City Department of Parks & Recreation’s Urban Park Rangers Calendar of Programs

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6 S.I. Mammals: Our Furry Friends / High Rock Park 11 a.m. / High Rock Ranger Station BX Van Cortlandt on the Rocks / 1 p.m. / Van Cortlandt Nature Center Come on a walk, learn about the species of mammals that live in the park, and Step back in time and envision , and the rest of the City, as it was meet our resident rabbits! millions of years ago. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12 BX NASCAR in the Bronx / 1 p.m. / Crotona Nature Center Make a boxcar and race. To register: Call 311 on October 23 and ask for the BX Blowing in the Wind / 1 p.m. / Meet at the Urban Park Rangers. Nature Center Be sure to bundle up for a hike with the Rangers along the rocky coast of Orchard BK Mid-Fall Bird Walk / Marine Park 8 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Join the Urban Park Rangers for the 2nd Annual “Marsh Count” Beach. Camping 101 / Marine Park 1 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center M ElectionFest / Riverside Park 1 p.m. / 72nd St. and Riverside Dr. BK Set off on your own campaign trail as we traverse almost the entirety of Riverside Come join the Urban Park Rangers as they discuss camping basics and help you Park while exploring New York’s political past, from Roosevelt in the south to plan your spring trip. Grant in the north. M Christmas Bird Count / 8 a.m. / South Reservoir Pump House (85th St.and East Drive)* Q Early Birding/ 10 a.m. / Urban Park Ranger Adventure Center Join the Urban Park Rangers for a birding walk in beautiful Alley Pond Park. Be a part of a century-old Central Park holiday tradition. Wear appropriate attire, and bring binoculars and your enthusiasm for our feathered friends. To Register: Call S.I. Fall Foliage Sunset Walk / High Rock Park 4 p.m. / High Rock Ranger Station You don’t have to travel to New England to see brilliant fall foliage. Join the Urban NYC Audubon (212) 691-7483. Park Rangers for a walk through the Greenbelt. Q Winter Hike on the Orange Trail / 12 p.m. / Forest Park Nature / Visitor Center SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7 Enjoy a leisurely walk through the splendor of the recently restored Orange Trail. Even BK Children’s Hour / Marine Park 1 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center though the trees have lost their leaves, we can still find clues to their identity in their Join an Urban Park Ranger volunteer for an hour of crafts. buds. S.I. Design Wildlife Tracks / Greenbelt 12 p.m. / Greenbelt Nature Center (700 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8 Rockland Ave. at Brielle Ave.) BK Monday Night Lecture / Marine Park 7 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Join the Rangers and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation educators “History of Volunteering”- Learn how it all started, the importance of volunteer- in creating a track cast of your favorite NYS animals, and try your hand at ing and how you can make a contribution. An evening dedicated to volunteers. identifying furs and skulls. Appropriate for children ages 8 and up. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16 BX The Witch of November / Van Cortlandt Park 1 p.m. / Van Cortlandt Nature BK High Tea at the Marsh / Marine Park 1 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Center Spend the afternoon sipping tea and discussing colonial history to celebrate the “Superior,” they said, “never gives up her dead, when the gales of November come anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. early.” Halloween has come and gone, but do you really know the history behind it all? SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 Winter Waterfowl / Van Cortlandt Park 10 a.m. / Van Cortlandt Nature Center BK Fall Migration / Marine Park 8 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center BX Observe migratory birds as they head south for the winter. Buffleheads, shovelers and mergansers are only some of the ducks that can be found here during the colder months. BK Orienteering / 1 p.m. / Audubon Center Have you ever been lost in the woods? Join us for this program and never be BK Birding / Marine Park 9 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center confused again. Join the Rangers for some early morning birding. Holiday Open Mic / Marine Park 7 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center M “Gangs of New York”: Tour of the Old Five Points / 11 a.m. / BK Tweed Courthouse (Chambers St. between Centre and Broadway) Bring a song, poem, or dance. Express yourself; here’s your chance. Seen the movie or read the book? Join the Rangers for a walk through this unique M Inwood Hill Bird Count / Inwood Hill 9 a.m. / Inwood Hill Nature Center historic district. Tour includes the African Burial Ground. Join the Rangers as we identify and take inventory of Inwood’s avian residents. Tally sheets and binoculars provided. Q Nature Photography / Alley Pond Park 12 p.m. / UPR Adventure Center Explore Alley Pond Park with camera in hand ready to capture the perfect shot! Q Christmas Bird Count / Alley Pond Park 9 a.m. / UPR Adventure Center Both film and digital photographers welcome. Bring your own camera. Come out and enjoy an exciting morning of tallying the birds that make their home here. Learn about blue jays, black-capped chickadees and a bevy of splendid winter S.I. Forensic File / High Rock Park 12 p.m. / High Rock Visitor’s Studio Is it a crime scene or nature scene? Put your investigative skills to the test to solve birds. a murder mystery. Ages 12 and over. S.I. Animal Adoption / Greenbelt 12 p.m. / Greenbelt Nature Center (700 Rockland Ave. @ intersection of Brielle Ave.) SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14 NYC Animal Care & Control along with the Rangers will be on hand to show you BX Bartow-Pell Mansion Tour / Bartow-Pell Mansion 1 p.m. / 895 Shore Road the most loving puppies and kittens that need homes. Come bring your family and Learn about 19th century country living in the Bronx as we visit one of the few friends and adopt a new pet! undisturbed historic houses . BK Poetry in the Park / Marine Park 11 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 Take a walk with the Urban Park Rangers and write an ode to fall and the coming BX Christmas Eco-Crafts for Kids / Pelham Bay Park 12 p.m. / Pelham Bay Ranger winter. Station M Ecology of / Inwood Hill Park 2 p.m. / Inwood Hill Nature Kids can make nature-friendly crafts for the upcoming holidays. Center BK Holiday Crafts / Marine Park 11 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Ecology is the study of relationships: plants to animals, living to nonliving, humans to Join the Urban Park Rangers to see how “crafty” you can be for the holidays. their environment; the last remaining natural forest in abounds with them Materials are provided. all. M The Movies of Central Park, Part III : “The Rangers Strike Back” / Central Park Q Where are the Birds? / 10 a.m./ Enter park at Oak and Rose Aves. 5 p.m. / Arsenal Gallery (64th St. and Fifth Avenue, 3rd Fl.) Rangers discuss why and where birds migrate and who stays to tough it out over The sequel with no equal is back! Join the Rangers for a popcorn-crunching the winter. screening of movies with Central Park as the backdrop. Movie clips will be shown, S.I. Origami / Blue Heron Nature Center 1 p.m. / Blue Heron Nature Center trivia questions asked, and refreshments served. Learn the Japanese art of paper folding and create your own menagerie of tiny Q Holiday Family Fun / Forest Park 12 p.m. / Forest Park Nature/Visitor Center animals. There are fun and easy ways to make something just in time for the holidays. Join the Urban Park Rangers for holiday eco-crafts. For children of all ages. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20 S.I. Holiday Eco-Crafts / 1 p.m. / Blue Heron Nature Center BX Autumn Constellations / Van Cortlandt Park 8 p.m. / Van Cortlandt Nature Come learn how to use recycled materials to make your very own holiday Center decoration or special gift. As the Summer Triangle sets, Orion rises, and we’ll try to find him. BK Birding / Marine Park 9 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26 Join the Rangers for some early morning birding. BK Marsh Walk / Marine Park 11 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Enjoy a walk around the marsh with the Urban Park Rangers and burn off some of BK Clean-up Day / Marine Park 10 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Help prepare the salt marsh for winter. Dress for the weather and expect to get that holiday snacking. Dress for the weather. dirty. M First Day of Kwanzaa / Central Park 1 p.m. / Dana Discovery Center Be a part of an African holiday tradition. Everyone is welcome to attend. BK Scavenger Hunt / Prospect Park 1 p.m. / Audubon Center What treasures we will find! Join us in exploring the park as you learn the Q Science of the Season / Forest Park 12 p.m./ Forest Park Nature/Visitor Center treasures hidden within. Often we take for granted the different seasons of New York City. On this first winter weekend, learn the reasons for seasons. Q Ethnobotany / Alley Pond Park 12 p.m. / UPR Adventure Center Discover how the Native Americans used native plant species for both food and S.I. Native American Storytelling / Blue Heron Park 1 p.m. / Blue Heron Nature medicinal purposes in the times before European settlement. Center S.I. Skeletons / Blue Heron Park 11 a.m. / Blue Heron Nature Center Share the legends and lore of ’s first inhabitants. Join educators from the and the Rangers to learn how to identify animal skeletons. The program will be followed by a short story from Staten Island SUNDAY, JANUARY 2 OutLoud. BX Winter Colors / Pelham Bay Park 1 p.m. / Pelham Bay Ranger Station The quiet beauty of the park in wintertime can help inspire the artist within. Join the SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21 Rangers for an afternoon of sketching nature scenes. Bring a sketchpad and BX Thanksgiving Eco-Crafts / Pelham Bay Park 12 p.m. / Pelham Bay Ranger Station charcoal, pencil or colored pencils. Kids can make their own earth-friendly Thanksgiving Day crafts to help decorate BK Salt Marsh Trivia / Marine Park 1 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center for the holiday. Materials provided. Celebrate National Trivia Day and have fun while you learn about the salt marsh. BK Eco-Crafts for Thanksgiving / Marine Park 11 a.m./ Salt Marsh Nature Center M Winter Wonderland Hike / Inwood Hill Park 9:30 am / Inwood Hill Nature Show your Thanksgiving creativity and join the Urban Park Rangers for eco-crafts. Center Materials provided. Discover the fascinating world of nature in winter. Please come prepared to brave M Ranger Lecture Series: Sexuality in Nature / Chelsea Recreation Center 3 p.m. the elements. / 430 West 25th Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues) Q Winter Tree I.D. / Forest Park 12 p.m. / Forest Park Nature/Visitor Center Our topic this time around is courtship behavior and mating rituals in the animal By inspecting twigs, buds and bark, one can identify trees, even in the middle of kingdom. winter! Let the Rangers show you how. M Highbridge Water Tower Tour / 11 a.m. / Highbridge S.I. New Year’s Resolution Hike / High Rock Park 1 p.m. / High Rock Ranger Recreation Center, 174th St. and Amsterdam Ave. Station Guided tours of the tower give ‘UPtown’ a whole new meaning. Spectacular views Start the New Year off right with a brisk walk through scenic woodlands. Wear of Northern Manhattan, the High Bridge itself, and the Bronx free of charge. comfortable shoes. Q Early Birding / Forest Park 10 a.m. / Forest Park Nature/Visitor Center Enjoy a walk through Forest Park as we look for the birds that stay in the city over SATURDAY, JANUARY 8 the winter. BX Winter Weeds / Van Cortlandt Park 1 p.m. / Meet at Van Cortlandt Park East and 242nd Street. S.I. Staten Island History / High Rock Park 11 a.m. / High Rock Visitor’s Studio Come hear stories about the island’s long history. Feel free to share your own Are weeds pests or do they serve a useful function? Learn to identify some of them memories and photos. even in the middle of winter. BK Birding / Marine Park 9 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27 Join the Rangers for some early morning birding. BX John Muir Nature Trail 11 a.m. / Oneida Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park East BK Hibernation / Marine Park 11 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Van Cortlandt Park’s only east-west trail traverses a mature hardwood forest and Celebrate Elvis Presley’s birthday and learn about things that DON’T shake, rattle or some fascinating historical features. roll in winter. BK Birding / Marine Park 9 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center M Winter Festival / East Meadow / Central Park Join the Rangers for some early morning birding. Call 311 for more information. BK Mill History. / Marine Park 11 a.m / Salt Marsh Nature Center Q Science of Snow / Alley Pond Park 12 p.m. / UPR Adventure Center Find out what was discovered during a recent archeological dig at the old Gerritsen As cold as snow is, it also has insulating properties. This and many other Mill site. precipitation-related topics will be covered, even if the snow has not covered us. BK Saturday Night Live – Open Mic / Marine Park 7 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature S.I. Winter Backpacking / High Rock Park 11 a.m. / High Rock Ranger Station Center Learn the ins and outs of backpack hiking in the winter. Bring your own backpack or Join headliners Paul and Paulie Claro at the greatest show on earth: the Salt Marsh borrow one of ours. Wear comfortable shoes and breathable clothing. Nature Center’s Holiday Open Mic! SUNDAY, JANUARY 9 M Thanksgiving Celebration: Native Americans in Manhattan / Central Park 11 a.m. / 106th Street and Fifth Avenue BK Weather Wonders / Prospect Park 11 a.m. / Audubon Center Come hear the story of New York’s true natives, the Lenape Indians. Learn about Does winter do us any good at all? Join the Urban Park Rangers as we take a closer their history and culture, from their relationship with nature to their encounters look at winter in Prospect Park to discover why winter is actually so wonderful. with European colonists. M Winter Festival / East Meadow / Central Park Call 311 for more information. Q Alley Giant Revisited / Alley Pond Park 12 p.m. / UPR Adventure Center Join the Urban Park Rangers for a nature walk to the “Alley Pond Giant,” the tallest M Native Americans of North Manhattan / Inwood Hill Park 1 p.m. / Inwood Hill tree in New York City. Nature Center Hear the story of the real native New Yorkers, and see what remains of Northern S.I. Native American Story Telling / Greenbelt Nature Center 1 p.m. / 700 Rockland Avenue at intersection of Brielle Avenue Manhattan’s first inhabitants. Gather around the fire to hear stories from long ago. Stay for Native American Q Winter Birdfeeders / Forest Park 12 p.m. / Forest Park Nature/Visitor Center games and crafts. Build a winter birdfeeder, and learn about the birds that will visit. S.I. Winter Feeder Workshop / Blue Heron Park 1 p.m./ Blue Heron Nature Center SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28 Observe cardinals, chickadees, blue jays and other beautiful birds of winter from the BX Nocturnal Hike / Pelham Bay Park 6 p.m. / Pelham Bay Ranger Station cozy indoors while creating your own birdfeeder. Come with us for a walk and see what creatures of the night lurk about the park. Please bring a flashlight. SATURDAY, JANUARY 15 Cass Gallagher Trail / Van Cortlandt Park 1 p.m. / Meet at Broadway and BK Nature Scavenger Hunt / Marine Park 1 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center BX Join the Urban Park Rangers and discover nature in a surprising, fun way. Mosholu Avenues Take a walk through one of the most beautiful areas of the park, the North Woods. Q Orienteering / Forest Park 12 p.m. / Forest Park Nature/Visitor Center Learn the basics of using a compass, then put those skills to work in an BK Birding at the Marsh / Marine Park 9 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center orienteering course geared for beginners. Come explore the winter birds of the marsh. With all the colorful and distinctive ducks, this is the best time of year to begin birding. S.I All About Owls / Blue Heron Park 1 p.m. / Blue Heron Nature Center Learn about these fascinating nocturnal raptors and explore their habitat. BK Mind your Beeswax / Marine Park 1 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Get a sneak peak into the world of the bee by visiting our indoor observation hive. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 M “Sleeping Giants”/ Inwood Hill Park 1 p.m. / Inwood Hill Nature Center BX Winter Homes / Van Cortlandt Park 1 p.m. / Van Cortlandt Nature Center Identifying trees is easy during the warmer months, but what do you do in the Where do animals lay their heads in the winter? Let us show you the many ways wintertime when the leaves are gone? wildlife copes with the cold to survive until spring. Q Entomology in Winter / Alley Pond Park 12 p.m. / UPR Adventure Center BX Nature Origami / Crotona Park 1 p.m. / Crotona Nature Center Do you ever wonder what happens to insects in the winter? Join a Ranger on a hike We’ll show you how to make your own incredible paper animals. through Alley Pond Park to find out. BK Birding / Marine Park 9 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center S.I. Rainforest Animals / Blue Heron Park 1 p.m. / Blue Heron Nature Center Join the Rangers for some early morning birding. Join educators from the Staten Island Zoo and the Rangers as we explore the exotic BK St. Nicholas Day / Wyckoff Farmhouse 12 p.m.- 4 p.m. / Clarendon Road and world of the rainforest and meet some of the creatures that live within. Ralph Ave. S.I. Winter Survival Workshop / Greenbelt 11 a.m. / Greenbelt Nature Center Take a step back into the 17th century and celebrate the holidays at 's (700 Rockland Ave. at Brielle Ave.) oldest house. Preparedness is key! Learn how proper gear and clothing can optimize your cold M Revolutionary War History Hike / Ft. Tryon Park 11 a.m. / Margaret Corbin weather performance. Circle (Fort Washington Avenue, north of 190th Street) On December 4, 1783, General George Washington bid farewell to the officers of SUNDAY, JANUARY 16 the Continental Army. Discover the places and events that led to a new nation. BX Winter Tracks / Crotona Park 1 p.m. / Crotona Nature Center Study the tracks of animals that lived in New York City long before humans did. Q Astronomy / Alley Pond Park 7 p.m. / Urban Park Ranger Adventure Center Enjoy the crisp cool air that will allow us to view the winter sky in all of its beauty. BK Orienteering / Marine Park 1 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Learn winter constellations and gain a deeper understanding of our universe. Which way is north? Let the Urban Park Rangers teach you compass basics. Bus Tour of Central Park / Central Park 11 a.m. / Loeb Boathouse Parking Lot S.I. / Alice Austen Park 1 p.m. / 2 Hylan Boulevard M Experience Clear Comfort, the Victorian-era home of renowned photographer (74th St. and East Drive) Alice Austen. See the entire park through the window of a warm, comfortable bus. To Register: Call 311 on January 2, and ask for the Urban Park Rangers. S.I. Local Ocean Ecosystems/ Blue Heron Park 11 a.m. / Blue Heron Nature Center Join educators from the Staten Island Zoo and the Rangers as we learn what lurks Q Animal Tracking / Forest Park 12 p.m. / Forest Park Nature/Visitor Center beneath our coastal waters. Uncover the mysterious world of animal tracks as you learn to identify and interpret tracks at a glance. We’ll look for rabbit, squirrel and opossum. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 S.I. Winter Dog Walk / Wolfe’s Pond Park 1 p.m. / Comfort Station BX Bronx Tree Series Part I/ Pelham Bay Park 1 p.m./ Pelham Bay Ranger Station There will be more than just one bark in the park. Bring your pooch on a leash, and Identifying trees in the summer can be hard, but it can be even harder in the winter. enjoy picturesque scenery. BK Buds, Bark and Branches / Prospect Park 11 a.m. / Audubon Center Learn to tell these sleeping giants apart as well as other fun winter facts as we SATURDAY, JANUARY 22 enjoy the last days of fall in Prospect Park. BX Winter Scavenger Hunt / Van Cortlandt Park 1 p.m. / Van Cortlandt Nature Center M Arthur Ross Pinetum Tree Walk / Central Park 2 p.m. / Arthur Ross Pinetum (northwest corner of Great Lawn) Signs of wildlife activity abound! Help us look for some. Join the Rangers as we pay tribute to Arthur Ross, philanthropist and friend of BX Wintry Creations / Crotona Park 1 p.m. / Crotona Nature Center Central Park. The event includes an informational tour of the Pinetum, followed by Join us to make beautiful snowflakes and other winter crafts. a reception. BK Birding / Marine Park 9 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Join the Rangers for some early morning birding. Q Winter Tree I.D. / Forest Park 12 p.m. / Forest Park Nature/Visitor Center Let the Rangers show you how to identify trees by examining twigs, buds and BK Cabin Fever / Marine Park 1 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center bark, even in the middle of winter. Come for story time at the Salt Marsh and enjoy our wonderful view while still safe and warm. S.I. Orienteering Scavenger Hunt / Wolfe’s Pond Park 1 p.m. / Comfort Station Use a compass to navigate your way through our course and find hidden M Winter Waterfowl / Inwood Hill Park 1 p.m. / Inwood Hill Nature Center treasures. Compasses provided. Not all waterfowl migrate; some make their homes in the northeast year-round. Find out which can be seen here in Manhattan’s only remaining salt marsh. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11 Q Winter Orienteering / Alley Pond Park 12 p.m. / UPR Adventure Center BX Bronx Tree Series Part II / Van Cortlandt Park 1 p.m. / Van Cortlandt Nature Whether you’re planning a trip in the wilderness or walking the trails of our NYC Center parks, the ability to orient is key to survival. Bring a compass or borrow one of ours. Our series concludes at Van Cortlandt Park. S.I. Willowbrook in Winter / 1 p.m./ Eton Pl.off Richmond Ave. BX The Gift of Ornaments / Crotona Park 1 p.m. / Crotona Nature Center Enjoy a scenic walk around the placid lake, and envision images of yesteryear. Make your own beautiful holiday ornaments. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. BK Birding / Marine Park 9 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Join the Rangers for some early morning birding. SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 “Bottle Biology”: Terrarium Workshop / Marine Park 1 p.m. / Salt Marsh BK Santa at the Marsh / Marine Park 12 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center BK Join the Marine Park Civic Association and the Urban Park Rangers as they welcome Nature Center Santa for his annual visit to the Salt Marsh. Bring a camera. Rain, snow or shine. Join the Rangers for a fun indoor activity. Learn how to build a miniature natural environment - in a bottle! Bring two 3-liter soda bottles. M Little Red Lighthouse Tour / Ft. Washington Park 11 a.m. / Meet at the Lighthouse M Winter Survival Skills / Central Park 1 p.m. / Dana Discovery Center See the Manhattan lighthouse that inspired one of the most cherished children’s Find out how humans and other living things cope when temperatures plummet. books of all time. Q Nature Stories for Kids / Forest Park 12 p.m./ Forest Park Nature/Visitor Center Enjoy an hour of nature storytelling, followed by a hike. Q Winter Birding / Alley Pond Park 9 a.m. / UPR Adventure Center Although many birds leave for the winter, some stay, and birds from more northern S.I. Waterfowl Walk / 1 p.m. / Parking Lot climates migrate here, actually considering New York City the “South!” Let’s see if Enjoy a tranquil walk around the lake as we look for migratory and year-round we can find them. Binoculars supplied. birds. Wheelchair and stroller accessible.

BX - Bronx BK - Brooklyn M - Manhattan Q - SI - Staten Island

For information about the Rangers, outside NYC, (212) NEW-YORK, and ask for the Urban Park Rangers or visit www.nyc.gov/parks

s t n e v E f o r a d n e l a C

r e b m e c e d - r e b m e v o n

4 0 0 2 r e t n i W

s r e g n a R s r e g n a R

k r a P k r a P

n a b r U n a b r U

k r o Y w e N n o i t a e r c e R & s k r a P f o t n e m t r a p e D y t i C

r o t c e r i D , l e b o H . B a r a S

f e i h C , t t e k c o D . H l e a h c i M

s r e g n a R k r a P n a b r U

n o i t a e r c e R & s k r a P 1 4 3 9 # T I M R E P

k r o Y w e N f o y t i C Y N , K R O Y W E N

D I A P r e n o i s s i m m o C , e p e n e B n a i r d A

E G A T S O P . S . U r o y a M , g r e b m o o l B . R l e a h c i M

n o i t a e r c e R & s k r a P . D T S D E T R O S - E R P

k r o Y w e N f o y t i C

Orchard Beach RANGER STATIONS & NATURE CENTERS Nature Center

Pelham Bay Van Cortlandt Ranger Station Nature Center MANHATTAN (M) Inwood Hill BRONX Nature Center Urban Park Ranger : Central Park. 79th St., Crotona Adventure Center Nature Center mid-park. (212) 628-2345 Dana Discovery Center: Central Park. 110th St. & Lenox Ave. (212) 860-1376 QUEENS Inwood Hill Nature Center: Inwood Hill Park. Forest Park Dana Discovery Nature/Visitor Center Enter park at 218th St. & Indian Road. Center

(212) 304-2365 Belvedere Castle

BRONX (BX) MANHATTAN QUEENS (Q) Crotona Nature Center: Crotona Park. Enter BROOKLYN the park at Charlotte St. & Crotona Park East. Urban Park Ranger Adventure Center: Alley Pond Park. Enter at Winchester Blvd., under Salt Marsh (718) 378-2061 Nature Center Orchard Beach Nature Center (seasonal): the Grand Central Parkway. (718) 217-6034 Pelham Bay Park. Section 2 of Orchard Beach. Forest Park Nature/Visitor Center: Forest (718) 885-3466 Park. Woodhaven Blvd. & Forest Park Drive. Pelham Bay Ranger Station: Pelham Bay Park. (718) 846-2731 Bruckner Blvd. & Wilkinson Ave. (718) 885-3467 High Rock Van Cortlandt Nature Center: Van Cortlandt STATEN ISLAND (SI) Ranger Station Park. Enter the park at 246th St. & Broadway. Blue Heron Nature Center: Blue Heron Park. (718) 548-0912 222 Poillon Avenue, between Amboy Road & STATEN ISLAND Hylan Boulevard. (718) 967-3542 High Rock Ranger Station: High Rock Park. Park in the lot at the end of Nevada Avenue, Blue Heron RANGER STATIONS BROOKLYN (BK) Nature Center off Rockland Ave., and follow signs. & NATURE CENTERS Salt Marsh Nature Center: Marine Park. East (718) 667-6042 33rd St. & Avenue U. (718) 421-2021 Programs at the SMNC generously supported by:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29 SUNDAY, JANUARY 30 BX Bird Walk / Van Cortlandt Park 10 a.m. / Van Cortlandt Nature Center BX Winter Waterfowl / Pelham Bay Park 11 a.m. / Orchard Beach Nature Center With no leaves on the trees, winter is the easiest time to find these feathery resi Many different species of ducks and other birds spend the winter months in our dents, especially if you’re a novice birder. parks’ waters. Mergansers, ruddy ducks, buffleheads, shovelers and gadwalls are BX Winter Wonderland / Crotona Park 1 p.m. / Crotona Nature Center just some of them. Bring binoculars if you have them. Observe the beauty of plants and animals in winter; guided by the Urban Park BK Terrarium Building / Marine Park 11 a.m./ Salt Marsh Nature Center Rangers. Build your own terrarium, and see what grows. Bring a two-liter soda bottle if you BK Birding / Marine Park 9 a.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center can. Join the Rangers for some early morning birding. M Winter Ecology Walk / Central Park 1 p.m. / Belvedere Castle BK Scavenger Hunt / Marine Park 1 p.m. / Salt Marsh Nature Center Nature appears to be lifeless during winter. But there is more to nature than meets What kinds of things can you find around the marsh? Dress for the weather. the eye. See what happens when the days are short, the nights are long, and the air M “Bottle Biology”: Terrarium Workshop / Inwood Hill Park 11 a.m. / Inwood is cold. Hill Nature Center Q Winter Water Fowl / 12 p.m. / Forest Park Nature/Visitor Join the Rangers for a fun indoor activity. Learn how to build a miniature natural Center environment—n a bottle! The waters of Baisley Pond attract a variety of winter waterfowl. Discover the Q Winter Health Hike / Alley Pond Park 12 p.m. / UPR Adventure Center secrets of the pond in winter (canvasbacks, scaups, buffleheads and more). Bring The trails in Alley Pond Park have been restored and re-blazed. Join the Rangers binoculars if you have them. Van transportation provided from Forest Park or meet on an invigorating hike, and learn the four trails that run through Alley Pond Park’s us at parking lot at Baisley Blvd. and 155th Street at 12:30 p.m. woodland area. S.I. Nature Journal Workshop / Blue Heron Park 1 p.m. / Blue Heron Nature S.I. Navigation Station / Greenbelt 11 a.m. / Greenbelt Nature Center (700 Center Rockland Ave. at Brielle Ave.) Express your feelings about nature in a journal you create yourself. Turn ordinary Learn the basics of navigation, both high-tech and low-tech. From contour maps magazine pictures into extraordinary works of art! to compasses, trail markers to GPS, you’ll never get lost in the woods again!