Nature
Wild NYC is at the other end of your doorstep! Explore New York's urban forests, streams, and wildlife with these fun outdoor activities.
Nature Events
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Floyd Bennett Field Beachgrass Harvesting
at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the NYC Parks Stewardship team and staff at the Greenbelt Native Plant Center while we harvest beach grass for the upcoming spring season!
Free!
Mid-Winter Break: Blast Off- Discovering Space and Black History
at Entrance - Springfield Lane and 149th Avenue (in Idlewild Park)
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
During Mid-Winter Break, have your kids join us at to explore the solar system, stars, and the future of space and learn of the contributions of Black scientists and astronauts.
Free!
Kids
Trail Work Thursdays
at VCPA Garden & Compost Site (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Be a part of the community effort to maintain the trails in Van Cortlandt Park.
Free!
Kids Week: Nature Bingo
at Eton Place Parking Lot (in Willowbrook Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers as we search to fill our Bingo Cards with sights and sounds of the season! We will use our senses to explore the local flora and fauna.
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Tree Tunes
at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn 
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11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a day of musical fun in Prospect Park. Learn about all the different ways our forest can sing and join our natural band!
Free!
Kids
Out Of The Box Biodiversity Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
at H.H. Biddle House (in Conference House Park), Staten Island 
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11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Donna Napoli-Steele Presents
Out Of The Box Biodiversity
Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
Free!
Kids Week: Chalk It Up
at Elmhurst Park Grand Avenue Entrance (in Elmhurst Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Fill the sidewalk with colorful art inspired by all the things we love about nature. Create a mural with your friends using chalk and imagination alongside the Urban Park Rangers.
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Manhattan Rocks! Geology Hike
at Margaret Corbin Circle (in Fort Tryon Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
. With programs led by our Urban Park Rangers, kids will get to experience nature in a hands-on and fun way. Learn all about the geological landscape of Manhattan.
Free!
Kids
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens 
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1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Friday, February 21, 2025
Alley Pond Park Forest Restoration
at Northern Boulevard and 234th Street (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to protect the forested areas in Alley Pond Park!
Free!
Sunset Park Street Tree Care
at 6th Avenue and 60th Street
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join NYC Parks Stewardship as we care for local street trees! Volunteers will learn how to aerate, cultivate, mulch, and identify street trees.
Free!
Sunset Park Street Tree Care
at Sunset Park, Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join NYC Parks Stewardship as we care for local street trees! Volunteers will learn how to aerate, cultivate, mulch, and identify street trees.
Free!
Bronx Green-Up: Volunteer Garden Workday at Karol’s Urban Farm
at Karol's Urban Farm - Castle Hill (NYCHA), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join the Karol's Farm crew and Castle Hill Houses community members for a weekly produce distribution and volunteer workday! Even during the winter, the farm needs care.
Free!
Kids Week: Hibernation Staycation
at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn 
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11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers at the Fort Greene Visitor Center for an afternoon by a nice warm fire. Check out some of the furs that keep our native animals warm in winter.
Free!
Event
Out Of The Box Biodiversity Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
at H.H. Biddle House (in Conference House Park), Staten Island 
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11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Donna Napoli-Steele Presents
Out Of The Box Biodiversity
Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
Free!
Kids Week: Bald Eagle Watch
at Payson Park House (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
With programs led by our Urban Park Rangers, kids will get to experience nature in a hands-on and fun way. Rangers will lead you to the best spots to view bald eagles.
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Birding for Kids
at Pelham Bay Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx 
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1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Bird watching can be fun, especially during the winter season. Learn all about different ways to identify birds in our parks.
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Meet the Critters
at Blue Heron Nature Center (in Blue Heron Park), Staten Island 
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1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
From stick bugs to snakes, meet the animals that call the center their home.
Free!
Kids
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens 
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1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Kids Week: Poetry Around the Campfire
at Entrance - Beach 35th Street and Beach Channel Drive (in Bayswater Park), Queens
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Join us in the afternoon for poetry writing by the fire. Let's come together to share our unique poems and create new ones that capture the essence of the season.
Free!
Kids
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Volunteer Enrichment: Controlling Emerging Invasives through Education and Eradication
at Icahn Stadium (in Randall's Island Park), Manhattan
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Our Natural Areas Manager will present an informative workshop on four invasive species RIPA is targeting for removal as part of a DEC-awarded grant.
Free!
Alley Pond Park Forest Restoration
at Northern Boulevard and 234th Street (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to protect the forested areas in Alley Pond Park!
Free!
Watercolors by the Seaside
at Entrance - Beach 44th Street and Boardwalk (in Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Let us talk about the importance of a healthy ocean and why Rockaway Beach is so important while practicing painting techniques.
Free!
Out Of The Box Biodiversity Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
at H.H. Biddle House (in Conference House Park), Staten Island 
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11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Donna Napoli-Steele Presents
Out Of The Box Biodiversity
Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
Free!
Seal Exploration
at Orchard Beach Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle. Winter is an amazing time of year to observe seals in the Long Island Sound.
Free!
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens 
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1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Winter Tree ID
at Elmhurst Park Grand Avenue Entrance (in Elmhurst Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join us for a walk of Elmhurst Park in search of different tree species and learn some ways to identify these trees during the winter season.
Free!
Sunday, February 23, 2025
Conservatory Family Exploration Day
at Wave Hill House (in Wave Hill), Bronx
, Wave Hill, Bronx
, Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory (in Wave Hill), Bronx
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10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Chat with garden experts, adopt a plant, explore the Conservatory and find out how a greenhouse works!
Free!
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
at Parking Lot (in Manhattan Beach Park), Brooklyn 
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11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Birding programs are an all-inclusive safe space and appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.
Free!
Indoor Gardening 101
at West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Calling all green (or not so green) thumbs! We’ll go over the basics of plant care and propagation, and how to start and maintain an indoor garden.
Free!
Event
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens 
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1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Trivia Under The Trees
at Oak Ridge (in Forest Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
The Urban Park Rangers will test you on all things history, science, nature, and geography. The team with the most points at the end will win a prize.
Free!
Event
Birding: Owls
at Broadway and Mosholu Avenue (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Learn more about the various species of owls found in our parks.
Free!
Event
Monday, February 24, 2025
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens 
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1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Idlewild's Science Book Club
at Entrance - Springfield Lane and 149th Avenue (in Idlewild Park)
3:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
This is a reading and creative writing book club that blends environmental science with storytelling. Children ages 9-12 are encouraged to join the club!
Free!
Kids
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Out Of The Box Biodiversity Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
at H.H. Biddle House (in Conference House Park), Staten Island 
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11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Donna Napoli-Steele Presents
Out Of The Box Biodiversity
Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
Free!
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens 
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1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Out Of The Box Biodiversity Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
at H.H. Biddle House (in Conference House Park), Staten Island 
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11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Donna Napoli-Steele Presents
Out Of The Box Biodiversity
Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
Free!
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens 
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1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Greenbelt Native Plant Center Beachgrass Processing
at Greenbelt Native Plant Center, Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join the NYC Parks Stewardship team and staff at the Greenbelt Native Plant Center while we process beach grass for the upcoming spring season!
Free!
Trail Work Thursdays
at VCPA Garden & Compost Site (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Be a part of the community effort to maintain the trails in Van Cortlandt Park.
Free!
Out Of The Box Biodiversity Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
at H.H. Biddle House (in Conference House Park), Staten Island 
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11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Donna Napoli-Steele Presents
Out Of The Box Biodiversity
Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
Free!
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens 
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1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Friday, February 28, 2025
Kissena Park Forest Restoration
at Kissena Velodrome Parking Lot (in Kissena Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to protect the forested areas in Kissena Park!
Free!
Bronx Green-Up: Volunteer Garden Workday at Karol’s Urban Farm
at Karol's Urban Farm - Castle Hill (NYCHA), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join the Karol's Farm crew and Castle Hill Houses community members for a weekly produce distribution and volunteer workday! Even during the winter, the farm needs care.
Free!
Out Of The Box Biodiversity Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
at H.H. Biddle House (in Conference House Park), Staten Island 
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11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Donna Napoli-Steele Presents
Out Of The Box Biodiversity
Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
Free!
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens 
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1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Street Tree Care with Super Stewards - Canarsie
at Canarsie, Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Come work with NYC Parks Stewardship and your friendly neighborhood Super Steward to care for local street trees! Volunteers will learn how to aerate, cultivate, mulch, and identify street trees.
Free!
Fireside Meditation
at Entrance - Midland Avenue and Father Capodanno Boulevard (in Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers at Midland Beach for an afternoon of guided mediative exercises beside the warmth of a crackling fire.
Free!
Out Of The Box Biodiversity Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
at H.H. Biddle House (in Conference House Park), Staten Island 
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11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Donna Napoli-Steele Presents
Out Of The Box Biodiversity
Upcycled Cardboard Sculpture, Raku Fired Clay, Watercolor, Pen & Ink
Free!