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Free Kids Week Programming in NYC Parks

Urban Park Rangers teach kids how to safely explore the natural world. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks
Urban Park Rangers teach kids how to safely explore the natural world. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks
1/1/25 - By Drew Kristofik

If you need to stave off cabin fever during April break, the New York City Parks Department has just the thing to get you out of the house. The Urban Park Rangers are hosting a slew of FREE “Kids Week” programs. Immerse your kids in the natural world. 

Find more things to do over the school holiday on our Family Activity Calendar!

 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Kids Week Programming in Manhattan Parks

Kids Week: Manhattan Rocks! Geology Hike in Fort Tryon Park

Fort George
Monday, April 14
Join the Urban Park Rangers to dig deep into the geological history of New York City—the site of ancient earth-shaking and earth-shaping events. The bedrock that anchors the city’s skyscrapers tells a story of a place going back more than a billion years. READ MORE

Kids Week: Nature Exploration for Kids in Central Park

Central Park
Tuesday, April 15
Urban Park Rangers teach kids how to safely explore the natural world on a hike through Central Park. READ MORE

Kids Week: Meet the Critters in Inwood Hill Park

Inwood
Wednesday, April 16
From stick bugs to snakes, meet the animals that call the center their home. READ MORE

Kids Week: Birding for Kids in Riverside Park

Upper West Side
Thursday, April 17
Join the Urban Park Rangers to get an up close look at birds without the need for wings! Kids learn how to identify birds by sight and sounds. READ MORE

Kids Week: Native Planting Party in Seward Park

Chinatown
Friday, April 18
Celebrate Earth Month discussing pollinators and plants and take home a planted seed to start your own native plant garden.  READ MORE
It's Kids Week with the Urban Park Rangers! Find fun, park ranger-led nature programs in a park near you. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks
It's Kids Week with the Urban Park Rangers! Find fun, park ranger-led nature programs in a park near you. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

Kids Week at New York City Parks in Brooklyn

Kids Week: Spring Nature Scavenger Hunt in Marine Park

Marine Park
Monday, April 14
Search for signs of spring with the Urban Park Rangers, and ollow the trail of urban wildlife and unique plants and trees.  READ MORE

Kids Week: Freshwater Fishing in Prospect Park

Prospect Park
Tuesday, April 15
Urban Park Rangers teach kids how to properly use a fishing rod or cast a net READ MORE

Kids Week: Magnetic Archery in McKinley Park

Bay Ridge
Wednesday, April 16
Learn the art of archery with free lessons taught by expert Urban Park Rangers. This program uses safe equipment with magnetic arrows and targets. READ MORE

Kids Week at New York City Parks in Queens

Kids Week: Earth Month Native Planting Party in Captain Tilly Park

Jamaica
Monday, April 14
Celebrate Earth Month with the Urban Park Rangers in a service-oriented event focused on native wildflower planting and its benefits to park ecosystems. Kids learn about the important role wildflowers play in supporting local wildlife and promoting ecosystem health, while contributing to the beautification of the park.    READ MORE

Kids Week: Ranger Games in Archie Spigner Park

Jamaica
Tuesday, April 15
Spend an afternoon of fun with the Urban Park Rangers playing and learning new and exciting nature games.  READ MORE

Kids Week: Nature Puppet Show in Phil Rizzuto Park

Richmond Hill
Wednesday, April 16
The Urban Park Rangers welcome kids for some nature-themed puppet shows! Learn more about animals that can be found in our local parks.  READ MORE

Kids Week: All about Bats in Forest Park

Forest Park
Thursday, April 17
Join the Urban Park Rangers for National Bat Appreciation Day and hike Forest Park in a search for some nocturnal friends. READ MORE

Kids Week: Birding Bingo in Travers Park

Jackson Heights
Friday, April 18
The Urban Park Rangers host a fun game of bingo where participants learn about different birds that call New York City their home. READ MORE

Kids Week at New York City Parks in the Bronx

Kids Week: Nature Puppet Show in Crotona Park

Crotona Park
Monday, April 14
The Urban Park Rangers welcome kids for some nature-themed puppet shows! Learn more about animals that can be found in NYC's local parks. READ MORE

Kids Week: Magnetic Archery and Foam Axe Throwing in Van Cortlandt Park

Van Cortlandt Park
Tuesday, April 15
Learn the art of archery with free lessons taught by expert Urban Park Rangers. This program uses safe equipment with magnetic arrows, foam axes and targets. READ MORE

Kids Week: Native Planting Party at Pelham Bay Nature Center

Pelham Bay
Wednesday, April 16
Celebrate Earth Month discussing pollinators and plants and take home a planted seed to start your own native plant garden. READ MORE

Kids Week: Birding for Kids at the Crotona Nature Center

Crotona Park
Thursday, April 17
The Urban Park Rangers lead kids to the best birding spots in the park. READ MORE

Kids Week at New York City Parks on Staten Island

Kids Week: All about Fungus at the Greenbelt Nature Center

Blood Root Valley
Monday, April 14
Walk with the Urban Park Rangers through the woods to look for spring fungus waking up from their winter slumber. After the hike, make your own mushroom out of recycled material to keep at home.  READ MORE

Kids Week: All about Turtles at Blue Heron Nature Center

Blue Heron Park
Tuesday, April 15
Urban Park Rangers dive into the fascinating world of turtles and answer all of your questions about turtles: What do they eat? Do all turtles swim? Who’s fastest? Kids also get to meet the terrestrial and aquatic turtles in the nature center.  READ MORE

Kids Week: Kids Science Fair at Blue Heron Nature Center

Blue Heron Park
Wednesday, April 16
The Urban Park Rangers host an amazing day of science, with three amazing hands-on experiments. Participants can view microscopic life samples on a big screen projector, learn to classify rock and mineral specimens with the scientific method, and try an oil and water experiment to teach density. READ MORE

Kids Week: Ranger Games in Walker Park

Walker Park
Thursday, April 17
Spend a fun afternoon with the Urban Park Rangers, playing and learning new and exciting nature games. READ MORE

Kids Week: Ranger Games in Freshkills Park

Freshkills Park
Friday, April 18
Spend a fun afternoon with the Urban Park Rangers, playing and learning new and exciting nature games. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park)
Pelham Bay Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park)
Blue Heron Nature Center at Blue Heron Park
Blue Heron Nature Center at Blue Heron Park

About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
Recent Articles By Drew Kristofik:
Read more articles by Drew Kristofik.