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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
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Birding: Bald Eagle Watch
at Palisade Avenue and Spaulding Lane (in Riverdale Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Winter is a spectacular time for observing bald eagles in New York City parks. See if you can spot any on this adventure with our Urban Park Rangers. Please dress warmly.
Free!
Fossil Exploration
at Entrance - Cornelia Avenue and Chester Avenue (in Wolfe's Pond Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a trek to observe the fossiliferous stones at the edge of the ocean. Learn about fossil identification and put your skills to the test!
Free!
Nature's Workshop: Beginner Nature Basket Weaving
at Entrance - Springfield Lane and 149th Avenue (in Idlewild Park)
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hands-on lesson in the art of basket weaving. Craft your very own basket while learning about historical weaving practices.
Free!
Plants and Architecture Exploration
at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn 
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Follow the Urban Park Rangers in finding parallels between city architecture and plants! Take a plant ID walk and compare plant structures to their man-made counterparts.
Free!
Sunday, February 16, 2025
Birding: All About Pigeons
at Lawn Area (in Seaside Wildlife Nature Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Pigeons are among some of the most abundant species of birds in our city. Learn more about what makes these birds so unique and interesting.
Free!
Coastal Ecology and Resilience Walk
at Entrance - Beach 44th Street and Boardwalk (in Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers as we explore the urban coastal ecosystem of Rockaway Beach.
Free!
Birding: You Gotta Love Birds
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
With Valentines Day in our rear view mirror, let's take a deeper look into the love lives of birds.
Free!
Nature Exploration Hike
at Entrance - West 100 Street and Central Park West (in Central Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
On Nature Exploration hikes, we will discover the plants and animals that inhabit the urban forest.
Free!
Black History Month: Science Fiction and the Natural World
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Celebrate Black History Month with NYC Parks! Explore the connection between the natural world and science fiction with this storytelling hike featuring the works of Octavia Butler.
Free!
Monday, February 17, 2025
Kids Week: All About Owls Hike and Craft
at Blue Heron Nature Center (in Blue Heron Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Learn about all about owls while taking a hike through the trails of Blue Heron Park. End the afternoon with an owl nature craft.
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Natural Dyes
at Sunset Park Playground (in Sunset Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park rangers in using plant materials to make fabulous dyes! Bring a white cotton clothing item or get a handkerchief to tie-dye
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Campfire Story Time
at Entrance (in Margaret I. Carman Green - Weeping Beech), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers and hear tales of NYC’s urban wildlife while enjoying the warmth of a campfire.
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Nature Puppet Show
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
The Urban Park Rangers welcome you for some nature themed puppet shows! Learn more about animals that can be found in our local parks.
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Wigwam Gathering and Campfire
at West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Explore and enter our recently restored Lenape wigwam and enjoy an afternoon by a warm campfire. Learn how to use a bow drill and other methods to start a fire.
Free!
Kids
Tuesday, February 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 February 5, 2025.
Free!
Kids Week: Nature Scavenger Hunt
at Corner of Furman and Old Fulton Streets (in Brooklyn Bridge Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a fun nature scavenger hunt! Set sail through Brooklyn’s winter flora and fauna on a wild scavenger hunt! Follow the trail of urban wildlife and unique pl
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Campfire Story Time
at Parking Lot (in Clove Lakes Park), Staten Island
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a cozy campfire and story telling session. Rangers will read books and use puppets paired with visual props.
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Nature Exploration for Kids
at Entrance - West 100 Street and Central Park West (in Central Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
The natural world is the best playground in New York City! Join the Urban Park Rangers on a hike through the wonders of Central Park..
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Nature Scavenger Hunt
at Playground for All Children (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a fun nature scavenger hunt! Participants will learn how to use a map to uncover hidden clues and discover the nature in the park along the way.
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Urban Wildlife
at Forest Park Visitor Center (in Forest Park), Queens
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 about the diverse wildlife found in New York City’s parks.
Free!
Kids
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Kids Week: Nature Origami Art
at Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to learn some origami! Learn to make frogs, birds, and other nature using only paper and your imagination.
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Survival Skills for Kids
at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Rangers will demonstrate how to properly start a fire without matches, and give kids a chance to try themselves.Rangers will also be teaching shelter building and other skills
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Birds of Play
at Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Rangers and learn how birds fly, design your own paper “bird-plane,” and compete to see who rules the skies!
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Nature Puppet Show
at Roy Wilkins Park - Entrance (in Roy Wilkins Recreation Center), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
The Urban Park Rangers welcome you for some nature themed puppet shows! Learn more about animals that can be found in our local parks.
Free!
Kids
Kids Week: Winter Nature Crafts
at West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Let the winter season inspire you as we create crafts from things found in nature.
Free!
Kids
Thursday, February 20, 2025
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
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
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
Kids Week: Shelter Building
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Rangers will teach you different methods of shelter building using natural materials.
Free!
Kids
Friday, February 21, 2025
Kids Week: Hibernation Staycation
at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn
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!
Kids
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
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
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
From stick bugs to snakes, meet the animals that call the center their home.
Free!
Kids
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
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!
Historic New York: George Washington
at Old Stone House (in Washington Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join Urban Park Rangers at the Old Stone House in Washington Park to celebrate the 293rd Birthday of General George Washington.
Free!
Historic New York: Staten Island and the American Revolution
at Nevada Avenue Parking Lot (in High Rock Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Staten Island has some significant ties to the American Revolution. Visit historic sites and learn more about battles and events which impacted the American Revolution.
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!
Historic New York: Fort Tryon
at Margaret Corbin Circle (in Fort Tryon Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
. Join the Urban Park Rangers on a walk-through Fort Tryon Park as they discuss the rich history of the location.
Free!
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
Black History Month: Audre Lorde
at Forest Avenue and Silver Lake Park Road (in Silver Lake Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join us on the Audre Lorde Walk at Silver Lake Park as we honor the famous poet and draw inspiration from our surroundings as we practice creating our own poetry.
Free!
Black History Month: Black Pioneers in STEM
at Lewis H Latimer House, Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Learn about prominent African Americans who helped shaped the course of history and the sciences at the house of the person who gave us the carbon filament light bulb– Lewis Latimer.
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!
Outdoor Skills: Fire Building
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers are well-versed in outdoor lore. Learn tips and tricks that will enhance your knowledge of the natural world, and might just save your life.
Free!
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!
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!
Saturday, March 1, 2025
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!
Historic New York: The Highbridge Water Tower
at West 174 Street and Amsterdam Avenue (in Highbridge Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Urban Park Rangers discuss the significance and history of this recently restored structure.
Free!
Living With Urban Coyotes
at Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Learn about the basic biology of these super smart and energetic animals.
Free!
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