Back to School Programs

Urban Park Rangers teaching children about native species

It's time to sharpen your pencils, and prepare for the upcoming schoolyear with NYC Parks! Whether you're a parent looking for learning or service opportunities, or an educator developing your curriculum for the summer, make sure you check out our resources for the year ahead!

Resources For Students/Parents

Afterschool Learn to Swim

During the school year, our Aquatics division offers free swimming lessons for children at our indoor pools on weekdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. There are three sessions during the school year: fall, winter, and spring. Slots for these sessions are filled by lottery. Please visit the Swim Programs Registration page to learn more.

Parks Afterschool Program

The Parks Afterschool Program provides children ages 6-13 the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of activities. The program takes place Monday through Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., a critical time to engage school-aged children in structured activities. Please visit the Parks Afterschool page to learn more.

Weekend Adventures

Extend your education to the great outdoors. Each weekend the Urban Park Rangers offer exciting Weekend Adventures in a park near you. With hands-on programming geared towards children and families each week, our Weekend Adventures are ideal opportunities to make education fun.

Learn more about Weekend Adventures.

Fall Sports

Our Flag Football league begins September 17 and runs through November. This competitive league is open to both boys and girls ages 8 to 16. Contact your local recreation center for more information about registration.

The Ranger Conservation Corps

The Ranger Conservation Corps (RCC) is an urban environmental internship for high school students. RCC participants work on environmental restoration in Forever Wild sites located in our flagship parks. Participants receive community service hours, and the experience looks great on a college application.

Learn more about The Ranger Conservation Corps.

Green Teens

Try becoming a Green Teen! Green Teens learn how to make a “green” positive impact in their local community and encourage the public to recycle. If you are interested in being a "Green Teen," please email us at Green.Teens@parks.nyc.gov.

NAV

Students may also wish to become Natural Areas Volunteers (NAV). We teach you how to care for our natural areas, and give you a hands-on, educational experience in some of the most beautiful and diverse habitats throughout NYC! Projects are available throughout the year, so students and service groups can become NAVigators!

Learn more about NAV.

Resources For Educators/Faculty

The Natural Classroom

Through the Urban Park Rangers' Natural Classroom, we offer your students an exciting and unforgettable hands-on learning experience. Ten distinct programs are available for students in grades K–8, and we can customize these programs to fit the specific needs of other age groups.

Learn more about The Natural Classroom.

Swim for Life

Swim for Life is a water safety program offered to New Yorkers by NYC Parks to save lives. Second grade students come as a class one hour per week as part of the school day, and are taught basic aquatic skills.

Learn more about Swim for Life.

Zoos and Aquariums

NYC Parks owns one aquarium and four zoos throughout the city. These facilities are managed and administered by the Wildlife Conservation Society. Please reach out to WCS to schedule seasonal and educational programming.