October 2025: A peek into our Outdoor Learning Field Trip, update on trailhead construction, Q&A with ecoREHAB, and more
Construction Progress at New Trailhead
Earlier this month, Ball Brothers Foundation joined more than 20 community leaders, funders, and local officials for a tour of the Kitselman Trailhead construction site on Muncie's east side.
The project is transforming the area into a safer and more welcoming gateway for trail users and for vehicles. In addition to rebuilding the levee that protects nearby neighborhoods and downtown from flooding, the work will realign the Cardinal Greenway to remove a dangerous road crossing and create a smoother, safer connection along the 60+ mile trail. Plans also include new trailhead parking, public art, and a gateway feature welcoming visitors to Muncie from the east.
Construction is expected to continue through next summer. Learn more about the Kitselman Trailhead project here.
Taking a Field Trip Outdoors
There’s something special about stepping outside normal routines and rediscovering the joy of a school field trip.
Last month, nearly 40 local educators, nonprofit leaders, and funders did just that, joining us for a day of hands-on learning in nature. Together, we discovered how East Central Indiana is transforming outdoor spaces into opportunities for children to play, learn, and grow.
The first stop on the field trip was the YMCA's new Wonder Woods at Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center—a brand-new nature playscape spread over 4 acres.
This incredible space encourages kids to get their hands dirty, balance on logs, climb into a treehouse, and discover the world around them through play.
At Daleville Community Schools, a decade of hard work from teachers and volunteers has transformed a simple outdoor space into the Daleville Outdoor Learning Lab.
Kids can enjoy reading in an apple orchard, experimenting in a tinker space, and performing on an outdoor stage to see how learning comes to life just beyond the classroom door.
Midday brought a perfect stop for lunch and learning at Muncie Community Schools’ Camp Adventure, a 40-acre outdoor haven with trails, a creek, ropes courses, and a fishing pond.
The group also toured the new Montessori-inspired Forest Academy, where young learners spend their days exploring the woods and learning through play and discovery.
Play takes the shape of piles of branches, logs, and sticks at Dutro-Ernst Woods, one of Red-tail Land Conservancy's properties. It's the perfect opportunity for kids to build forts, balance beams, and hideouts in “Stick City.”
Thanks to Red-tail Land Conservancy, this special space is helping to spark creativity and inspire a lifelong love of nature in kids and families.
The final stop on the Outdoor Learning Field Trip was Ball State University’s Nature Lab, where kids can grab their backpacks to explore trails in Christy Woods or observe bees at work up close.
To support these hands-on learning experiences, the foundation awarded a $3,000 Rapid Grant to each host site on our field trip.
Q&A with ecoREHAB
ecoREHAB is breathing new life into vacant houses while giving students hands-on experience in construction and design. Teens learning to use real tools, neighborhoods seeing abandoned homes transformed, and young people gaining confidence all come together in the work happening every day at ecoREHAB.
Ball Brothers Foundation has been proud to support ecoREHAB since its early days and recently caught up with CEO Jason Haney to hear the stories, lessons, and ideas driving the organization forward.
Rapid Grants Provide Timely Support
Sometimes, community needs arise between regular grant cycles—a storm hits, a new opportunity for students appears, or a piece of critical equipment breaks down. Ball Brothers Foundation’s Rapid Grants are designed for those moments, providing up to $5,000 in quick support to help nonprofits respond to urgent needs and seize new opportunities. Learn more about the 60+ Rapid Grants awarded this year by BBF.
This Month Around Town
Our team stayed busy this October connecting with grantees, cheering on local leaders, and seeing firsthand the impact of community-driven work across the region. Here are a few highlights:
We visited the Innovation Connector as they gear up for Business Showcase Week, an event highlighting the entrepreneurs and small businesses driving our region's economy.
Regional partners and funders convened at Ball State University to showcase East Central Indiana's innovative workforce training programs during a visit from state officials.
BBF's fall board meeting brought members to Muncie to explore neighborhood revitalization efforts, including an evening dinner hosted by ecoREHAB at The Yard and a tour of southside neighborhoods with Habitat for Humanity.
We stopped by Ivy Tech Muncie in downtown to check out a new interactive sculpture on loan from MuncieArts–an installation inviting visitors to climb, spin, and play.