Nature

Recently we received an email asking if we knew about any outdoor volunteering opportunities for New York City families this spring. The timing was perfect since this Saturday, May 19 is It's My Park Day. Organized by Partnership for Parks and held twice a year in the spring and fall, It's My Park Day brings together thousands of NYC volunteers looking to help spruce up their neighborhood green spaces. It's an awesome initiative and a great way to teach your kids about the importance of giving back to your community. After all, these are the parks they play in!

There are It's My Park Day events throughout the five boroughs. In addition to cleaning, weeding and other chores, many gatherings feature arts and crafts, giveaways and a celebratory atmosphere. We’ve got the details about how to get involved with It's My Park Day, as well as other ways your family can volunteer outdoors in the city this spring.

We regularly post about the cool nature activities and annual exhibits like the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden. But as a Bronx resident who frequently visits the garden with my family, I'm here to tell you that you can never say too much about this incredibly diverse 250-acre oasis in Bronx Park. There are so many wonderful attractions: the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, where kids can work their green thumbs; the Everett Children's Adventure Garden, which hosts science and nature programs; the Forest, full of indigenous plants and trees, and a lovely waterfall; the indoor Enid A. Haupt Conservatory; plus a wealth of cultural events and seasonal displays. It's truly one of the best places to connect with nature in New York City.

This profile of the New York Botanical Garden is the final installment in our series of posts spotlighting kid-friendly NYC historic sites vying for Partners in Preservation grants. Read on to find out about everything the NYBG has to offer—including a preview of its new exhibit Monet's Garden, which opens this weekend—and learn how you can help support the garden and other important NYC destinations with the click of your mouse.

My seven-year-old son is a big fan of exotic sea creatures, particularly the anglerfish which uses a glowing ball of bacteria to lure its prey to their doom. This creepy looking aquatic killer is one of the many amazing lifeforms spotlighted in Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence at one of my kid's favorite places, the American Museum of Natural History, so I knew it would be a hit.

The exhibit explores how the anglerfish and other creatures make their own light, also known as bioluminescence, but it also touches on fluorescent beings which emit absorbed light and others that let little glowing critters hitch a ride to light the way. Creatures of Light features firefly-lit meadows, otherworldly caves that twinkle like Christmas trees and shallow bays flashing with light. Although a handful of land creatures are included, the exhibit mainly focuses on fish and other ocean dwellers since the majority of them create their own light. They are all quite a sight!

Although we've certainly written about many of the awesome annual family events hosted at the Queens County Farm Museum, we've never posted about the site's incredible history. The 47-acre area dates back to the 17th century and features old-fashioned farm buildings, a greenhouse complex, livestock, planting fields, an orchard, an herb garden and a vineyard. As soon as you walk through the gates, you feel like you've left the city.

Read on to learn more about New York City's only historic working farm and find out how Mommy Poppins is collaborating with Partners in Preservation to help NYC sites like the Queens County Farm Museum win much needed grant money.

Macy's annual Flower Show has been ushering in spring for the past 38 years in New York City. We were lucky enough to be invited to a preview of this year's edition, Brasil: Gardens in Paradise, which opens on Sunday, March 25 and runs through Saturday, April 7. The store is also offering kid-friendly activities, which makes it a perfect way to celebrate spring in New York City.