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Urban Park Rangers Calendar of Events Fall 2017 Urban Park Urban Park Ranger Outdoor Adventure Programs Ranger Facilities For a complete listing of programs or to register, visit nyc.gov/parks/rangers. Please call specific locations for hours.

BRONX Monday, Oct. 31 // A Haunting We Will Go Pelham Bay Ranger Station // (718) 319-7258 SPECIAL EVENTS Cedar Grove Park // 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. // Bruckner Boulevard Cedar Grove Avenue and Seafoam Street. Enjoy a and Wilkinson Avenue NYC Parks produces a variety of large festivals and special events that provide unique experiences for frightful time with bugs, snakes, ghosts, goblins, Nature Center // (718) 885-3466 thousands of New Yorkers year-round. This fall, the and the Urban Park Rangers. All ages. Costumes Pelham Bay Park // Section 2 of Orchard Beach Urban Park Rangers celebrate history, wildlife, the and bravery welcome. cosmos, and the holidays through an array of fun-filled, Sunday, Dec. 17 // Christmas Bird Count Van Cortlandt Nature Center // (718) 548-0912 family-friendly special events. We’ll see you in the park! // West 246th Street and Broadway // 8:00 a.m. Meeting location TBA. This annual event began in Saturday, Oct. 14 // Open House NY: Prison Ship 1900 as a conservation effort to protect wild birds. Martyrs Monument To this day it continues throughout the country each // 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Salt Marsh Nature Center // (718) 421-2021 year. Join NYC Audubon, Urban Park Rangers, and the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, park entrance at Marine Park // East 33rd Street and Avenue U as we count birds in every Myrtle Avenue and Washington Park. This memorial section of the park. Pre-registration is required. Visit was built in the center of Fort Greene Park in 1908 as nycaudubon.org to learn about this and additional bird a tribute the 11,000 men, women, and children who counts scheduled throughout NYC. // (212) 628-2345 died on British prison ships during the Revolutionary Central Park // Enter at War. Step inside this historic monument and learn about Fort Greene Park history, the Revolutionary RANGER’S CHOICE War and the stories of those who perished. Our bright and talented Urban Park Rangers are what Sunday, Oct. 15 // Open House NY: Jeffrey’s Adventure Center make our Weekend Adventure programs so amazing. Hook Lighthouse (718) 217-6034 // (718) 217-4685 Each season we feature some of the Rangers’ favorite Fort Washington Park // 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Alley Pond Park // Enter at Winchester Boulevard, Weekend Adventure experiences. Space is limited on all Enter the park from the pedestrian bridge at 181st under the Grand Central Parkway. Ranger’s Choice programs and registration is required. Street and Riverside Drive. As part of Open House Please visit nyc.gov/parks/rangers/register to register. Ranger Station // (718) 846-2731 NY, join the Urban Park Rangers on guided tours Forest Park // Woodhaven Boulevard and of Jeffrey’s Hook Lighthouse. Erected in 1880 and Saturday, Oct. 14 // Ranger’s Choice: Archery Forest Park Drive moved to its current site in 1921, it has become // 1:00 p.m. widely known as the children’s literary landmark Meeting location TBA. A beginner’s guide to archery. Visitors Center // (718) 352-1769 “The Little Red Lighthouse.” Rediscover the history All supplies are included. Ages 8 and up. Participants Fort Totten Park // Enter the park at fort of this unique landmark. chosen by lottery. Registration begins on Wednesday, entrance, north of intersection of 212th Street Oct. 4. and Cross Island Parkway and follow signs. Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28 // Haunted Lantern Tours Sunday, Oct. 15 // Ranger’s Choice: Primitive Fort Totten Park // 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Survival Skills Enter park at Totten Road and Cross Island Parkway, Van Cortlandt Park // 1:00 p.m. Blue Heron Nature Center // (718) 967-3542 follow signs to Visitor Center and Historic Battery. Meeting location TBA. If you were dropped into the // 222 Poillon Ave., Leave your fear at home as the Urban Park Rangers wilderness with nothing but the clothes on your back, between Amboy Road and Hylan Boulevard lead your family through the haunted Fort Totten could you make a fire, build, a shelter, or gather clean Image: iStock.com/Lucentius Water Battery. Participants must arrive no later than drinking water? Registration begins on Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. for guaranteed admittance. Please call Oct. 4. the Fort Totten Visitor Center at (718) 352-1769 for more information.

2 Urban Park Rangers Calendar of Events, Fall 2017 3 Sunday, Oct. 15 // Ranger’s Choice: Green-Wood ASTRONOMY AND NIGHT SKY Sunday, Dec. 3 // Astronomy: Super Moon Sunday, Nov. 26 // Modern Survival Skills Cemetery History Tour Van Cortlandt Park // 5:00 p.m. Pelham Bay Park // 1:00 p.m. Green-Wood Cemetery // 11:00 a.m. Our Urban Park Rangers will be your guides to the solar Van Cortlandt Nature Center, West 246th Street Pelham Bay Nature Center, Bruckner Boulevard and Meeting location TBA. Green-Wood Cemetery was system, discussing the science, history, and folklore and Broadway. Using a reflecting telescope, the Wilkinson Avenue established in the mid-19th century and is one of of the universe. Astronomy programs feature the Rangers will show you where the six Apollo missions the oldest and largest cemeteries in City. use of telescopes and binoculars to observe specific that landed on the moon actually touched down. Sunday, Dec. 3 // Outdoor Skills: Orienteering Registration begins on Wednesday, Oct. 4. astronomical events. Night Sky programs highlight the Explore the Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility) and Compasses history and folklore of the solar system, using the naked of Apollo 11 and the Apennine Mountains of Apollo Canarsie Park // 1:00 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22 // Ranger’s Choice: Nature Art eye to locate stars and planets. 15, among others. Meet at the Park House at 88th Street and // 1:00 p.m. Seaview Avenue. Meeting location TBA. Registration required. Register Saturday, Oct. 14 // Astronomy: Phases of the Moon Sunday, Dec. 10 // Astronomy on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Fort Totten Park // 6:00 p.m. Saturday Dec. 16 // Outdoor Skills: Fire Making // 7:00 p.m. Blue Heron Park // 11:00 a.m. Pat’s Lawn, West 218th Street and Indian Road Enter park at Totten Road and Cross Island Parkway, Saturday, Nov. 4 // Ranger’s Choice: The Van follow signs to Visitor Center and Historic Battery. Blue Heron Nature Center, 222 Poillon Ave., between Cortlandt Super Hike (Vigorous) Sunday, Oct. 15 // Astronomy Amboy Road and Hylan Boulevard. Van Cortlandt Park // 10:00 a.m. Alley Pond Park // 7:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 // Geminids Meteor Shower Meeting location TBA. This challenging 8-mile hike Alley Pond Adventure Center, Winchester Boulevard Marine Park // 7:00 p.m. winds its way through most of the park’s many diverse under the Grand Central Parkway Salt Marsh Nature Center, East 33rd Street and HIKING forests and ecosystems. Registration begins on Avenue U. One of the best meteor showers in the sky, Our Urban Park Ranger hiking guides will introduce you Wednesday, Oct. 25. Sunday, Oct. 15 // Astronomy: Constellations producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at to the hidden gems of . Hiking programs // 7:00 p.m. its peak. feature intensity levels ranging from light (a leisurely Saturday, Nov. 11 // Ranger’s Choice: Lenape Harvest Conference House Visitor’s Center, Satterlee Street stroll on mostly paved paths), to moderate (longer, Inwood Hill Park // Noon and Hylan Boulevard Saturday, Dec. 23 // Ursids Meteor Shower Meeting location TBA. Inwood Hill Park continues to Wolfe’s Pond Park // 6:00 p.m. faster paced hikes on rugged terrain), to vigorous (long have a vivid connection to the native people of this Saturday, Oct. 21 // The Night Sky Comfort Station west of Cornelia Avenue. Originating distance, with hills and rugged terrain). country. Learn about daily customs and sample Pelham Bay Park // 6:00 p.m. near the constellation Ursa Minor, or the “Little forest-sourced food items, which were the staples Pelham Bay Nature Center, Bruckner Boulevard Dipper,” this meteor shower is active during the period Sunday, Nov. 5 // Mount Moses Hike (Vigorous) of a Lenape diet. Registration begins on Oct. 25. and Wilkinson Avenue spanning Dec. 17–25. High Rock Park // 11:00 a.m. Nevada Ave Parking Lot. Park in lot at the end of Saturday, Nov. 18 // Ranger’s Choice: Advanced Sunday, Oct. 22 // Astronomy: Orionids Meteor Shower Nevada Avenue. Fire Making Owl’s Head Park // 8:00 p.m. OUTDOORS SKILLS Marine Park // 1:00 p.m. Meet at the Park House, Colonial Road and 68th Saturday, Nov. 11 // Nature Exploration Meeting location TBA. Learn to use creativity and Street. The Orionids is an average shower producing Our Urban Park Rangers are well-versed in outdoor lore. Hike (Moderate) ingenuity to start a fire and keep it going. Registration up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. Learn tips and tricks that will enhance your knowledge // 11:00 a.m. begins on Wednesday, Nov. 8. of the natural world, and might just save your life. All Vermont Place and Highland Boulevard parking lot Sunday, Nov. 5 // Astronomy programs are family-friendly, but are recommended for Sunday, Nov. 26 // Ranger’s Choice: The World’s Fair Pelham Bay Park // 6:00 p.m. ages 8 years and older. Sunday, Nov. 19 // Northern Manhattan Adventure Quest Pelham Bay Nature Center, Bruckner Boulevard and Parks (Vigorous) Flushing Meadows Corona Park // 10:00 a.m. Wilkinson Avenue Saturday, Oct. 21 // Outdoor Skills: Fire Making Morningside Park // 11:00 a.m. Meeting location TBA. This challenge leads teams Alley Pond Park // 1:00 p.m. and Morningside Drive. Meander through through the park on a part-scavenger hunt, part- Saturday, Nov. 11 // Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter Alley Pond Adventure Center, Winchester Boulevard parks in northern Manhattan on this one-way hike walking tour combining easy physical challenges, Lemon Creek Pier // 6:00 p.m. under the Grand Central Parkway from Morningside Park to . photo clues and searches while testing your Meet at the parking lot at Sharrott Avenue and Hylan knowledge of local history. Registration required. Boulevard. Saturday, Nov. 4 // Outdoor Skills: Backpacking Sunday, Dec. 3 // Winter Tree ID Hike (Light) Registration begins on Wednesday Nov. 15. Blue Heron Park // 11:00 a.m. Forest Park // 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 // The Night Sky Blue Heron Nature Center, 222 Poillon Ave., between Forest Park Visitor Center, Woodhaven Boulevard Saturday, Dec. 23 // Ranger’s Choice: Rockaway Beach // 6:00 p.m. Amboy Road and Hylan Boulevard and Forest Park Drive Birding Van Tour: Owls Meet at the boardwalk and B. 116th Street. Pelham Bay Park // 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 // Outdoor Skills: Fire Making Saturday, Dec. 9 // Nature Exploration Hike: Meeting location TBA. Winter is the best time of year Saturday, Dec. 2 // Our Solar System Inwood Hill Park // 1:00 p.m. John Muir Trail (Vigorous) to spot owls—the leaves are gone, making it harder Fort Greene Park // 1:00 p.m. Isham Street and Seaman Avenue Van Cortlandt Park // 11:00 a.m. for them to hide, and the days are shorter, which Fort Greene Visitor’s Center, Myrtle Avenue and Mosholu Avenue and Broadway is perfect for our nocturnal residents. Registration Washington Park Sunday, Nov. 19 // Outdoor Skills: Food Sources Saturday, Dec. 16 // Photography Scavenger begins on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Alley Pond Park // 1:00 p.m. Alley Pond Adventure Center, Winchester Boulevard Hunt (Light) under the Grand Central Parkway Herbert Von King Park // 1:00 p.m. Clifton Place and Marcy Avenue. Bring your own digital camera or smartphone.

4 Urban Park Rangers Calendar of Events, Fall 2017 5 Sunday, Dec. 17 // Winter Solstice Candle Light Saturday, Nov. 25 // Historic New York: Sunday, Nov. 12 // Birding FALL FOLIAGE Walk (Light) Colonial Cooking Morningside Park // 10:00 a.m. Van Cortlandt Park // 5:00 p.m. Fort Greene Park // 1:00 p.m. 110th Street and Morningside Drive With nearly 30,000 acres of public parkland, New York Enter the park at Bailey Avenue and Van Cortlandt Fort Greene Visitor’s Center, Myrtle Avenue City is the perfect place for fall leaf-peeping. Let our Park South. Meet at the golf house. and Washington Park Sunday, Nov. 19 // Birding: Owls Urban Park Ranger naturalists explain why leaves Pelham Bay Park // 1:00 p.m. change colors and introduce you to the diversity of trees Saturday, Dec. 9 // Historic New York: Monuments Meeting location TBA. Registration begins on found in our urban forests. Be sure to bring your camera HISTORY of Wednesday, Nov. 8. and prepare for the kaleidoscope of colors. Prospect Park // 1:00 p.m. Urban Park Rangers specialize in interpretation of Meet at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Saturday, Nov. 25 // Deer Exploration Hike Sunday, Oct. 8 // Fall Foliage Walk historic turning points, both natural and man-made, Army Plaza. Blue Heron Park // 1:00 p.m. // 1:00 p.m. in our city’s long history. “Revolutionary New York” Blue Heron Nature Center, 222 Poillon Ave., between Highland Avenue and 165th Street programs focus on the history of New York during Saturday, Dec. 9 // Historic New York: Square Parks Amboy Road and Hylan Boulevard. Through an Urban the pre and post-Colonial Period. “Historic New York” Madison Square Park // 11:00 a.m. Park Ranger-led hike, you will learn about the impacts Saturday, Oct. 21 // Fall Foliage Walk: programs highlight the history and architecture of Meeting location TBA. Tour NYC’s mighty but tiny and signs of deer on Staten Island, and maybe even Trees of Prospect Park selected neighborhoods or parks. Native American historic parks. see these majestic animals. Prospect Park // 11:00.a.m. culture is celebrated in special programs throughout Prospect Park Picnic House. Enter the park at the five boroughs. Sunday, Nov. 26 // Nocturnal Wildlife Prospect Park West and Fifth Street. WILDLIFE VIEWING Central Park // 5:00 p.m. West 100th Street and Central Park West Sunday, Oct. 22 // Fall Foliage Hike Saturday, Oct. 21 // Central Park: Olmsted’s Vision New York City is home to an amazing abundance // 1:00 p.m. Central Park // 11:00 a.m. of wildlife. Our Rangers will guide you to the best Saturday, Dec. 2 // Living with Urban Coyotes Playground at Ramona Avenue and Lenevar Avenue. 72nd Street and Central Park West wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle. We offer Pelham Bay Park // 1:00 p.m. The changing colors of autumn are in full swing! Come Pelham Bay Nature Center, Bruckner Boulevard Sunday, Oct. 22 // Historic New York: High Bridge birding programs throughout the year and our with the Urban Park Rangers and explore the many and Wilkinson Avenue High // 11:00 a.m. Exploration Series focuses on unique wildlife viewing different tree species of this park. University Avenue and West 170th Street opportunities during particular seasons. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and Saturday, Dec. 2 // Birding: Owls Sunday, Oct. 22 // Fall Foliage Photography Inwood Hill Park // 5:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 // Ghosts of Conference House beginners are welcome. Scavenger Hunt Isham Street and Seaman Avenue. Registration Conference House Park // 7:00 p.m. Central Park // 11:00 a.m. required. Registration begins on Wednesday Nov. 22. Conference House Visitor’s Center, Satterlee Street Sunday, Oct. 1 // Birding: Fall Migration Dana Discovery Center. Enter the park at 110th Street Van Cortlandt Park // 10:00 a.m. and Lenox Avenue. Bring your own digital camera or and Hylan Boulevard. Is this Staten Island’s most Saturday, Dec. 9 // Winter Wildlife Viewing Van Cortlandt Nature Center, West 246th Street smartphone to capture evidence of your scavenger haunted park? Find out on a nighttime hike through an Flushing Meadows Corona Park // 9:00 a.m. and Broadway clues. Work on your own or as a team in this fun family- ancient burial ground and into the Conference House. Mauro Playground, Park Drive East and 73rd Terrace friendly program. Registration begins on Oct. 16. Participants chosen by lottery. Registration begins on Sunday, Oct. 8 // Deer Exploration Hike Wednesday, Oct. 18. Sunday, Dec. 10 // Seal Exploration High Rock Park // 11:00 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 // Fall Foliage Hike: Pelham Bay Park // 11:00 a.m. Nevada Avenue Parking Lot. Park in lot at the end of Cornucopia of Trees Sunday, Nov. 5 // Historic New York: Native Americans Orchard Beach Nature Center, Section 2 of Nevada Avenue. // 11:00 a.m. Alley Pond Park // 11:00 a.m. Orchard Beach Alley Pond Adventure Center, Winchester Boulevard Crotona Nature Center, Charlotte Street and Saturday, Oct. 14 // Birding: Hawk Watch Crotona Park East under the Grand Central Parkway Flushing Meadows Corona Park // 10:00 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 // Deer Exploration Hike Conference House Park // 1:00 p.m. Meet inside the park at The Unisphere. Saturday, Nov. 11 // Fall Foliage Hike: Sunday, Nov. 12 // Fort Totten Tunnel Tour Conference House Visitor’s Center, Satterlee Street Northeast Forest Fort Totten Park // 1:00 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 // Birding: Raptor Migration and Hylan Boulevard Meeting location TBA. Participants chosen by lottery. Van Cortlandt Park // 11:00 a.m. // 11:00 a.m. Van Cortlandt Park East and East 242nd Street Registration begins on Wednesday, Nov. 1. Gateway Drive and Erskine Street Saturday, Dec. 16 // Birding: Waterfowl // 11:00 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 // Fall Foliage Walk: Trees of Saturday, Nov. 18 // Historic New York: Meet in the parking lot at 155th Street and Saturday, Nov. 4 // Nocturnal Wildlife Lincoln Terrace Native Americans // 6:00 p.m. Baisley Boulevard. Conference House Park // 1:00 p.m. Lincoln Terrace Park // 1:00 p.m. Meet in the parking lot at Union Turnpike and Rochester Avenue and President Street Conference House Visitor’s Center, Satterlee Street 197th Street. Saturday, Dec. 23 // Birding and Hylan Boulevard Bayswater Park // 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 // Fall Foliage Photography Hike Meet inside the park at B. 32nd Street and Beach Saturday, Nov. 11 // Birding: Winter Birding Inwood Hill Park // 3:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 // History of Van Cortlandt Park Channel Drive. Bush Terminal Park // 1:00 p.m. Isham Street and Seaman Avenue. Bring your own Van Cortlandt Park // 11:00 a.m. 43rd Street and First Avenue Van Cortlandt Nature Center, West 246th Street digital camera or smartphone to capture the beauty of and Broadway Inwood Hill Park during the golden hour before sunset.

6 Urban Park Rangers Calendar of Events, Fall 2017 7 Black Friday Hikes

Take a step away from stress and step onto one of our Friday, Nov. 24 // Black Friday Hike: nature trails with the Urban Park Rangers. Each borough Central Park South to North Hike (Vigorous) has a hidden gem that will take you to a place of peace Central Park // 11:00 a.m. and tranquility while connecting you to nature. These Doris Freedman Plaza, and 60th Street. hikes are longer than your average nature walk, so Get outside and walking shoes ready as the Urban comfortable walking shoes are strongly encouraged. Park Rangers hike you through iconic and natural areas throughout the entire park. The hike will start Friday, Nov. 24 // Black Friday Hike: at the southern end of the park and end at the Hike (Moderate) northern end near the . Pelham Bay Park // 1:00 p.m. Orchard Beach Nature Center, Section 2 of Friday, Nov. 24 // Black Friday Hike: Orchard Beach The Alley Giant (Moderate) Alley Pond Park // 11:00 a.m. Friday, Nov. 24 // Black Friday Hike: Alley Pond Adventure Center, Winchester Boulevard The Midwood Trail (Moderate) under the Grand Central Parkway Prospect Park // 1:00 p.m. Prospect Park Audubon Center, East Drive and Lincoln Friday, Nov. 24 // Black Friday Hike: Road. Step back in time with a walk through Brooklyn’s Post-Thanksgiving Super Hike (Vigorous) oldest remaining forest. The Midwood, home to some Greenbelt White Trail // 11:00 a.m. of Prospect Park’s largest trees, is a relic of Brooklyn’s Meet at Willowbrook Park Archery Fields. history and was preserved and incorporated into the park during its original construction.

All photos: NYC Parks