Sekhem Institute

Image showcasing participants of the Partner Pass Program, featuring diverse individuals representing local organizations and community initiatives.

In partnership with

About Sekhem Institute

The Sekhem Institute for Holistic Healing is a 501(c)(3) public charity that champions improving Mental Wellness in the African American community. Visit site >

Nurtured by Nature

The Eagle Creek Park Foundation is proud to partner with the Sekhem Institute for Holistic Healing to present Nurtured by Nature, a program that connects participants with the restorative power of Eagle Creek Park.

To support this initiative, we’ve donated 50 Foundation passes to Sekhem Institute, providing free park access and promoting the vital link between environmental wellness and overall health.

Sign up - Get a Free Foundation Pass

Nurtured by Nature Details

Sekhem Insitute is hosting nature walks at Eagle Creek Park in 2025 every 3rd Saturday from 9 am to 11 am starting in April. The first 50 people to sign up will receive free annual pass to Eagle Creek Park which gets you free entry to the park throughout the year and discounts on events and merchandise. Meeting details will be sent via email upon registering.

More from the Sekhem Website

Participants will learn about various emotions associated with the environmental exposures, including how a person’s mental health impacts their ability to care for their environments and how their environments impact their mental health.

Participants will discuss ways to bring nature into their homes to create an atmosphere of peace, and to purify the air. They will learn about global warming and ways to care for our environment for future generations to come.

Participants will be introduced to the concepts of grounding and forest bathing and their benefits on the parasympathetic nervous system. They will be able to go on nature walks on local trails and in state parks; our nature walks push the brain to release endorphins that lighten one’s mood and build positive emotions.

A quick hello from Robin Coleman

Founder and Executive Director of Sekhem Institute

Total Lunar Eclipse Member Event 2025

Member Events

Pi In the Sky: A Lunar Eclipse Event

Pi in the Sky: A Lunar Eclipse Member Event

Around 2:30 AM on Friday, March 14, 2025, the full moon will turn blood red in the skies over North America. A “Blood Moon” is a total lunar eclipse, and this will be the last one visible in Indianapolis for the next four years.

Unlike the 2024 total solar eclipse, you won’t need special glasses to view this event safely—since you’re looking at the moon, not the sun. This also means you can take photos of the Blood Moon much more easily than a total solar eclipse (check out our photo contest if you’re interested!).

Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that this total lunar eclipse happens to fall on Pi Day—March 14th, the annual celebration of the mathematical constant pi (π = 3.14…). Pi is all about round things, making it the perfect time to observe the round, full Blood Moon!

Member Event: Virtual Preparation for the Eclipse

Members are invited to attend our member on Thursday, March 13th, from 7 – 9 PM (the night leading into the eclipse).

Adam Hibshman, former physics and astronomy teacher, current Marketing and Program Manager for the Foundation, will help members plan to view and/or photograph the eclipse. Members can check their email before the event for the link and more information.

About the Eclipse:

For more information about this total lunar eclipse, visit this site >

Date:

Member Event: March 13, 2025

Lunar Eclipse: March 14th, 2025

Location:

Virtual

Photo Contest Details

Click here to submit a photo >

Theme: March 14, 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse

Prize: 2025 Foundation Pass

Timing: Submissions open March 14th, close on March 18th

Rules:

Submit 1-5 photos to Form. Can be Found on Social Media, email or eaglecreekpark.org/lunar-Eclipse
Two Contest Categories: phone and digital camera (can submit to both).
Submit your original photo(s) of the 3.14.25 Lunar eclipse.
Eagle Creek Park Foundation Members will vote for the winner.

Click here to submit a photo >

Photo Contest Submissions

Having trouble viewing the submission form? Click here to submit your photo >

Announcement for the Pi in the Sky Lunar Eclipse Photo Contest with details about submission and prizes.

Membership means more than park access

Voting on the Photo Contest

Members were invited to attend our virtual event to prepare for the eclipse. Then members voted on the images submitted

This event was member-only. Members receive invites to roughly monthly member events.

To find out more about Memberships and Passes click here >

Partner Pass Program

In partnership with

Give a Pass, Build a Future

Eagle Creek Park Foundation’s Partner Pass Program is a meaningful way to share the wonders of Eagle Creek Park while creating opportunities for local youth.

With a tax-deductible $50 donation, you can provide a Foundation Pass to one of our incredible community partners—Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, Brooke’s Place, or Starfish Initiative. You even get to choose which organization receives the pass, ensuring your gift aligns with the cause closest to your heart.

This program was born from a simple but powerful idea: everyone deserves the chance to explore the beauty of Eagle Creek Park.

By giving the gift of park access, you’re helping young people in our community connect with nature, build lasting memories, and grow through the support of mentors and friends. Together, we’re making a difference—one pass at a time.

Give A Pass, Build a Future

Meet Our Community Partners

Each of our Indianapolis-based community partners is eager to get their young people into the outdoors at Eagle Creek Park. Giving a pass provides access to the Park and a chance to explore, heal, grow, and learn!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana is a 1-to-1 mentorship-based nonprofit organization that serves more than 1,200 youth annually, ages 8-18, in Hamilton, Johnson, and Marion Counties.

Learn More

Brooke’s Place provides support groups, therapy services, and community education to empower children, teens, young adults, and their families to thrive in the midst of grief.

Learn More

Starfish Initiative is an Indianapolis-based 1-to-1 mentoring program established in 2003 with a vision to make a difference in the lives of at-promise youth – one student at a time.

Learn More

Watch: Overview of Partner Pass Program

Check out this short video for an overview of each partner organization and how the program works.

Below you will find more information about each organization and longer videos that go deeper to help you decide which organization(s) to donate a pass to. We can’t thank you enough for your support!

Give a pass, build a future.

We will send the pass to the partner you choose. Your donation helps build a future and gives young people access to the outdoors!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana

Positive Mentor Relationships for young people

Give a Pass to Big Brothers Big Sisters

2025 Progress

Passes donated toward 2025 goal (15/25)
2025 Passes vs. last year (15/17)

Watch: Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors Indy’s youth.

Mentoring Central Indiana’s Youth

These answers provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters staff.

How does Big Brothers Big Sisters use the donated Foundation passes?

We gave a pass to each of our case managers to give to a specific Match (Big & Little) that they know would utilize it. The excess passes were given out as prizes to select Matches during Big Brothers Big Sisters events.

How many passes would Big Brothers Big Sisters ideally receive?

25 passes would mean at least one for each case manager to loan out!

How do donated Foundation Passes impact Big Brother’s Big Sisters?

The passes removed the cost barrier for those matches who enjoy being outdoors and taking advantage of local parks. It also provided a new opportunity for those matches who may not have thought to go to eagle creek.

Visit Big Brother Big Sisters site>

Brooke’s Place

Grief looks different for every young person

Give a Pass to Brooke's Place

2025 Progress

Passes donated toward 2025 goal (5/220)
2025 Passes vs. last year (5/14)

Watch: Brooke’s Place supports grieving families

Grief Support for Young People

These answers provided by Brooke’s Place staff.

How does Brooke’s Place use the donated Foundation passes?

Brooke’s place held drawings on program nights to give families the Foundation passes. This means that for each pass donated, one grieving Indianapolis family will gain access to the healing power of the outdoors at Eagle Creek Park.

How many passes would Brooke’s Place ideally receive?

Brooke’s place serves approximately 220 families, and the organization would love to give each grieving family a Foundation pass—access to Eagle Creek Park. Your donation can make a difference!

How do donated Foundation Passes impact Brooke’s Place?

Grief can be expensive, overwhelming, and hard. Providing families with free opportunities around Indianapolis to spend an afternoon or day together in nature is priceless!

During program nights, there was so much joy and excitement from all the caregivers in the room because they knew how big of an opportunity this was for the families who received passes from the drawing.

Our goal is to help families THRIVE in the midst of grief, and these Eagle Creek Park passes are helping us to achieve this goal for our grieving families.

Visit Brooke’s Place site>

Starfish Initiative

Mentoring the whole student

Give a Pass to Starfish Initiative

2025 Progress

Passes donated toward 2025 goal (3/15)
2025 Passes vs. last year (3/6)

Watch: Mentoring Indy’s 21st Century Scholars

Mentoring Indy’s 21st Century Scholars

These answers provided by Starfish Initiative staff.

How does Starfish Initiative use the donated Foundation Passes?

The six 2024 Partner Passes were entered into a drawing at our orientation event and distributed to Starfish scholars and their families to use. Initially, we weren’t sure if the students would be interested in park passes, but we were wrong. The students who received the passes were excited to have them!

How many passes would Starfish Initiative ideally receive?

Our goal is to receive 15 partner passes. In 2025 we would enter 10 into a drawing for our scholars and make the remaining five available for our mentors to check out.

How do donated passes impact Starfish Initiative?

The Starfish scholars who received the passes were provided with access to Eagle Creek at no cost to them or their families.

We work hard to provide Starfish scholars with access to resources, information, people, and places that will enrich their lives.

We appreciate the continued partnership and look forward to helping more scholars have a great experience at Eagle Creek Park!

Visit Starfish Initiative site>

Champion Trees Hike April 2024

Member Events

Champion Trees Hike 2024

Champion Trees Hike with Marty Risch

Member Event: Champion Trees Hike

A Journey Through Eagle Creek’s Living Giants

Our recent member-exclusive event took 25 nature enthusiasts on an unforgettable hike along the West Side Hiking Trail of Eagle Creek Park, beginning at Eagle’s Crest. This 4-mile journey showcased the Foundation’s commitment to protecting and enhancing the park’s natural treasures. Led by Marty, who served as an Eagle Creek Park Ranger in the 1970s and has been an environmental scientist for over 40 years, members gained a unique perspective on the park’s champion trees and ecological stewardship.

Highlights of the Trail

A Walk Among Giants

The hike featured stops at some of the park’s most remarkable trees, including a 170-year-old tulip tree grove, a 240-year-old American Beech, and a 310-year-old Bur Oak, one of the largest in the park. Marty shared stories and insights at each stop, demonstrating how to measure a tree’s age by calculating its circumference and applying a growth factor. Members also learned a simpler method—hugging the tree to gauge its girth—which added a fun and interactive element.

Learning Through Observation and Stewardship

By showcasing the Champion Trees program, the event aimed to inspire members to become good stewards of the park. Marty’s discussions emphasized how understanding and protecting these ancient giants is essential for preserving the park’s history and ecological balance. Members also visited several tree mitigation sites, where new trees are planted to replace those that are cut down.

Secrets of the Forest: Mycelium Networks

One of the most captivating moments of the event was learning about the mycelium networks beneath the forest floor. Marty highlighted sections of the trail rich with older trees, explaining how these interconnected roots communicate and share resources, creating a healthier forest floor and more vibrant understory. Members observed how these areas have fewer invasive species and more thriving native plants.

About the guest

Marty Risch spent most of his career and an environmental scientist working for the state of Indiana and Federal Government. He was a Eagle Creek Park Ranger in the 1970’s. Today he’s a member of the Eagle Creek Advisory Committee and is a regular, enthusiastic volunteer for the Trail Crew. He developed Eagle Creek Parks fantastic Champion Trees program, which was the impetus behind this member event and hike.

Check out Marty’s Big Tree Registry >

Date

April 19, 2024

Location

West Side Trail (via Eagle’s Crest)

PROTECT

The Champion Trees project began when Marty discovered a 300-year-old tree had been accidentally felled on the golf course. This loss spurred his mission to identify, study, and raise public awareness about Eagle Creek Park’s rare, massive trees. Since much of the park was once farmland and clear-cut, only a few of these remarkable trees remain.

ENHANCE

During the event, members gained a deeper appreciation for the rarity and significance of these ancient giants. Marty’s work protects these vital trees, ensuring their legacy and the park’s natural heritage are preserved.

Podcast Episode with Marty

Adam sits down with Marty to learn about the Champion Trees program. You, too can experience the hike!

Champion Trees Hike - Gallery

Group of people engaged in a nature walk discussion in a forested area, surrounded by trees and greenery.

A group of people engaged in a discussion during a nature walk in a wooded area, showcasing outdoor exploration and learning.

Group of people gathered around a large tree during a nature walk, learning about tree species and conservation efforts.

Nature guide presenting information to a small group in a forested area, showcasing outdoor education and engagement.

A group of people participating in a nature walk, listening to a guide in a wooded area.

Membership means more than park access

At the the Champion Trees Hike

Members explored Eagle Creek Park’s majestic champion trees with Marty, a seasoned environmental expert. The hike revealed the hidden stories of these ancient giants and showcased how members can play a part in preserving the park’s natural legacy. Check out our gallery of memorable moments from this inspiring day.

This event was member-only. Members receive invites to roughly monthly member events.

To find out more about Memberships and Passes click here >