our Feathered Friends”* (sponsor A Friend of “Ding” Darling)
– March 13: Actor Joe Wiegand, “President Teddy Roosevelt Reprised” (sponsors Heather and Bill O’Keefe)
*Book signing will follow lecture
Seating is limited on a first-come basis. Early arrivals can check in after 9 a.m. and after noon and obtain an entrance wristband so they can explore the Visitor & Education Center, Wildlife Drive and trails beforehand. Saved seats must be filled 15 minutes before the lecture or risk being reassigned.
For more information, visit dingdarlingsociety.org/lecture-series.
The refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel.