Good Morning! Come join the Van Cortlandt Track Club for regular morning group runs through and around the Yonkers-Bronx border in small groups each Saturday morning at 8AM!

We break into various groups based on different paces and distances, starting with a loop of the Parade Grounds, then some peel off through the trails for various length and speed runs in smaller groups.

Be sure to meet back up after the run for breakfast!

Visit www.vctc.org for details & local running tips.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time:

Contact phone:

Location: Van Cortlandt Stadium (in Van Cortlandt Park)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Bird Walks focus on wildlife happenings in the park and are led by NYC Audubon experts or the Urban Park Rangers.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring water & a light snack.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 430-1890

Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt 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.

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

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Come out and volunteer with Natural Areas Volunteers (NAV) at Fresh Creek Preserve to plant native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous material around the Creek to improve the creek habitat. JPlease come dressed in closed-toe shoes, long pants and clothing that can get dirty. Space is limited. Registration is required for this event.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 360-3318

Location: Avenue L & East 108th Street (in Fresh Creek Nature Preserve)

Join the New York Restoration Project, American Express and MillionTreesNYC on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at Co-Op City in the Bronx as we plant over 150 new trees. Lunch, tree planting equipment and a free t-shirt will be provided, courtesy of American Express!

MillionTreesNYC is in its fifth year and we need your help to reach the goal!American Express Serve2Gether

Launched by Mayor Bloomberg and Better Midler in 2007, we are well on our way of reaching one million trees by 2017. With the help of volunteers like you, we have planted over 612,000 to date and we aren’t stopping yet!

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 333-2552

Location: Co-op City Greenway Stage

The Poe Park Visitor Center is home to the III Bienal de Artes Latino Americano del Bronx. Come and enjoy Visual Appearance. You will be amazed!

The title "Visual Appearance" refers to the elucidation of of what happens when we stand in front of an art work. The visual appearance of objects is given by the way in which they reflect and transmit light. The color of objects is determined by the parts of the spectrum of light, reflected or transmitted without being absorbed. Visual Appearance also relates to the meaning of symbolic reference constructed as an icon that stands for an object by signifying or representing it either concretely, or by analogy. In Visual Appearance you will experience conflict, contrast, wonder and especially question what you see.

The Latin American artists include Miguel Trelles, Leenda Bonilla, Rodolfo Edwards, Pepe Villegas, Aisha Sufe, Miguel Martinez, Marina Gutierrez and Ismael Checo. The curator is Luis Stephenberg. The next bienal will be in 2014.

The Poe Park Visitor Center is open from Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-5pm. We are closed Sundays and Mondays.

For your convenience, please call to schedule a visit for your group. We are closed on Thanksgiving.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

The Central Park Conservancy offers weekly moderate to brisk walks led by the NY Walkers Club for people 18+ years of all abilities. This low-impact fitness program is perfect for those who want to get in shape, build muscle tone and strength, and increase cardiovascular health while enjoying Central Park’s beautiful landscapes.

Free and no pre-registration is required.

Start time: 9:30 am

End time: 11:00 am

Contact phone: (212) 348-4867

Location: North Meadow Recreation Center (in Central Park)

Garden along Brooklyn's beautiful waterfront! The Green Team provides essential horticultural care to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Weekly projects may include planting, mulching, and removing invasive plants. The Green Team is a wonderful opportunity to learn about gardening, enjoy nature, and make the park look its best.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 12:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Brooklyn Bridge Park: Main Street (in Brooklyn Bridge Park)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

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)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

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)

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)

This event has been rescheduled for November 10.

Learn how to replenish and sustain your soil organically by using cover crops. In this hands-on workshop, learn the basics of planting, growing, and tilling cover crops. Take home cover crop seeds for use in your own plot. All supplies are for GreenThumb-registered gardens only and are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

This workshop, originally scheduled for Saturday, November 3, has been postponed until Saturday, November 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at a new location: Melrose New Generation Community Garden, 377 East 160 Street between Melrose and Courtlandt Avenues

Start time: 10:30 am

End time: 12:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 817-8023

Location: Melrose New Generation Community Garden

Bird, bug & wildlife enthusiasts — this event is for you! Get up-close with frogs, insects, birds of prey, and animal shows.

Cost is $9 for all ages. Price includes hayride, pony ride (80 lb. limit), and goat feeding.

The event will take place on November 3rd and 4th, as well as November 10th and 11th

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 347-3276

Location: Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park)

Come play ping pong at Bryant Park!

Paddles and balls will be provided free of charge to all skill levels.

Visit the park and sign up with an attendant, who can arrange a friendly game.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Ping Pong Court (in Bryant 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)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Hike with the Urban Park Rangers over a long distance, with hills and rugged terrain. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes or boots, and packing water and a light snack.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 846-2731

Location: Cunningham Park Parking Lot (in Cunningham Park)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

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: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 967-3542

Location: Midland Avenue and Father Capodanno Boulevard (in Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

For more than ten years, the Corinne May Botz searched for ghost stories in buildings across the United States. She ventured into these haunted places with both camera and tape recorder in hand; her photographs, accompanied by first-person narratives, reveal a rare glimpse into American interiors, both physical and psychological.

She says, “The first thing that inspired the project were writers like Edith Wharton, Charlotte Bronte and even Toni Morrison. Often these ghost stories were written by women as a means of articulating domestic discontents. I was interested in the idea of a woman being trapped in the home or by domestic space and how this was expressed in history."

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Alice Austen House Museum (in Alice Austen Park)

Join the Van Cortlandt Forest Restoration team for a day of Planting.

We will supply all tools and instructions needed. Please dress appropriately long sleeve shirt and pants-boots or sneakers

Registration is required, so email dennis.burton@parks.nyc.gov

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 2:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 543-1429

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

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Grow to Learn registered school gardens only may pick up child-sized tools, gloves, and other gardening items, while supplies last. A vehicle will be required to carry these items.

YOU MUST RSVP by Wednesday November 7 with your school name and contact info (phone and email) to Andrew Barrett at andrew.barrett@parks.nyc.gov or (212) 788-8073.

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 2:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 788-8073

Location: GreenThumb Compound

This year's exhibition features quilts that draw inspiration from the word cool––whether it's a cold, wintery scene, a quilt of cool colors like greens and blues, or another interpretation of the word cool, this year the quilt show faces the cold of fall and winter head-on.

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind? Take a tour and learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 287-3400

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

Seneca Village was Manhattan's first known community of African-American property owners, on land that would become Central Park. Learn about the history of the village, the property owners, and what New York City was like at the time.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or e-mail tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Moderate inclines and stairs, paths clear and negotiable - only parts accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: 85th Street and Central Park West (in Central Park)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Free tours of the Conference House on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. There is a charge for group tours which are booked separately. Please visit www.conferencehouse.org or call 718-984-6046 for more information.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: 718-984-6046

Location: Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park)

View significant artifacts from 19th-century family life and walk into a fully furnished 1820s bedroom. There will be tours every half hour.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 789-2822

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Join Sidney Horenstein, geologist and Educator Emeritus, American Museum of Natural History, as he leads his geology, history and natural history walk through Bennett, Mitchell, and J. Hood Wright Parks.

This small park is rich in history and geological features. See the highest point of land on Manhattan Island, naturalized (imported) rocks that add to NYC's history and classical examples of glacially sculptured bedrock.

This program is generously supported by the Greenacre Foundation and the Fort Tryon Park Trust.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 795-1388

Location: 184th Street Entrance (in Bennett Park)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Whether you are preparing for an extended journey through the woods or just want to be more prepared for any situation, a wilderness survival program is perfect for you.

Wilderness survival programs take place in the fall and winter. All programs are family friendly, but are recommended for ages 8 years and older. Wilderness survival programs feature hands-on activities in an outdoor setting. Please dress appropriately for cold weather.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 548-0912

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

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Learn how to navigate using a map and compass on our Orienteering programs. This program offers a leisurely stroll on mostly paved paths. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes or boots, and packing water and a light snack.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (212) 628-2345

Location: Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Spend time outside enjoying nature while helping to keep Prospect Park clean. Families can take a tour of the Park and its waterways and help keep it clean along the way. Gloves, garbage bags and trash grabbers will be provided.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 287-3400

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

It has been said that one of the most enduring markers of ethnic identity is cuisine. From fast food to slow food and everything in between, we will consider how eating, cooking and even shopping for food are rich social activities. This conversation examines the ways in which food and the act of eating are important ways of defining who we are. The presentation is sponsored by the New York Council for the Humanities. This event is FREE but advanced registration is required.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 3:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 923-8008

Location: Morris-Jumel Mansion (in Roger Morris Park)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Take photos of nature with the guidance of our Urban Park Rangers! All photography programs are for digital cameras and you must provide your own camera, DSLR preferred, but all cameras are welcome.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 421-2021

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

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Local poet John Maney offers a free poetry series for teens and adults. Read and discuss poetry with your peers, and work to create your own poetry in a group setting.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

Join an exhibition interpreter for one of our regularly scheduled tours of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition Foregrounding the Palisades, sculptural installations by artists Isidro Blasco, Blane de St. Croix and Paula Winokur that focus on the cliffs across the Hudson River, a quintessential feature of Wave Hill’s vista—and history. In the Sunroom, Gail Biederman suspends a net-like map of commercial and handmade felt reflecting local topography.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone:

Location: Wave Hill

Join us for a tour through Central Park in which you will see a hidden bench that tells time, miniature boats powered by the wind, a magnificent sculpture celebrating fresh water, and much more!

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Easy to negotiate; paths and few stairs - mostly accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 2:30 pm

End time: 3:45 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: East 72 Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park)

Imagine yourself in the past. Learn games, pastimes and tasks that were common 200 years ago. At Lefferts Historic House, you can try your hand at needlepoint, games, and more.

Start time: 2:30 pm

End time: 3:30 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Come on Friday, November 9th or Saturday, November 10th to experience an authentic 18th century dinner prepared in an open hearth, served with period tableware. Traditional recipes and 1770s surroundings will enhance this unforgettable evening.

Cost is $85 for non-members; $80 for members

Advance tickets required. Please call (718) 347-3276 for more info

Start time: 8:00 pm

End time: 11:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 347-3276

Location: Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park)