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AccessibilityUrban Park Rangers
Our Urban Park Rangers are full of knowledge about history, astronomy, animals, plants, and more. Attend a Ranger-led event with your family and see how much fun learning can be!
Urban Park Rangers Events
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Historic New York: Mount Morris Fire Watchtower
at Mount Morris Fire Watchtower (in Marcus Garvey Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Urban Park Rangers discuss the significance and history of this recently restored structure.
Free!
St. Patrick's Day Folklore Hike and Candle Making
at Blue Heron Nature Center (in Blue Heron Park), Staten Island 
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Explore nature with the Park Rangers as they tell Irish folklore. While walking on the trails learn how to make fairy homes out of natural materials. Registration opens March 5
Free!
Kids
Women's History Month: Women in the Wilderness
at Yellow Trail Head (in Forest Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Learn about women who braved the Appalachian Trails, made scientific discoveries, and encouraged others to explore nature no matter their gender or age.
Free!
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Hart Island Tour (South Island)
at Hart Island, Bronx
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore Hart Island's unique past, present, and future. Participants are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday March 5, 2025.
Free!
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Discovery Hike: Vernal Pools
at Alley Pond Adventure Course (in Alley Pond Park)
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers as we explore the vernal pools of Alley Pond Park. Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that are home to many distinct plants and animals.
Free!
Kids
Birding: Early Spring Migration
at Entrance - West 100 Street and Central Park West (in Central Park), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a birding adventure around Central Park to look for spring migrants that include warblers, raptors and more!
Free!
Historic New York: Sandy Ground
at Parking Lot - Bricktown Way Entrance (in Fairview Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
oin the Urban Park Rangers at Sandy Ground Woods to learn about the oldest continuously inhabited free Black settlement in the United States.
Free!
Magnetic Archery and Foam Axe Throwing
at Basketball Courts (in Corona Golf Playground), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Learn the art of archery with free lessons taught by our expert Urban Park Rangers. This program uses safe equipment with magnetic arrows and targets. All equipment provided.
Free!
Nature Exploration: Seton Falls Park
at Entrance - East 233rd Street and Baychester Avenue (in Seton Falls Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hike through a park full of natural wonders and is often referred as the “Grand Canyon” of the Bronx!
Free!
Connecting with Nature Through Meditation
at West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on an afternoon of meditation, reflection, and storytelling centered around water, fire, and the forest.
Free!
Astronomy: Night Sky Crafting
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
7:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Celebrate the spring equinox by joining the Urban Park Rangers to map the NYC night sky. Make an embroidery hoop of stars and constellations and learn the solar system
Free!
Marine Park Alliance Presents Nature's Workshop: Crafting the Night Sky
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
7:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Celebrate the spring equinox by joining the Urban Park Rangers to map the NYC night sky.
Free!
Kids
Sunday, March 23, 2025
Histor-tree ID Walk
at Hoyt Avenue North and 19th Street (in Astoria Park)
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hands-on exploration of the life and times of your neighborhood trees.
Free!
Fort Greene Tree Walk
at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Visitor Center. Join our Urban Park Rangers for a hike around Fort Greene Park! Learn about the notable trees in the area and about the basics of winter tree identification
Free!
It's A Horse of Course Hike and Greet
at Roy Wilkins Park - Entrance (in Roy Wilkins Recreation Center), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers along with the Parks Enforcement Patrol Mounted Unit to learn about the Mounted Unit’s role in the agency and keeping our parks safe.
Free!
Nature's Workshop: Botany and Botanical Art
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Learn about Ireland’s first female botanist Ellen Hutchins and live her legacy with a botanical walk followed by a botanical art workshop!
Free!
Signs of Spring Hike
at Entrance - East 106th Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers in appreciating the early flowers of spring! Learn about some of the flowers as well as the history of this little gem of a garden in the famous Central Park
Free!
Women's History Month: Women in Conservation
at School Road and Bay Street (in Von Briesen Park), Staten Island
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
We will hike the park while celebrating the accomplishments of women essential to nature and wildlife conservation, past and present.
Free!
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Rise and Shine Walk
at Cedar Grove Beach (in Great Kills Park), Staten Island
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for an early summer morning nature exploration of Cedar Grove Beach.
Free!
Birding: Early Spring Migrants
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a walk along the Salt Marsh Nature Trail to discover and learn about different migratory birds that are in the NYC area during early Spring.
Free!
Kids
Birding: Spring Migration
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a birding adventure around Salt Marsh Nature Trail to look for spring migrants that include warblers, raptors and more!
Free!
Spring Blooms Photography
at Fort Totten Front Gate (in Fort Totten Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Capture the beauty of Spring with this beginner-friendly photography walk. Please bring a working smartphone and/or a camera with you.
Free!
Insect Exploration Hunt
at West 116th Street and Riverside Drive (in Riverside Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers as we explore the park’s looking for insects such as ants, wasps, beetles, butterflies, mantids and many more.
Free!
Nature Exploration: Captain Tilly Park
at Chapin Parkway and 85th Avenue (in Captain Tilly Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Rangers will introduce you to the many species of birds, plants and other living species within Captain Tilly Park.
Free!
Birding: American Woodcocks
at Pelham Bay Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on an evening nature walk at Pelham Bay Park to learn all about the wacky world of woodcocks
Free!
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
at Visitor Center - Satterlee Street and Hylan Boulevard (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Birding programs are an all-inclusive safe space and appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.
Free!
Outdoor Skills: Advanced Firemaking
at Archery Field Parking Lot (in Willowbrook Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
What can you use to build a fire? Explore this site as we search for different materials to use as kindling and learn advanced techniques to build an outdoor fire.
Free!
Birding: Spring Migration
at Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a birding adventure around Highland Park to look for spring migrants that include warblers, raptors and more!
Free!
Discovery Hike: Disturbed Habitat and Invasive Plant Ecologies
at Kissena Velodrome Parking Lot (in Kissena Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join Urban Park Rangers for useful tips on non-native plant ID and very rewarding non-native plant removal activities. Tools will be provided.
Free!
Nature's Workshop: Recycled Plantable Paper Making
at Greene Ave & Tompkins Ave (in Herbert Von King Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Welcome springtime with the Urban Park Rangers by making recycled paper, embedded with native seeds.
Free!
Preparing the Pollinator Garden
at West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Help us clean up our garden beds as we create space for bees, birds and other species. Learn more about the ways pollinator species help plants flourish in our parks.
Free!
Early Spring Tree ID Hike
at Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park), Bronx
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join us for a hike of Crotona Park in search of different tree species and learn some ways to identify these trees during the changing season.
Free!
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