ECO Wellness Hike – Saturday, May 30th
ECO Wellness Ministry helps to connect us with God in the most basic of ways…through outdoor physical activity, exploring the outdoors in fellowship with friends and family, and becoming good stewards of God’s gift of nature.
Join us for our Next Hike on Saturday, May 30th!
The Embracing Christ Outdoors (ECO) Wellness Ministry would like to invite you to an early morning hike at Lake Mills Park. Details below:
• Date and Time: Saturday, May 30 at 8:00 am
• Location: Lake Mills Park, 1301 Tropical Avenue, Chuluota, FL
• Description: This hike offers the opportunity to walk through a canopy of oaks, enjoy lakefront views of Lake Mills, and walk through a forested wetland on the newly constructed boardwalk. This is a family-friendly hike because the trails are paved and there is a composite boardwalk so strollers and/or wagons are welcome. The loop is one mile, so we may choose to walk a few laps. There is also a large playground, a fishing pier, and picnic tables available.
• What to Wear/Bring: Water, closed-toed shoes, sun protection, insect repellent, hat, pets on a leash allowed.
Winter Park Chain of Lakes Boat Tour
Our June event will be a boat tour of the pristine Winter Park Chain of Lakes. Come and Embrace Christ Outdoors(ECO-Wellness) through God’s water beauty, and bring a friend.
This will be an adults-only cruise with limited space on the tour boats, so register early to ensure a spot. Participants can bring their own drinks and snacks, and the boat ride is approximately an hour. Parking is limited, so plan on arriving early. We believe that the boats will fill up quickly.
We have reserved 2 boats, so please email me by June 1st and let me know if you plan to attend. The cost is $18 per person and can be paid to the vendor the day of the event. If there is bad weather and the vendor chooses to cancel the boat tour, we will send out an email to those registered to attend.
Click to visit the Scenic Boat Tour Site.
Date and Time: Saturday, June 6th at 3:30 pm (boat departs at 4:00)
Location: 312 East Morse Blvd. Winter Park, FL 32789
What to Wear/Bring: Water, sun protection, and your own drinks and/or snacks.
Cost: $18 (tip for the captain is optional)
If you have any questions, please email ecowellnessmpb@gmail.com
We have no ECO Wellness Events scheduled for July and August.
Have a Blessed and Safe Summer!
Gospel Gardens – Mary, Queen of the Universe– Sat. April 18, 2026
The ECO Wellness ministry met at the Basilica. We toured the gardens, visited the Basilica and gift shop, and then attended mass at noon.
If you have any questions, please email ecowellnessmpb@gmail.com.
Some photos from our March 21st Hike. We hope you can join us next time!
We hope everyone enjoyed the hike this past Saturday morning, April 26th, along the Florida National Scenic Trail. Many thanks to Tim and Siobhan O’Malley for guiding us through the beautiful forest and the presentation on controlled burns.
We would like to give a big THANKS to Tim and Siobhan O’Malley for Embracing Christ Outdoors with us these past few years. You have beautifully expanded the vision our founding Pastor, Bishop Stephen Parkes, had for this amazing ministry twenty years ago, and we hope to continue that legacy with our new facilitators. Beginning in February, your new ECO Wellness Ministry leaders will be:
Kelli Thomazin- Health/Wellness & Excursions
Bo Abney – Hiking
Dianne Rosensweig – Excursions
First Hike of 2025
The cold and rainy start of the day did not deter our 33 hikers and 3 dogs that joined our first ECO Wellness hike of the year this past Saturday. We took to the Seminole Ranch on the Florida National Scenic Trail once the rain stopped and kept warm by walking. The terrain was flat but had lots of roots, so everyone had to watch their step. The canopy was a beautiful wetland forested hammock. Thank you, Theresa, for kindly leading us in prayer and providing the hikers with handmade rosaries.
Nature is filled with love…
These words are the beginning of a reflection by Pope Francis on how our busy lifestyle can create an imbalance in life. Being in nature and caring for our environment is one way to recover this serene harmony with creation.
Forty ECO Wellness parishioners did just that on Saturday, October 19th on the Indian River Lagoon as a Certified Naturalist educated us on the many species and habitats that call the intercoastal waterway home.
Our next event is a hike on Saturday, November 16th. The location will be posted closer to the hike. We hope you can join us!
Contact us at ecowellnessmpb@gmail.com if you have questions, or to sign up for email reminders.
Always bring water, and wear closed-toed shoes. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at ecowellnessMPB@gmail.com
Walk with a DOC – Healthy Living Series – Laughter. Click here to learn more.
A recap of last month’s walk:
Mindfulness is being aware in the moment: One highlight from last month was the 4,7,8 breathing techniques and the importance of tapping into our relaxation response when needed. Here is a link to an instructional breathing option: https://youtu.be/p8fjYPC-k2k. If any questions, please call Kelli at 402-276-2886 or email at kkthomazin@outlook.com.
What is Walk With A Doc? An opportunity to focus on health and wellness. Meet for a 5-7 minute discussion on healthy lifestyles, then we will walk for 10-60 minutes. This is not a race, we are simply enjoying walking outside for our health
Click HERE to learn more about this wonderful program.
Questions: Please call Kelli at 402-276-2886 or email us at ECOWELLNESSMPB@GMAIL.COM.
We always have a great time at our ECO Wellness Events!
Here are some photos from our amazing kayaking excursion in August!
May 7, 2022 Hike – Florida National Scenic Trail
Our last hike back on November 16, 2020
