The last Christmas tree needles have been vacuumed from the carpet, but in the back of your mind, you know you’ll still find some in August. The ladder is up to remove the last string of lights around the house, and you are deep in thought, enjoying the cool, crisp outside air. The New Year is stretching in front of you like a long ribbon full of empty days – and that can be a little scary. This year is going to be different: You want to learn something, to make new friends and avoid having your time completely swallowed up by the everyday routine. Being outside is pleasant, if only this wind would not entangle your lights…

So yes, having an outdoor activity would be good, and everybody tells you that being outside is healthy, so there must be something to it. You do have some free time – but not the whole day, either – so how can you make the best use of that precious free time?

Look no further, because the answer to this question is easy. Plus, your timing is perfect. The Placerita Canyon Nature Center will offer all of this to you with the docent training starting Jan. 12.

Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon, so you will have plenty of free time after that, and it is only a 9-week training program.

What can you expect there? You will learn about native plants, ecology, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, geology, history and interpretive techniques. That should be a whole list of interesting topics to fill up your wish list of learning something new. Most of those classes have the first part given in the classroom, and the second part is held on the trail – so you will be outdoors, learning in the field the application of what you just discovered in the classroom. The classes are led by professionals in the various fields, and they always welcome your questions.

What about social interaction? That is the best part – and a little secret that will become obvious to you on the first day of class. The Nature Center attracts an assortment of people who are always friendly, interested in nature, children and learning. They are always highly supportive of people who are making an effort to learn about nature.

Not only will you grow close to all of your class members while you are sharing those new experiences, but also with all the other docents who are delighted to help you. It is not a place for competition or ego, but for friendliness and helping each other. Plus, the goals of the Nature Center come first. I have been a docent for 30 years, so I see the same adventure happening every year, always with great amazement and pleasure.

What is a docent? “Docent” means teacher and also volunteer. Our main core program is to welcome school groups to the Nature Center from Tuesday through Friday and give them a program in the classroom about the circle of life. After that, we take them into the hills on the trail, showing animals and plants and interaction in the wild. We usually deal with elementary school ages, but some programs are adapted to even younger children.

The cost of the training is $45, which includes all training material (instruction manual, field guide, T-shirt and related items). The minimum age for the volunteer-naturalist program is 18. For further information, contact Ron Kraus, who is in charge of the training. You can reach him by e-mail at ron@placerita.org.

Also, check our web site (www.placerita.org) if you’d like to see what the Placerita Canyon Nature Center is all about.

If you do not have time to take the training now, keep it in the back of your mind. Maybe one day it will become possible. There are not too many places like this where you will be welcomed with open arms and learn so much that it will forever change who you are.

Here is our mission statement, and it tells you a lot right away: “To inspire a passion, awareness and respect for the environment, and to preserve and protect for future generations the history and ecosystem of Placerita Canyon.”

Working with children also brings you a feeling of accomplishment and deep joy. Most of them come to the center afraid and uncertain about being in the wild; they leave excited about having observed a lizard from close by or seeing a woodpecker gathering acorns. The experience of seeing their shining little faces when they finally “get it” is difficult to put into words.

Come to learn about the park and take a hike on one of the many trails. Green grass is starting to poke up everywhere, and even some wild flowers are starting to bloom. It is pretty exciting to see. Spring starts one step at a time … but you have to look closely to see it happening. It really is a wonderous time. Come visit the Nature Center whenever you can, and come back often.

Evelyne Vandersande has been a docent at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center since 1986. She lives in Newhall.

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