Urban Park Rangers

Connecting you to NYC Parks since 1979

Since 1979, the Urban Park Rangers have helped New Yorkers and visitors of all ages to discover and explore NYC's natural world through environmental education, outdoor recreation, wildlife management, and active conservation. 

Join our Urban Park Ranger programs to explore NYC's rich history, hidden gems, and the incredible biodiversity of our parklands. 

urban park rangers logo

Features

Kids Week

Urban Park Rangers teach kids and their families how to use telescopes and binoculars to go birding

When schools are out, our parks are in! Join our Urban Park Rangers during the school break for fun, kid-friendly, nature-themed activities, including scavenger hunts, sensory hikes, birding, and more!

Find upcoming Kids Week events

Urban Park Rangers: An NYC Legacy

Archival image of the first class of park rangers, former parks commissioner Gordon J Davis, and Mayor Ed Koch

For more than 40 years, our Urban Park Rangers have been the embodiment of NYC’s spirit of public service and our guides to the urban jungle.

Learn more about the Urban Park Rangers

Urban Park Ranger Events

Our Urban Park Rangers offer programs for families, outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, and more. Experience the marvels of NYC with an NYC park ranger as your ambassador to the outdoors! All Urban Park Ranger events are FREE. View all upcoming Urban Park Ranger events

Some programs may be modified, rescheduled or cancelled due to weather, health, or safety concerns.

A ranger shows a kid how to use a bow and arrow

Archery

A park guests stops to take a photo of flowers in bloom along a park path

Art & Nature

A park ranger looks through a telescope to look to the stars

Astronomy

Park rangers lead canoeing adventures around a pond in a park

Canoeing and Kayaking

A park ranger helps a family set up a tent in the park

Family Camping

A park ranger shows a family how to use fishing rod to go fishing at the waterfront

Fishing and Seining

Park rangers lead a hike through a forest in a park during the daytime

Hiking

Park rangers walk up to a monument in a park

History and Culture

A park rangers shows kids how to tie various knots

Kids & Families

a monarch butterfly

Nature Exploration

A park ranger shows a park guests how to set up a tent

Outdoor Skills

Park rangers use telescopes to look for wildlife in the trees

Wildlife Viewing

Urban Park Ranger Programs

A kid walks across a sky-high tight rope in a park

Alley Pond Adventure Course

Our course features a zip line, wall climbing, trust-fall stations, a human swing shot, a catwalk, and more!

Learn more

Guests in canoe explore the park from on the water

Custom Adventures

During the summer, our Rangers offer single-day and overnight programs for summer camps and youth groups.

Learn more

Park rangers lead kids and their families to adventures by the lakeside

Natural Classroom

Invite the Urban Park Rangers to teach your class about NYC's urban ecosystems and the history and culture of our city! 

Learn more

Park rangers chat among themselves

Ranger Conservation Corps

High school students gain hands-on experience by interning with our Rangers on restoration projects.

Learn more

Urban Park Rangers in the Wild

Nature Centers

A nature center sits by a lake

Our nature centers are in-park, community centers for nature exploration and are often the starting point of Ranger-led adventures. Stop by to meet our rangers, pick up a trail map, or learn more about exploring the natural world around you.

Find a nature center in a park near you

Wildlife Management

A park ranger holds on to a hawk

Our park rangers play a major role in helping us coexist with our wild neighbors. Our Rangers are on call to attend to injured wildlife and are there to help us learn more about how to keep them wild and how to safely view our wildest residents.

Learn more about NYC's wildlife