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Wild NYC is at the other end of your doorstep! Explore New York's urban forests, streams, and wildlife with these fun outdoor activities.
Nature Events
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Trail Work Thursdays
at VCPA Garden & Compost Site (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Be a part of the community effort to maintain the trails in Van Cortlandt Park.
Free!
Horseshoe Crab Walk and Coastal Cleanup in the Rockaways
at Park entrance at the end of Amstel Blvd. (in Vernam Barbadoes Peninsula), Queens
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Volunteer with the Stewardship Team! This cleanup coincides with the full moon high tide, which marks the beginning of the annual horseshoe crab spawning season in Jamaica Bay.
Free!
Event
Adult Hike: High Rock Park
at Greenbelt Nature Center - Hike Start Point (in Blood Root Valley), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join us in a series of welcoming the back of the warblers to our NYC parks.
Free!
Event
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens 
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Kids
Friday, May 16, 2025
5/16 Restoration Fridays at Highland Park
at Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join NYC Parks and The Forest Park Trust for Restoration Fridays this spring!
Free!
Volunteer With EQA: Turn an unsightly lot into a Botanical Garden
at Entrance - Springfield Lane and 149th Avenue (in Idlewild Park)
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
The Eastern Queens Alliance is looking for volunteers to help us turn an unsightly lot into a Botanical Garden.
Free!
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Kids
CANCELLED: Earth Day Celebration
at Outdoor Performance Area (in Roy Wilkins Recreation Center)
3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Raising awareness about environmental issues such as pollution, deforestation, climate change, and endangered species
Free!
Children's Gardening Classes
at South Brooklyn Childrens Garden, Brooklyn
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
The South Brooklyn Children’s Garden is thrilled to announce that we will be offering free Children's Gardening Classes for kids ages 4-7 years old. Classes take place rain or shine!
Free!
Kids
Forest Bathing
at 119th Street Tennis Courts (in Riverside Park), Manhattan
6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Reconnect with nature on a guided walk led by certified Forest Therapy Guide Lori Klamner.
Free!
Event
NYC Urban Forest Update – Staten Island
at Snug Harbor Culture Center (in Snug Harbor Cultural Center), Staten Island
6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Staten Island, join us! Learn more about upcoming urban forestry projects happening in 2025! This workshop is in partnership with Forest For All NYC.
Free!
Event
Summer on the Hudson: Uptown Star Gaze
at 145th and the Hudson River (in Riverside Park), Manhattan
8:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Expert stargazers from the Amateur Astronomers Association help us observe stars and planets.
Free!
Saturday, May 17, 2025
05/17 Astoria Street Tree Care
at RIOULT Dance Center, Queens
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Come work with NYC Parks Stewardship to care for local street trees!
Free!
Forest Park Memorial Day Tree Care and Forest Restoration
at Oak Ridge (in Forest Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join NYC Parks and The Forest Park Trust for a young tree care and forest restoration service event in honor of Memorial Day!
Free!
Event
Orchard Beach Meadow Restoration
at Orchard Beach
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to restore this beachside meadow along Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park!
Free!
Event
Super Seedlings
at VCPA Garden & Compost Site (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Play and plant with your little one! Super Seedlings is a FREE, drop-in gardening program for kids ages 3-7 and their caregivers.
Free!
Volunteer With EQA: Turn an unsightly lot into a Botanical Garden
at Entrance - Springfield Lane and 149th Avenue (in Idlewild Park)
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
The Eastern Queens Alliance is looking for volunteers to help us turn an unsightly lot into a Botanical Garden.
Free!
Coastal Ecology: Oysters and Other Bivalves
at Stapleton Waterfront Park
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Oysters and other bivalves act as natural filters for our shores. Learn more about these phenomenal creatures and other marine life at this Billion Oyster Project site along The Narrows
Free!
Event
Fantastic Fungi Mushroom ID Hike
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
This Urban Park Ranger led hike will take you through the forest to learn how to identify fungi.
Free!
Event
Historic New York: Ye Olde Prospect Park
at Grand Army Plaza Arch (in Grand Army Plaza), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers and reminisce on the history of the Vale of Cashmere, one of the most mysterious and intriguing parts of the park. Bring a camera and create your own Vale
Free!
Seed Starting Workshop
at The Amazing Garden (in ), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Come to the Amazing Garden for a seed starting workshop where the garden group will teach kids and adults how to start plants from seeds!
Free!
Young People's Chorus of New York City
at Harlem Rose Garden (in ), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Young People's Chorus of New York City in the Harlem Rose Garden. Featuring songs from a wide array of musical traditions, celebrating the joy of spring!
Free!
Summer on the Hudson: Billion Oyster Project Presentation
at On the Pier (in West Harlem Piers), Manhattan
12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Come see and learn about the Billion Oyster Project on the Baylander’s Jungle Deck.
Free!
Event
Fae Day 2025 - Neo Brooklyn
at Success Garden - East New York, Brooklyn
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Immerse yourself in a multi-sensory experience where nature meets neon, folklore meets future, & imagination knows no bounds with music, interactive art, cosmic storytelling, and more!
Free!
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Kids
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Wings Over Wave Hill
at Wave Hill, Bronx
9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Join us for a full day of amazing bird encounters!
Free!
Event
Birding: Hawk Watch
at Unisphere (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Experience the majesty of NYC’s top aerial predator. Join us to learn about Red-Tailed Hawks and other raptors of NYC and hopefully catch a glimpse of a nesting pair.
Free!
Event
East Harlem Compost Giveaway
at Pleasant Village Community Garden (in ), Manhattan, Lower East Side Ecology Center (in John V. Lindsay East River Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
The LES Ecology Center & Pleasant Village Community Garden are hosting a compost giveaway—up to two (2) free bags per household!
Free!
Event
Urban Farm Volunteers
at Urban Farm (in Randall's Island Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Volunteer with our team to manage our one-acre Urban Farm!
Free!
Urban Farm Volunteers
at Urban Farm (in Randall's Island Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Volunteer with our team to manage our one-acre Urban Farm!
Free!
Plants and Pollinators Walk
at Westchester Avenue and Edgewater Road (in Concrete Plant Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on an exploration of our many types of flowers and our native pollinator species, as well as pollinators you might not expect!
Free!
Nature Exploration: Conservatory Garden
at Entrance - East 106th Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a lovely garden walk at the Conservatory Garden in Central Park! Learn the history of this garden as well as some botany basics with the Rangers!
Free!
Public Garden Highlights Walk
at Wave Hill, Bronx , Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens every Sunday. Each walk varies with the Guide leading it.
Free!
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Kids
Summer on the Hudson: Sun Gaze
at Pier I (in Riverside Park South), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Join the Amateur Astronomers Association to safely observe the central star of our solar system.
Free!
The Beyond Flute Group
at 11 BC Serenity Garden, Manhattan
4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Come to 11 BC Serenity Garden to enjoy a performance by The Beyond Flute Group, an organic formation of musicians who choose to play creative, intrinsic, improvisational jazz!
Free!
Event
Documenting Urban Nature in support of Wild NYC
at Wave Hill, Bronx
4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Come join us for an introduction to thinking about New York City as nature—and how to document it.
Free!
Event
Monday, May 19, 2025
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Kids
Idlewild's Science Book Club
at Entrance - Springfield Lane and 149th Avenue (in Idlewild Park)
3:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
This is a reading and creative writing book club that blends environmental science with storytelling. Children ages 9-12 are encouraged to join the club!
Free!
Kids
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Floyd Bennet Field Seed Increase Program Field Work
at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Help care for native plants for the Founder Seed Program with the Greenbelt Native Plant Center!
Free!
Event
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Kids
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Citywide Nursery Gardening
at Arthur Ross Nursery Parking Lot, Bronx
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the NYC Parks Stewardship Team at the Citywide Nursery for a hands-on gardening experience where you’ll help pot up perennials into larger grow pots and maintain our plant hoop houses
Free!
Event
Team RIVER Volunteers
at 10 Central Road (in Randall's Island Park), Manhattan
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Volunteer with Team RIVER (Randall’s Island Volunteer Ecological Restorers) and help keep Randall’s Island Park beautiful!
Free!
Team RIVER Volunteers
at Randall's Island Park, Manhattan
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Volunteer with Team RIVER (Randall’s Island Volunteer Ecological Restorers) and help keep Randall’s Island Park beautiful!
Free!
Team RIVER Volunteers
at Randall's Island Park, Manhattan
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Volunteer with Team RIVER (Randall’s Island Volunteer Ecological Restorers) and help keep Randall’s Island Park beautiful!
Free!
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Kids
Wormy Wednesday
at Ward's Island Footbridge (in Randall's Island Park), Manhattan
3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Learn about vermicomposting with the Randall’s Island Park Alliance! Come after school to meet the worms from our compost bins and learn how you can make your own at home.
Free!
Event
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Trail Work Thursdays
at VCPA Garden & Compost Site (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Be a part of the community effort to maintain the trails in Van Cortlandt Park.
Free!
05/22 Greenbelt Native Plant Center Seed Increase Program Field Work
at Greenbelt Native Plant Center, Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join the Greenbelt Native Plant Center’s Seed Increase Program (SIP) to help maintain the production plots in our Staten Island farm fields.
Free!
Queens County Farm Hayrides!
at Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Visit the Farm Store to purchase your ticket for a tractor-drawn hayride throughout the farm.
Kids
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