Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/20/2025
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location
Eagle Creek Ornithology Center and Earth Discovery Center
Categories
Join the Eagle Creek naturalist for hikes and public programs. Suitable for all ages at Eagle Creek Park’s 6th Annual Wildflower Weekend! While attending hikes you can make your own observations or contribute to citizen science by helping document spring wildflower diversity in the park. Come prepared with appropriate shoes and clothing to hit the trails, lunches and snacks, and a water bottle to make the most of the weekend’s offerings.
Park admission is $6 for Marion County residents and $7 for out of county residents. All programs require minors to be accompanied by adults.
Friday, April 18
1. 1:00 pm-2:30 pm Wildflower ID Hike- Bear Overlook
This natural surface trail meets ABA accessibility standards but might be a little muddy in places with seasonal rain. Take an easy stroll to see beautiful spring ephemerals. This newer section of trail loops through high-quality forest habitat and some scrubbier areas, picking up great species diversity.
2. 4:30 pm-5:30 pm Sounds of Spring: Frog Call Frenzy
April showers bring May…frogs? Amphibians are some of the earliest animals to emerge in the springtime. In this family-friendly activity, participants will find out what it’s like to be a calling frog in a busy pond. This is perfect for ages 6-9, and afterwards, participants will get to meet some of the Earth Discovery Center’s ambassador amphibians. It’ll be un-frog-gettable!
Saturday, April 19
3. 9:00 am-11:30 am Wildflower ID Hike- Eagle’s Crest
One of the most ecologically rich habitats in Marion County, Eagle’s Crest Nature Preserve offers rolling hills, steep ravines, and panoramic views of the reservoir. This 1.75-mile rugged hike through a vast display of Virginia bluebells and other spring beauties will leave you breathless.
4. 10:00 am-11:00 am Story Time on the Reservoir – Wake Up, Woods
Let’s celebrate wildflowers and their pollinators with the book Wake Up, Woods. Then the naturalists will set up activity stations for children ages 2-6 to create, play, and discover the wonderful world of flowers at their own pace. An adult must stay for the duration of the program.
5. 10:00 am-12:00 pm Introduction to Wildflowers Hike- Cabin Trail
The Interior Horticulturalist for Garfield Conservatory will lead this hike geared for beginning wildflower enthusiasts, although all are welcome. The Cabin Trail is a moderate 1-mile loop, with stairs, hills, and potential areas of mud/water along the trail. Along the way we’ll see most of our common woodland spring wildflowers including spring beauty, prairie trillium, false rue anemone, and cut-leaved toothwort, and hopefully some of our less common ones like drooping trillium.
6. 12:00 pm-12:30 pm Box Turtles and Blooms
If an animal eats a wildflower, how can that benefit the flower? Sometimes it does, but sometimes it doesn’t. Join EDC Naturalist to learn the role Eastern box turtles take in seed dispersal of wildflowers. The box turtles will be munching on snacks during this program. This program will take place in the grass outside of the Earth Discovery Center unless the weather requires the box turtles remain indoors.
7. 1:00 pm-3:00 pm Handmade Papermaking $10/person, limited to 12 people Pre-registration Required
Looking for a fun new craft to learn? Come learn how to make recycled paper at Eagle Creek Park’s Wildflower Weekend. Please note that the paper needs to dry in place overnight and will not be ready to take home on the same day as the program. Participants can return to collect their finished paper sheets from the Earth Discovery Center on a later day. All materials will be provided but participants are welcome to bring in their own flower petals and small seeds to use if they wish. Park gate entry fee is included with the cost of the program. Participants ages 13-17 years old need to be registered and attend with a registered adult.
8. 1:00 pm-2:30 pm Wildflowers and Salamanders
Meet at Lilly Lake Shelter for a hike through some of the older forest just south of the lake where an abundance of wildflower species can be found. We’ll also look for redback salamanders that live in the same habitat and learn about their fascinating life history. This hike will be family friendly. Children ages 7 and up may enjoy this hike that combines plants and animals.
9. 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm Seed Bombs
After the Handmade Papermaking program has wrapped up, join us in the Wet Lab to use the leftover paper pulp and seeds to create your own seed bombs! All ages are welcome. No pre-registration is required. Free while supplies last.
10. 3:00 pm-4:00 pm Wildflower Tea $5/person, limited to 25 people Pre-registration required www.indyparks.org (35170)
Join the Interior Horticulturalist for Garfield Conservatory, for a tea-licious native wildflower tea tasting! Infuse your day with knowledge about the wildflowers that are used to brew these interesting drinks, steep into the medicinal histories of each cup, and taste a variety of herbal blends. Park gate entry fee is included with the cost of the program. Participants ages 12-17 years old need to be registered and attend with a registered adult Sip, sip, hooray!
11. 2:00 pm-4:00 pm Wildflower ID Hike- OC mesic woods
Enjoy a 1-mile hike through this diverse section of the park. The exposed bluffs are home to shooting stars, fire pink, and other ephemerals that like living on the edge! We will also explore the Beech-Maple Loop that stays moist and shaded, providing a great home for ostrich fern, spring beauties, and wood poppies.
Sunday, April 20
12. 10:00 am-12:00 pm Wild Edibles Hike
The Indiana landscape provides a bounty of edible plants. Learn how to identify edible plants and toxic look-a-likes to aid in survival situations, expand your taste palate, and gain a better appreciation for native plants with a local expert.
13. 1:00 pm-3:00 pm Wildflower ID Hike- Eagle’s Crest
If you missed this hike on Saturday, or just really love this special place, join us for another hike through Eagle’s Crest Nature Preserve. Join Senior Ecologist at Eco Logic and expert plant guide, on this rugged loop trail. This is an exceptional site for many spring ephemerals and one of the most special places in Indianapolis!
14. 1:00 pm -2:00 pm Birds & Blooms Hike
Learn the birds of Eagle Creek and the unique relationships they have with spring wildflowers. Explore the trails around the Ornithology Center on this relaxed guided hike. Binoculars are provided for use, making this hike perfect for the whole family.
15. 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm Forest Bathing $15/person, limited to 20 people Pre-registration Required
Join Certified Association of Nature & Forest Therapy (ANFT) Guide for a guided Forest Bathing experience. We will engage our senses to “bathe” in nature, fostering rest and relaxation through sensory connection. The experience includes opportunities to wander short distances, sit, stand, and share with others. We will meet at the Earth Discovery Center front doors at 2:00 pm and conclude around 4:00 pm, ending with tea and snacks. Park gate entry fee is included with the cost of the program. Participants ages 15-17 years old need to be registered and attend with a registered adult.
16. 3:00 pm-4:00 pm Nature’s Stinkers
Skunks are the most famous of stinkers, but there are also stinky turtles, stinky bats, even stinky flowers, and many of them live right here at Eagle Creek Park! Meet some of our favorite stinky plants and animals and learn why smelling like rotten meat instead of roses can help these stinkers survive and thrive!
Activities going on all weekend long:
The naturalist project will automatically include all plant observations made within Eagle Creek Park, April 19-20. A self-guided Wildflower Hike – will be set up on the Pin Oak loop trail across from the Earth Discovery Center. Many wildflower specimens along the trail will be labeled to help with your plant identification.
Nature Centers – the Earth Discovery Center will be open to the public 10 am – 5 pm on Friday and Saturday and 1 pm – 5 pm on Sunday. Wildflower coloring sheets and scavenger hunts will be available. The Ornithology Center will be open to the public 10 am – 5 pm on Friday and Saturday and 1 pm – 5 pm on Sunday.
Visit the event website for specific location info and meeting locations.
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