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AccessibilityUrban Park Rangers
Our Urban Park Rangers are full of knowledge about history, astronomy, animals, plants, and more. Attend a Ranger-led event with your family and see how much fun learning can be!
Urban Park Rangers Events
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Queens County Parks Super Hike
at Unisphere (in Flushing Meadows Corona Park), Queens 
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a 15-mile super hike across the borough of Queens! Registration required. Registration opens on Monday October 26
Free!
Birding: Fall Migration
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a birding adventure around Salt Marsh Nature Trail to look for fall migrants that include warblers, raptors and more!
Free!
Fall Foliage Bike Tour
at Arthur Kill Road and Brookfield Avenue (in Brookfield Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Discover Staten Island from a new perspective on this guided bicycle adventure with the Urban Park Rangers. Registration required.
Free!
Staten Island North Shore Parks Super Hike
at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a quick-paced hike up varying terrains and trails through Snug Harbor, Allison Pond, Goodhue and Jones Woods Park. Comfortable walking shoes recommended.
Free!
Event
Nature's Workshop: Fall Foliage Leaf Art
at Lincoln Terrace Park (in Lincoln Terrace / Arthur S. Somers Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Enjoy the beauty of fall with the Urban Park Rangers as we collect tree leaves and create colorful leaf art!
Free!
Autumn Eco Crafts and Exploration
at Juniper South Playground (in Juniper Valley Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hands-on craft program where we will explore the park to find natural inspiration and create our own unique masterpiece.
Free!
Discovery Hike: Waterfront Ecosystems
at Ward's Island Footbridge (in Randall's Island Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Learn how tidal flows, native plants, and marsh habitats support wildlife and help sustain New York City’s coastline.
Free!
Native American Heritage Month: Indigenous Plant Practices
at Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore how Indigenous communities have traditionally used local plants for food, medicine, and daily life.
Free!
Event
Sunday, November 8, 2026
Fall Foliage Hike
at Lafayette Avenue and Colgate Avenue (in Soundview Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a beautiful stroll around Soundview Park as we celebrate the changing of the seasons!
Free!
Event
Fall Foliage Tree ID Hike
at Myrtle Avenue and Park Lane South (in Forest Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Discover the beauty of Forest Park on a colorful autumn hike with the Urban Park Rangers. Maple, oak and hickory are some of the most colorful species we will see.
Free!
Event
Fantastic Fungi Mushroom ID Hike
at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
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
Native American Heritage Month: Lenape Folktales
at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers as they lead a walk around Snug Harbor to enjoy the beautiful landscape and learn about the Lenape’s traditional practice of oral storytelling.
Free!
Event
Outdoor Skills: Orienteering and Geocaching Hike
at Lawn Area (in Seaside Wildlife Nature Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Rangers on an orienteering based hike where the Rangers will teach you how to read and follow maps which will eventually lead to a geocache with prizes inside.
Free!
Event
Native American Heritage Month: Early Food Traditions
at Old Stone House (in Washington Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Learn how Lenape, Dutch, and English foodways blended to form the city’s earliest culinary culture.
Free!
Event
Historic New York: Vanderbilt Motor Parkway
at 73rd Avenue and Hollis Hills Terrace (in Cunningham Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Walk along the historic Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, one of New York's earliest roadways and a corridor that now links several city parks.
Free!
Event
Leaf Peeping in Central Park Hike
at Entrance - West 100 Street and Central Park West (in Central Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a hike around the North Woods of Central Park to see some colorful foliage and celebrate fall!
Free!
Event
Nature's Workshop: Create Your Own Nature Field Guide
at Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Every great explorer needs a guidebook. Join the Urban Park Rangers to learn how field guides help us identify and understand the world around us.
Free!
Event
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
CANCELED: CANCELLED Hart Island: Honoring Our Military and Veterans (North Island)
at Hart Island, Bronx
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers as we explore the intertwining histories of Hart Island and NYC’s military institutions. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday October 28.
Free!
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Monthly Nature Exploration Hike Series
at West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a monthly hike exploring Inwood Hill Park. The hike will begin at the Inwood Hill Nature Center. This month’s hike will focus on fall bird watching.
Free!
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Falling for Nature Hike
at Visitor Center - Satterlee Street and Hylan Boulevard (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Celebrate the beauty of late autumn on a guided nature walk through Conference House Park.
Free!
Behind The Smile: Animal Adaptations Revealed
at Hoyt Avenue North and 19th Street (in Astoria Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Discover how animal teeth and skulls reveal the secrets of survival in the wild.
Free!
Discovery Hike: Waterfront Ecosystems
at Lawn Area (in Bushwick Inlet Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Learn how native plants, shoreline habitats, and restored coastal features support wildlife and strengthen the East River waterfront against climate impacts.
Free!
Outdoor Skills: Fire Building
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers are well-versed in outdoor lore. Learn tips and tricks that will enhance your knowledge of the natural world, and might just save your life.
Free!
Spooky Staten Island History Hike
at Prospect Avenue and Brentwood Avenue (in Allison Pond Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Halloween may be over but the spooky season stays strong! Join the Rangers to explore the weird, spooky and strange in Staten Island’s history.
Free!
Fall Foliage Hike
at Picnic House (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Learn about the ecology of a fall forest and the science of the changing colors all while enjoying one of New York City's flagship parks!
Free!
Hiking Club Series: Sappy Trails
at Palisade Avenue and Spaulding Lane (in Riverdale Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hike exploring the role of sap in tree health and forest ecosystems.
Free!
Outdoor Skills: Survival 101
at West 114th Street and Morningside Drive (in Morningside Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Try your hand at making a friction fire and building shelters with tarps, knots, and natural materials.
Free!
The Secret Lives of Insects
at Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a walk to learn the important role these fascinating insects play for the environment and humans.
Free!
Sunday, November 15, 2026
Audre Lorde Legacy Walk
at Forest Avenue and Silver Lake Park Road (in Silver Lake Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Join Urban Park Rangers at Silver Lake Park for a community walk celebrating the life and work of Audre Lorde.
Free!
Hiking Club Series: Hidden Hunter Island
at North Picnic Area (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
This beginner-friendly adventure explores the beautiful trails of Hunter Island, where forests, wetlands, and shoreline habitats come together.
Free!
Invasive Plant Removal and Native Species Planting
at Fort Totten Park Visitors Center (in Fort Totten Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Learn to identify invasive plant species, discover how they impact local ecosystems, and help remove them to support native plants and wildlife.
Free!
Nature Detective Mystery Adventure
at Brower Park Lawn (in Brower Park), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Learn the basics of animal tracking and lend the Urban Park Rangers a paw in solving some critter crime scenes! Can you find the culprit?
Free!
Discovery Hike: Urban Mammals
at Eton Place Parking Lot (in Willowbrook Park), Staten Island
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore the wide variety of mammals that live in New York City.
Free!
Kids
Historic New York: Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument
at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Discover the history of this Brooklyn landmark that pays tribute to the 11,000 men, women, and children who died on British Prison Ships during the Revolutionary War.
Free!
Fireside Meditation
at Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on this contemplative program about fire, the things we take with us, and the things we leave behind.
Free!
Nature's Workshop: Bird Friendly Windows
at Public Restroom Building - 164th St and Lithonia Ave (in Kissena Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Discover why birds collide with windows during migration and create a bird-friendly window marker to help keep local and migrating birds safe.
Free!
Nature's Workshop: Natural Inks and Dyes
at West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for an afternoon of making inks and dyes of different colors using natural materials harvested throughout the year.
Free!
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
CANCELED: Hart Island Tour (South Island)
at Hart Island, Bronx
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore Hart Island's unique past, present, and future. Participants are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Free!
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Senior Community Day
at West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore the Inwood Hill Nature Center and build community. This month's Senior Community Day will be a wilderness skills day.
Free!
Saturday, November 21, 2026
Discovery Hike: Pond and Freshwater Ecology
at Forest Avenue and Silver Lake Park Road (in Silver Lake Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Lakes and ponds are thriving habitats to various species of birds, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians and plants.
Free!
Birding: Owls
at Orchard Beach Pavilion (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers and learn about the behavior and diet of New York City’s most mysterious raptors: owls!
Free!
Forest Park Super Hike
at The Overlook (in Forest Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on this lengthy hike of Forest Park. Dress warmly, put on your hiking shoes, and head to the park.
Free!
Introduction to Fly Fishing
at Prospect Avenue and Brentwood Avenue (in Allison Pond Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers and learn how to cast a fly-fishing pole. We will setup a simulated fishing course where you can practice how to cast and reel in your catch.
Free!
Nature Scavenger Hunt
at Seth Low Playground (in Seth Low Playground/ Bealin Square), Brooklyn
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
What treasure has Sammy the Squirrel hidden in the playground? Follow clues to locate new discoveries in the park and take home a piece of Sammy’s bounty!
Free!
Kids
Beginner Fishing
at Entrance - Baisley Blvd. & 157th Street (in Baisley Pond Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Discover what lives in our local waters and what we can do to keep Baisley Pond healthy and thriving. Ages 8 and up.
Free!
Falling for Nature Hike
at West 81st Street and Central Park West (in Central Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Celebrate the beauty of late autumn on a guided nature walk through Central Park.
Free!
Historic New York: Greenpoint Neighborhood History
at Lawn Area - Monitor Street and Driggs Avenue (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a guided walk through Greenpoint that highlights the neighborhood’s industrial development and the immigrant communities that shaped its growth.
Free!
Living With Urban Coyotes
at Entrance - Mt. Eden Parkway and Morris Avenue (in Claremont Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Learn about the basic biology of these super smart and energetic animals.
Free!
Astronomy: Autumn Sky
at West 218th Street and Indian Road (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a survey of the November night sky.
Free!
Sunday, November 22, 2026
Birding: Fall Migration
at Blue Heron Nature Center (in Blue Heron Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a birding adventure around Blue Heron Park to look for birds that include warblers, raptors and more!
Free!
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