This mixed media exhibit by artist Iandry Randriamandroso is created from discarded, crushed aluminum cans found on the streets, and cardboard and burlap from local grocery, along with wordless hand-made books about a fish and a crushed can. This exhibit illustrates how growth is disrupted by invasive species, and is on display in the Visitor&Administration Building Gallery. Free with Garden admission.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Ride your bike to QBG during the month of May and receive 50% off admission. Lock up your wheels at our bike racks and take a stroll to see the flowers (bicycles not allowed inside)

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Whether it’s your first walk or your hundredth visit, High Line Greeters help you discover a new side of the High Line.

The High Line Field Station is a mobile information cart, staffed by High Line Greeters, a group of knowledgeable volunteers who answer your questions and provide information about the park’s history, design, landscape, and more. The Field Station is also stocked with free resources, like monthly bloom lists, seasonal High Line Art maps, and information about upcoming free events and activities for the whole family.

The High Line Field Station is open Thursdays, from 1:00 – 7:00 PM, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM, between Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, September 29. The High Line Field Station will be open on Memorial Day (Monday, May 27) from 1:00 – 7:00 PM.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 7:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 206-9922

Location: Chelsea Market Passage (in The High Line)

This mixed media exhibit by artist Iandry Randriamandroso is created from discarded, crushed aluminum cans found on the streets, and cardboard and burlap from local grocery, along with wordless hand-made books about a fish and a crushed can. This exhibit illustrates how growth is disrupted by invasive species, and is on display in the Visitor&Administration Building Gallery. Free with Garden admission.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Ride your bike to QBG during the month of May and receive 50% off admission. Lock up your wheels at our bike racks and take a stroll to see the flowers (bicycles not allowed inside)

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

High Rock Summer Day Camp and Mini Camp are taking reservations for their 2013 summer season. For more information on both High Rock Summer Day Camp and Mini Camp follow the links listed below.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 351-3450

Location: 200 Nevada Avenue (in High Rock Park)

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Grab a pole and relax on the Harlem Meer while you wait for a bite from one of the many species of fish that live in its diverse aquatic ecosystem! Poles available to borrow; must release fish after catching them. Free for families and individuals; groups larger than 5 must reserve at least 2 weeks in advance.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Experience Central Park as a precious bird habitat and learn how to spot our feathered neighbors on a walk with NYC Audubon. Binoculars available to borrow ; space is limited; please arrive early to sign in. Ages 5+.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 11:00 am

Contact phone: (212) 360-1461

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Swindler Cove at Sherman Creek Park is home to the only beach in Manhattan. Come check it out and help clean up along the shoreline and wetland in Swindler Cove. Learn about the aquatic and avian species you are protecting by donning hip waders and seining in the Harlem River.

Start time: 10:30 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (917) 291-6436

Location: Sherman Creek Park (in Sherman Creek)

Whether it’s your first walk or your hundredth visit, High Line Greeters help you discover a new side of the High Line.

The High Line Field Station is a mobile information cart, staffed by High Line Greeters, a group of knowledgeable volunteers who answer your questions and provide information about the park’s history, design, landscape, and more. The Field Station is also stocked with free resources, like monthly bloom lists, seasonal High Line Art maps, and information about upcoming free events and activities for the whole family.

The High Line Field Station is open Thursdays, from 1:00 – 7:00 PM, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM, between Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, September 29. The High Line Field Station will be open on Memorial Day (Monday, May 27) from 1:00 – 7:00 PM.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 7:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 206-9922

Location: Chelsea Market Passage (in The High Line)

We connect children with nature to encourage active exploration of the natural world. Children who spend time outdoors develop strong imaginations and learn to socialize better with others. Urban Park Rangers are role models who encourage children to let their imaginations run wild in a safe, supportive atmosphere.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 378-2061

Location: Pelham Bay Ranger Station (in Pelham Bay Park)

Hiking programs feature intensity levels ranging from light (a leisurely stroll on mostly paved paths), moderate (longer, faster paced hikes on rugged terrain), to vigorous (long distance, with hills and rugged terrain). This a a moderate level event. For all hiking programs we recommend wearing comfortable shoes or boots, and packing water and a light snack.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 421-2021

Location: Prospect Park Picnic House (in Prospect Park)

Mastering any new skill requires practice and patience. Fishing programs help develop these skills while connecting you with nature. Our experienced Rangers teach the ethics of fishing and the ecology of our waterways on every fishing program.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (212) 628-2345

Location: West Harlem Piers Park

New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Wildlife viewing opportunities exist year-round in all of our parks and beaches. Wildlife viewing is a perfect activity for any age. Today wildlife viewing is recognized as one of the nation’s fastest growing activities. Our Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in New York City.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 352-1769

Location: Fort Totten Front Gate (in Fort Totten Park)

We connect children with nature to encourage active exploration of the natural world. Children who spend time outdoors develop strong imaginations and learn to socialize better with others. Urban Park Rangers are role models who encourage children to let their imaginations run wild in a safe, supportive atmosphere.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 967-3542

Location: Blue Heron Nature Center (in Blue Heron Park)

Hike and search the forest floor in search of six (or more) legged wonders. Learn what all the buzz about the 17-year periodic Magicicada is all about, and look and listen for brood II cicadas. Also, learn about some of the other insects who will be leaping, buzzing, and humming later this summer: grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and more. This program is suitable for ages 7 and up. Registration required.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 351-3450

Location: Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley)

Engage in a creative dialogue with your surroundings guided by professional artists working in various media. Join artist Wennie Huang in this watercolor workshop focusing on techniques that capture the elusive, translucent and reflective qualities of water. Working off the inverted landscape mirrored in the Aquatic Garden, experiment with wet-on-wet washes, glazing and brushwork to suggest the rippling effect of water. Registration recommended, online at our website below, by calling or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Drop-ins welcome as space allows.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200 x232

Location: Wave Hill

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights.

Photo credit: Joshua Bright

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill)

Card, spin using a drop spindle, and even make a felt ball to take home with you.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 789-2822 x301

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Come and see the diversity of fungi that grow in the park. We will be finding Polypores, Crust fungi and Ascomycetes which thrive in the early spring weather. Given the evanescent nature of fungi, it is difficult to know what species will be fruiting during our visit. Inwood Hill Park may be hiding fungi species not yet discovered!

Start time: 2:30 pm

End time: 4:30 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Seaman Avenue & Isham Street Entrance (in Inwood Hill Park)

This mixed media exhibit by artist Iandry Randriamandroso is created from discarded, crushed aluminum cans found on the streets, and cardboard and burlap from local grocery, along with wordless hand-made books about a fish and a crushed can. This exhibit illustrates how growth is disrupted by invasive species, and is on display in the Visitor&Administration Building Gallery. Free with Garden admission.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Ride your bike to QBG during the month of May and receive 50% off admission. Lock up your wheels at our bike racks and take a stroll to see the flowers (bicycles not allowed inside)

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Erik Benson’s paintings depict the landscape of everyday metropolitan life, created with thousands of shapes hand-cut from dried sheets of acrylic paint. Benson uses this painstaking compositional technique to capture the complexity of urban development, with its interplay of construction and creative destruction, density and emptiness. Familiar cityscapes emerge as more complex than they initially appear.

Originally I was interested in creating a painting vocabulary that depicted the plasticity and temporality of unexamined things such as playgrounds and construction sites,” says Benson. “These interests have been growing into ideas and concerns that deal with the urban landscape, such as how cities grow and shrink, and what these issues mean to the inhabitants.”

In these vivid new paintings, Benson considers the role and impact of playgrounds, trees and parks within evolving communities, often setting the saturated colors and bold shapes of play equipment and dynamic tree branch patterns against the muted backdrops of the surrounding buildings. Inspired by his neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn, he creates works that are not precise representations, but rather archetypes, at once foreboding and optimistic.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

5 - 10 volunteers are needed to remove rugs and weeds from the ground covering at May GFTC site, 111th Street Community Garden. Gardens for the City (GFTC) is New York Restoration Project's annual application program to help communities transform public space. Award recipients receive free greening materials, muscle and construction.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 2:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 333-2552

Location: 111th Street Community Garden

This mixed media exhibit by artist Iandry Randriamandroso is created from discarded, crushed aluminum cans found on the streets, and cardboard and burlap from local grocery, along with wordless hand-made books about a fish and a crushed can. This exhibit illustrates how growth is disrupted by invasive species, and is on display in the Visitor&Administration Building Gallery. Free with Garden admission.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Ride your bike to QBG during the month of May and receive 50% off admission. Lock up your wheels at our bike racks and take a stroll to see the flowers (bicycles not allowed inside)

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Erik Benson’s paintings depict the landscape of everyday metropolitan life, created with thousands of shapes hand-cut from dried sheets of acrylic paint. Benson uses this painstaking compositional technique to capture the complexity of urban development, with its interplay of construction and creative destruction, density and emptiness. Familiar cityscapes emerge as more complex than they initially appear.

Originally I was interested in creating a painting vocabulary that depicted the plasticity and temporality of unexamined things such as playgrounds and construction sites,” says Benson. “These interests have been growing into ideas and concerns that deal with the urban landscape, such as how cities grow and shrink, and what these issues mean to the inhabitants.”

In these vivid new paintings, Benson considers the role and impact of playgrounds, trees and parks within evolving communities, often setting the saturated colors and bold shapes of play equipment and dynamic tree branch patterns against the muted backdrops of the surrounding buildings. Inspired by his neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn, he creates works that are not precise representations, but rather archetypes, at once foreboding and optimistic.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

Grab a pole and relax on the Harlem Meer while you wait for a bite from one of the many species of fish that live in its diverse aquatic ecosystem! Poles available to borrow; must release fish after catching them. Free for families and individuals; groups larger than 5 must reserve at least 2 weeks in advance.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill)

You don’t have to leave New York City to see the stars.

Gaze at the stars, planets, and Moon through the high-powered telescopes of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York, and chat with the experts about the sights you see. Stargazing at the High Line takes place every Tuesday, beginning at dusk, between Tuesday, April 2 and Tuesday, October 29.

Start time: 6:30 pm

End time: 9:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 206-9922

Location: 14th Street Passage (in The High Line)

This mixed media exhibit by artist Iandry Randriamandroso is created from discarded, crushed aluminum cans found on the streets, and cardboard and burlap from local grocery, along with wordless hand-made books about a fish and a crushed can. This exhibit illustrates how growth is disrupted by invasive species, and is on display in the Visitor&Administration Building Gallery. Free with Garden admission.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Ride your bike to QBG during the month of May and receive 50% off admission. Lock up your wheels at our bike racks and take a stroll to see the flowers (bicycles not allowed inside)

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Come out and volunteer with Natural Areas Volunteers (NAV) at Marine Park to help sow native seed. This work will help to jumpstart the forest understory and prevent invasives from coming in. Volunteers will also be trained in invasive weed identification and removal techniques. Come dressed in sturdy boots or shoes, long pants and clothing that can get dirty. Please meet your NAV Tech lead at the corner of Gerritsen Avenue & Channel Avenue. Space is limited. Registration is Required For This Event.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-3317

Location: Gerritsen Ave and Channel Ave (in Marine Park)

Erik Benson’s paintings depict the landscape of everyday metropolitan life, created with thousands of shapes hand-cut from dried sheets of acrylic paint. Benson uses this painstaking compositional technique to capture the complexity of urban development, with its interplay of construction and creative destruction, density and emptiness. Familiar cityscapes emerge as more complex than they initially appear.

Originally I was interested in creating a painting vocabulary that depicted the plasticity and temporality of unexamined things such as playgrounds and construction sites,” says Benson. “These interests have been growing into ideas and concerns that deal with the urban landscape, such as how cities grow and shrink, and what these issues mean to the inhabitants.”

In these vivid new paintings, Benson considers the role and impact of playgrounds, trees and parks within evolving communities, often setting the saturated colors and bold shapes of play equipment and dynamic tree branch patterns against the muted backdrops of the surrounding buildings. Inspired by his neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn, he creates works that are not precise representations, but rather archetypes, at once foreboding and optimistic.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

Join us for a dynamic exploration of the wonders of the forest. Through hands-on activities, observations, finger plays, games, and stories, children will become familiar with the sights and sounds of the forest. The program will take place indoors and outdoors [weather permitting] for 3 and 4 year olds and their caregiver.

Start time: 9:45 am

End time: 10:30 am

Contact phone: (718) 351-3450

Location: Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley)

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Grab a pole and relax on the Harlem Meer while you wait for a bite from one of the many species of fish that live in its diverse aquatic ecosystem! Poles available to borrow; must release fish after catching them. Free for families and individuals; groups larger than 5 must reserve at least 2 weeks in advance.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Join us for a dynamic exploration of the wonders of the forest. Through hands-on activities, observations, finger plays, games, and stories, children will become familiar with the sights and sounds of the forest. The program will take place indoors and outdoors [weather permitting] for 2 year olds and their caregiver.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 11:30 am

Contact phone: (718) 351-3450

Location: Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley)

Join us for monthly monitoring sessions where we listen for the calls of local frogs. FrogWatch USA is a nationwide program that monitors and tracks amphibian populations by collecting data with help from volunteers like you. Bring a headlamp or flashlight for the night walk and monitoring. This program is suitable for ages 8 and up. Registration required by phone or email.

Start time: 8:00 pm

End time: 9:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 351-3450

Location: Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley)

This mixed media exhibit by artist Iandry Randriamandroso is created from discarded, crushed aluminum cans found on the streets, and cardboard and burlap from local grocery, along with wordless hand-made books about a fish and a crushed can. This exhibit illustrates how growth is disrupted by invasive species, and is on display in the Visitor&Administration Building Gallery. Free with Garden admission.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Ride your bike to QBG during the month of May and receive 50% off admission. Lock up your wheels at our bike racks and take a stroll to see the flowers (bicycles not allowed inside)

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Erik Benson’s paintings depict the landscape of everyday metropolitan life, created with thousands of shapes hand-cut from dried sheets of acrylic paint. Benson uses this painstaking compositional technique to capture the complexity of urban development, with its interplay of construction and creative destruction, density and emptiness. Familiar cityscapes emerge as more complex than they initially appear.

Originally I was interested in creating a painting vocabulary that depicted the plasticity and temporality of unexamined things such as playgrounds and construction sites,” says Benson. “These interests have been growing into ideas and concerns that deal with the urban landscape, such as how cities grow and shrink, and what these issues mean to the inhabitants.”

In these vivid new paintings, Benson considers the role and impact of playgrounds, trees and parks within evolving communities, often setting the saturated colors and bold shapes of play equipment and dynamic tree branch patterns against the muted backdrops of the surrounding buildings. Inspired by his neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn, he creates works that are not precise representations, but rather archetypes, at once foreboding and optimistic.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Grab a pole and relax on the Harlem Meer while you wait for a bite from one of the many species of fish that live in its diverse aquatic ecosystem! Poles available to borrow; must release fish after catching them. Free for families and individuals; groups larger than 5 must reserve at least 2 weeks in advance.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 10:45 am

Contact phone: (718) 351-3450

Location: Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley)

Whether it’s your first walk or your hundredth visit, High Line Greeters help you discover a new side of the High Line.

The High Line Field Station is a mobile information cart, staffed by High Line Greeters, a group of knowledgeable volunteers who answer your questions and provide information about the park’s history, design, landscape, and more. The Field Station is also stocked with free resources, like monthly bloom lists, seasonal High Line Art maps, and information about upcoming free events and activities for the whole family.

The High Line Field Station is open Thursdays, from 1:00 – 7:00 PM, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM, between Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, September 29. The High Line Field Station will be open on Memorial Day (Monday, May 27) from 1:00 – 7:00 PM.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 7:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 206-9922

Location: Chelsea Market Passage (in The High Line)

Curious as to how “Snappy” the turtle got her name? Want to watch the snake gobble up a mouse? Join one of our trained staff in learning more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection. Learn what it takes to care for these amazing creatures and even assist in an actual feeding. There will also be opportunities to get up close and personal with our box turtle!

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 2:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 287-3400

Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park)

The ornamental and native plantings around Sherman Creek and Swindler Cove need constant care; from watering to weeding, planting to dead-heading there is always work to be done in these gardens. Help maintain the Sherman Creek Gardens and join our Garden Crew on Thursday evenings this spring through fall.

Start time: 4:00 pm

End time: 6:30 pm

Contact phone: (917) 291-6436

Location: Swindler Cove Park

This mixed media exhibit by artist Iandry Randriamandroso is created from discarded, crushed aluminum cans found on the streets, and cardboard and burlap from local grocery, along with wordless hand-made books about a fish and a crushed can. This exhibit illustrates how growth is disrupted by invasive species, and is on display in the Visitor&Administration Building Gallery. Free with Garden admission.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Ride your bike to QBG during the month of May and receive 50% off admission. Lock up your wheels at our bike racks and take a stroll to see the flowers (bicycles not allowed inside)

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Erik Benson’s paintings depict the landscape of everyday metropolitan life, created with thousands of shapes hand-cut from dried sheets of acrylic paint. Benson uses this painstaking compositional technique to capture the complexity of urban development, with its interplay of construction and creative destruction, density and emptiness. Familiar cityscapes emerge as more complex than they initially appear.

Originally I was interested in creating a painting vocabulary that depicted the plasticity and temporality of unexamined things such as playgrounds and construction sites,” says Benson. “These interests have been growing into ideas and concerns that deal with the urban landscape, such as how cities grow and shrink, and what these issues mean to the inhabitants.”

In these vivid new paintings, Benson considers the role and impact of playgrounds, trees and parks within evolving communities, often setting the saturated colors and bold shapes of play equipment and dynamic tree branch patterns against the muted backdrops of the surrounding buildings. Inspired by his neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn, he creates works that are not precise representations, but rather archetypes, at once foreboding and optimistic.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Grab a pole and relax on the Harlem Meer while you wait for a bite from one of the many species of fish that live in its diverse aquatic ecosystem! Poles available to borrow; must release fish after catching them. Free for families and individuals; groups larger than 5 must reserve at least 2 weeks in advance.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Whether it’s your first walk or your hundredth visit, High Line Greeters help you discover a new side of the High Line.

The High Line Field Station is a mobile information cart, staffed by High Line Greeters, a group of knowledgeable volunteers who answer your questions and provide information about the park’s history, design, landscape, and more. The Field Station is also stocked with free resources, like monthly bloom lists, seasonal High Line Art maps, and information about upcoming free events and activities for the whole family.

The High Line Field Station is open Thursdays, from 1:00 – 7:00 PM, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM, between Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, September 29. The High Line Field Station will be open on Memorial Day (Monday, May 27) from 1:00 – 7:00 PM.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 7:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 206-9922

Location: Chelsea Market Passage (in The High Line)

Curious as to how “Snappy” the turtle got her name? Want to watch the snake gobble up a mouse? Join one of our trained staff in learning more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection. Learn what it takes to care for these amazing creatures and even assist in an actual feeding. There will also be opportunities to get up close and personal with our box turtle!

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 2:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 287-3400

Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park)

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 9:30 am

Contact phone: (718) 430-1890

Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park)

This mixed media exhibit by artist Iandry Randriamandroso is created from discarded, crushed aluminum cans found on the streets, and cardboard and burlap from local grocery, along with wordless hand-made books about a fish and a crushed can. This exhibit illustrates how growth is disrupted by invasive species, and is on display in the Visitor&Administration Building Gallery. Free with Garden admission.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Ride your bike to QBG during the month of May and receive 50% off admission. Lock up your wheels at our bike racks and take a stroll to see the flowers (bicycles not allowed inside)

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Come out and volunteer with Natural Areas Volunteers (NAV) at Pelham Bay Park to help plant trees at Million Trees planting site. Volunteers will be trained in proper planting techniques. Come dressed in sturdy boots or shoes, long pants and clothing that can get dirty. Please meet your NAV Tech lead off of Burr Avenue between East 196th Street and Westchester Avenue. Space is limited.

Registration is Required For This Event.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-3317

Location: Burr Avenue & East 196th Street

High Rock Summer Day Camp and Mini Camp are taking reservations for their 2013 summer season. For more information on both High Rock Summer Day Camp and Mini Camp follow the links listed below.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 351-3450

Location: 200 Nevada Avenue (in High Rock Park)

Come out and lend a hand to help us rake, weed and do various gardening chores. Join us for coffee and doughnuts in the am. Bring a rake or use one of ours and have some fun. If you need community sevice hours come to the park to get your hours.

To volunteer in Westerleigh Park call (718) 442-0336.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 12:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 442-0336

Location: Westerleigh Park

The HSBC Children's Garden at Queens Botanical Garden offers a hands-on discovery program for children ages 5-12. Children's imaginations and knowledge blossom as they plant and harvest vegetables and flowers, visit the Bee Garden, and more! No class on May 25 for Memorial Day weekend. Special price: $166 members /$185 for non-members. To register email rwolf@queensbotanical.org or call (718) 886-3800 ext. 230.

Start time: 9:30 am

End time: 12:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800 ext230

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Grab a pole and relax on the Harlem Meer while you wait for a bite from one of the many species of fish that live in its diverse aquatic ecosystem! Poles available to borrow; must release fish after catching them. Free for families and individuals; groups larger than 5 must reserve at least 2 weeks in advance.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: 718-817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

See thousands of blooming trees, shrubs, bulbs, and perennials with the Garden staff. Tours are free and meet at the Vanderbilt Gate at 5th Ave. between 104th and 105th Streets. No reservations needed.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 12:30 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Conservatory Garden (in Central Park)

Whether it’s your first walk or your hundredth visit, High Line Greeters help you discover a new side of the High Line.

The High Line Field Station is a mobile information cart, staffed by High Line Greeters, a group of knowledgeable volunteers who answer your questions and provide information about the park’s history, design, landscape, and more. The Field Station is also stocked with free resources, like monthly bloom lists, seasonal High Line Art maps, and information about upcoming free events and activities for the whole family.

The High Line Field Station is open Thursdays, from 1:00 – 7:00 PM, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM, between Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, September 29. The High Line Field Station will be open on Memorial Day (Monday, May 27) from 1:00 – 7:00 PM.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 7:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 206-9922

Location: Chelsea Market Passage (in The High Line)

From Porcelainberry to Multiflora Rose and Oriental Bittersweet the Highbridge Forest Crew works to remove these invasive plants and others from the park and to care for recently planted native trees. The Forest Crew will learn basic invasive and native plant identification, proper removal techniques and an overview of NYRP’s approach to urban reforestation. Anyone interested in forest ecology, invasive plant removal and urban forests should attend and join the Forest Crew in their work every Saturday afternoon.

RSVP by e-mailing volunteer@nyrp.org

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 2:30 pm

Contact phone: (917) 291-6436

Location: Laurel Hill Terrace (in Highbridge Park)

The Sherman Creek Compost Site keeps nutrient-rich compostable materials from ending up in land-fills and transforms them into finished compost that can be used to amend poor soils and help new plantings. As part of the Compost Crew you will learn about New York Restoration Project’s Composting Program; how to create windrows with compost from the Inwood Green Market; and how to sift finished compost so that it can be used in our community gardens and parks.

Please RSVP by e-mailing volunteer@nyrp.org.

Start time: 1:30 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (917) 291-6436

Location: Swindler Cove Park

Card, spin using a drop spindle, and even make a felt ball to take home with you.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 789-2822 x301

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Did you know that a variety of snakes, toads, turtles and salamanders reside in Riverdale? Learn about the life cycles, diets, habitats and incredible adaptations of these secretive animals, with an environmental educator from the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum. Meet some live reptiles and amphibians that you might see at Wave Hill if you knew where to look.

Ages 6 and up welcome with an adult. Registration recommended.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Ecology Building (in Wave Hill)

Start time: 5:00 pm

End time: 8:00 pm

Contact phone: (917) 371-8577

Location: Pier 4 (in Sheepshead Bay Piers)

New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to deer and seals, wildlife viewing opportunities exist year-round in all of our parks and beaches. Wildlife viewing is a perfect activity for any age. Today wildlife viewing is recognized as one of the nation’s fastest growing activities. Our Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in New York City.

Start time: 7:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (212) 628-2345

Location: Belvedere Castle (in Central Park)

This mixed media exhibit by artist Iandry Randriamandroso is created from discarded, crushed aluminum cans found on the streets, and cardboard and burlap from local grocery, along with wordless hand-made books about a fish and a crushed can. This exhibit illustrates how growth is disrupted by invasive species, and is on display in the Visitor&Administration Building Gallery. Free with Garden admission.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Ride your bike to QBG during the month of May and receive 50% off admission. Lock up your wheels at our bike racks and take a stroll to see the flowers (bicycles not allowed inside)

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

We offer birding programs throughout the year and our Exploration series focuses on unique wildlife viewing opportunities during particular seasons. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. To enhance your experience we encourage you to bring binoculars and field guides, or ask a Ranger to borrow a pair.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 967-3542

Location: High Rock Ranger Station (in High Rock Park)

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 12:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 438-4340

Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (in Jamaica Bay Park)

High Rock Summer Day Camp and Mini Camp are taking reservations for their 2013 summer season. For more information on both High Rock Summer Day Camp and Mini Camp follow the links listed below.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 351-3450

Location: 200 Nevada Avenue (in High Rock Park)

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Grab a pole and relax on the Harlem Meer while you wait for a bite from one of the many species of fish that live in its diverse aquatic ecosystem! Poles available to borrow; must release fish after catching them. Free for families and individuals; groups larger than 5 must reserve at least 2 weeks in advance.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Experience Central Park as a precious bird habitat and learn how to spot our feathered neighbors on a walk with NYC Audubon. Binoculars available to borrow ; space is limited; please arrive early to sign in. Ages 5+.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 11:00 am

Contact phone: (212) 360-1461

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Join us as we search for the birds of Freshkills Park along the site's wetlands, creeks and meadows. This tour, like all our bi-monthly birding tours, will be held jointly with naturalists from the Staten Island Museum and members of the Freshkills Park team. It will diverge from the normal tour route and will be traveled by both bus and foot. This tour is a great way to witness the Freshkills Park site as well as the diverse wildlife returning to the region. This event is free, but space is limited, and registration is required.

Start time: 10:30 am

End time: 12:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 788-8277

Location: Eltingville Transit Center (in Freshkills Park)

Whether it’s your first walk or your hundredth visit, High Line Greeters help you discover a new side of the High Line.

The High Line Field Station is a mobile information cart, staffed by High Line Greeters, a group of knowledgeable volunteers who answer your questions and provide information about the park’s history, design, landscape, and more. The Field Station is also stocked with free resources, like monthly bloom lists, seasonal High Line Art maps, and information about upcoming free events and activities for the whole family.

The High Line Field Station is open Thursdays, from 1:00 – 7:00 PM, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM, between Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, September 29. The High Line Field Station will be open on Memorial Day (Monday, May 27) from 1:00 – 7:00 PM.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 7:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 206-9922

Location: Chelsea Market Passage (in The High Line)

Learn about Revolutionary New York and in particular the Battle of Pell’s Point on this fascinating hike of the area with an Urban Park Ranger. Comfortable shoes or boots, water, and a light snack recommended.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 885-1461

Location: Bartow Pell Mansion

Our trained Urban Park Rangers will lead you on canoe adventures that range from the gentle waters of protected lakes, to the challenging open waters of rivers and bays. On an Urban Park Ranger canoe program, you can go from novice to expert in one just one summer!

Children 8 years old and up are welcome.

Skill Levels:

• Basic: Great for all skill levels, including children 8 years and older.
• Intermediate: Some experience preferred.
• Advanced: Experience required.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 846-2731

Location: Oakland Lake Park (in Alley Pond Park)

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights.

Photo credit: Joshua Bright

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill)

Card, spin using a drop spindle, and even make a felt ball to take home with you.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 789-2822 x301

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

This mixed media exhibit by artist Iandry Randriamandroso is created from discarded, crushed aluminum cans found on the streets, and cardboard and burlap from local grocery, along with wordless hand-made books about a fish and a crushed can. This exhibit illustrates how growth is disrupted by invasive species, and is on display in the Visitor&Administration Building Gallery. Free with Garden admission.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Ride your bike to QBG during the month of May and receive 50% off admission. Lock up your wheels at our bike racks and take a stroll to see the flowers (bicycles not allowed inside)

Start time: 8:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 886-3800

Location: Queens Botanical Garden

Erik Benson’s paintings depict the landscape of everyday metropolitan life, created with thousands of shapes hand-cut from dried sheets of acrylic paint. Benson uses this painstaking compositional technique to capture the complexity of urban development, with its interplay of construction and creative destruction, density and emptiness. Familiar cityscapes emerge as more complex than they initially appear.

Originally I was interested in creating a painting vocabulary that depicted the plasticity and temporality of unexamined things such as playgrounds and construction sites,” says Benson. “These interests have been growing into ideas and concerns that deal with the urban landscape, such as how cities grow and shrink, and what these issues mean to the inhabitants.”

In these vivid new paintings, Benson considers the role and impact of playgrounds, trees and parks within evolving communities, often setting the saturated colors and bold shapes of play equipment and dynamic tree branch patterns against the muted backdrops of the surrounding buildings. Inspired by his neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn, he creates works that are not precise representations, but rather archetypes, at once foreboding and optimistic.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-8163

Location: Arsenal (in Central Park)

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights on this special holiday Monday.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill)