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The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at the New York Botanical Garden The New York Botanical Garden - 6:00 PM
Fall Family Movie Night: Fantastic Mr. Fox at Midwood Library
Midwood Branch of the Brooklyn Library - 3:30 PM Pick
Midwood Branch of the Brooklyn Library - 3:30 PM Pick
Flutter: A Discovery Play about the Seasons for Tots (Brooklyn)
Mark Morris Dance Center - various times Pick
Mark Morris Dance Center - various times Pick
The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at the New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden - 6:00 PM Pick
The New York Botanical Garden - 6:00 PM Pick
The Rock n Roll Playhouse Presents The Music of Creedence Clearwater Revival
Brooklyn Bowl - 12:00 PM Pick
Brooklyn Bowl - 12:00 PM Pick
Native American Heritage Month: Lenape of Staten Island in Von Briesen Park
Von Briesen Park - 1:00 PM Pick
Von Briesen Park - 1:00 PM Pick
Kid Create: Marbled Leaves at the Kensington Library
Kensington Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library - 3:15 PM Pick
Kensington Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library - 3:15 PM Pick
Holiday Train Show at Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Gallery Annex - 10:00 AM
Grand Central Gallery Annex - 10:00 AM
Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
Tea Around Town + NYBG Holiday Train Show with TopView Sightseeing
Central Park South bus stop - various times Pick
Central Park South bus stop - various times Pick
New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show
The New York Botanical Garden - 10:00 AM
The New York Botanical Garden - 10:00 AM
Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
Sloomoo Institute
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
Sloomoo Institute - 10:00 AM
The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at the New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden - 6:00 PM Pick
The New York Botanical Garden - 6:00 PM Pick
New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show
The New York Botanical Garden - 10:00 AM
The New York Botanical Garden - 10:00 AM
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Free Winter Fun at New York City Nature Centers
1/11/12
- By Stephanie Ogozalek
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center
[UPDATED: JANUARY 25, 2013]
Yes, New York City is home to skyscrapers and sidewalks galore, but our city is also made up of beaches, forests, marshlands and glacier formations. There are animals everywhere, too: seals in the harbor, red-tailed hawks on Fifth Avenue, raccoons in Central Park and even occasionally coyotes. And since we are located on the eastern flyway, our skies are filled with hundreds of different species of birds. My family is passionate about the natural world around us and so are many other New Yorkers, as evidenced by the myriad of nature centers available to us throughout the city.
Nature centers are a great way to while away a winter’s day and maybe even learn something new about the city. Drop in during their open hours and check out wonderful exhibits featuring animals, plants, history and geography. Or attend one of the many special events or organized group activities going on all winter. The best part is that most nature centers don't charge an entrance fee (although donations are accepted) so it's an affordable outing the whole family can enjoy.
OUR LATEST VIDEOS
BROOKLYN
Prospect Park Boathouse, by the Lincoln Road/Ocean Avenue entrance
Seasonal schedule, see site for details
Seasonal schedule, see site for details
Prospect Park is home to the amazing and well-used Audubon Center, the first of 1,000 to be developed across the country. The two-story center overlooking the Lullwater is housed in the fantastic Beaux Arts style boathouse. Inside is a paradise for kids—the Center features friendly guides, live bugs and animals, interactive exhibits, a kid-sized bird nest, and more. There is a café on site for a quick snack or meal so you can stay all day. The center also offers regularly scheduled children’s science and nature programs. In nicer weather, there are interpretive trails and boating right outside its doors.
Marine Park, East 33rd Street and Avenue U
Open 11am to 5pm every day except Wednesday
Marine Park, the largest park in Brooklyn, is home to 530 acres of never-to-be-developed marsh and to the many varieties of birds, small mammals, fish, wild plants and flowers that live there. A visit here will easily prove how diverse the environment of New York City is. At the Nature Center, run by the Urban Park Rangers, kids can learn about this special area through exhibits and tanks displaying local wildlife. The Center has huge glass windows overlooking the bay and marshlands for nature-spotting from inside, as well as nature trails to enjoy outside. Many family-friendly events, such as story time and magic shows, are scheduled during the weekends.
MANHATTAN
Central Park, Mid-Park at 79th Street
Open 10am-5pm daily
Did you know that our local weather is recorded from atop Belvedere Castle? That's why the nightly news always reports the temperature in Central Park. Children will love climbing up the skinny spiral staircase to the main floor and visiting with animal skeletons, stuffed birds, rocks and other natural history artifacts on display in the Henry Luce Nature Observatory. Kids can also borrow Discovery Kits, complete with binoculars and maps, for studying the wildlife in abundance throughout Central Park. And if it isn’t freezing out, stand outside on the huge terraces for some birdwatching, or just check out the amazing view from the highest point in the park.
Inwood Hill Park at 218th and Indian Road
Due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy, this facility is closed until further notice.
The alleged sale of Manhattan Island to the Dutch settlers took place in what we now know as Inwood Hill Park and today the park is home to the last natural forest left on the island. Inside the Nature Center kids can learn about the glacier-made environment of the area, check out some live reptiles and bugs, and experience the rural wonders of northern Manhattan. This area is also a great place for Bald Eagle Viewing during their winter migration. The Urban Park Rangers run the Center and offer lots of nature and science programming for budding naturalists.
Central Park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues
November to March: Wednesday-Sunday 10am-5pm, April to October: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm
Open since 1993, this environmental center holds the distinction of being the newest building in Central Park. Kids can borrow binoculars and bird books from the Center, then get a close-up view of the swans and ducks on the water. The Central Park Conservancy offers a wide variety of community programs and seasonal exhibits, as well as holiday events such as the Halloween Pumpkin Sail. The Center is also home to Central Park's Catch-and-Release Fishing Program.
QUEENS
Alley Pond Park, 228-06 Northern Boulevard
Open 9am-4:30pm daily
This popular nature center, run by a private non-profit organization, is dedicated to educating New Yorkers on the environment. The highlight of the center is their collection of live animals—kids will be delighted by rabbits, turtles, chinchillas, lizards and lots more. They offer many special events, as well as regular programs for kids of all ages. APEC is also a great location for hosting a birthday party for your nature-loving kid.
STATEN ISLAND
Blue Heron Park, 222 Poillon Avenue between Amboy Road and Hylan Boulevard
Due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy, this facility is closed until further notice.
What was once an urban wasteland filled with abandoned cars is now a state-of-the-art nature center and wildlife sanctuary featuring exhibits on nature and insects. They also have two live snakes, lizards and turtles on display for children to gawk at. The Nature Center offers a wide array of arts, science and nature programming for children, tweens and teens.
The Greenbelt, 700 Rockland Avenue at Brielle Avenue
November to March: Wednesday-Sunday 11am-5pm, April to October: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm
Since its opening in 2004, the Greenbelt Nature Center has been educating visitors on the local environment through interactive displays and educational programs. They also have a live eastern box turtle and a corn snake on display. The vast Greenbelt is one of the city’s flagship parks and has a lot to offer including 30 miles of hiking and walking. The Nature Center hosts many wonderful activities for families year-round.
Since its opening in 2004, the Greenbelt Nature Center has been educating visitors on the local environment through interactive displays and educational programs. They also have a live eastern box turtle and a corn snake on display. The vast Greenbelt is one of the city’s flagship parks and has a lot to offer including 30 miles of hiking and walking. The Nature Center hosts many wonderful activities for families year-round.
For more fun in NYC this winter, check out our Winter Fun Guide and Indoor Activity Guide.
Places featured in this article:
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center
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