Looking for more ways to appreciate the summer around NYC? Our ‘Welcome to the Weekend’ summer series brings you a variety of green, fun, and free/affordable activities to do this weekend. We hope you will join some of them, and that you’ll let us know about other events not on our list. As you embark on your adventures, tweet us (@EPAregion2) with our ‘Welcome to the Weekend’ hashtag #WTWEPA!
Friday- August 5th, 2016
Libertad Urban Farm Community Workday
Bronx
10:00 AM- 1:00 PM
Join Bronx Green-Up at the BLK Projek’s event to help this urban farm build more raised beds to grow more for the summer season.
Saturday- August 6th, 2016
Summer Streets
Manhattan
7:00 AM- 1:00 PM
Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets. On three consecutive Saturdays in August, nearly seven miles of NYC’s streets are opened for people to play, run, walk and bike. Summer Streets extends from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets, and features sports, fitness, and art events and programs. All activities at Summer Streets are free of charge, and designed for people of all ages and ability levels to share the streets respectfully.
Green Team
Brooklyn
10:00 AM- 12:00 PM
The Green Team provides essential horticultural care to the park, including planting, mulching, and removing invasive plants. The Green Team is a wonderful opportunity to learn about gardening, enjoy nature, and make the park look its best. No experience necessary.
Helping Hummingbirds
Staten Island
11:00 AM- 12:00 PM
Learn about these beautiful birds of the Greenbelt and how you can help them this summer. Hike in search of hummingbirds, and make a nectar feeder to take home. This program is appropriate for children 6 and older. It is free for members and $3 for nonmembers. Registration is required. To register, please email naturecenter@sigreenbelt.org or call (718) 351-3450.
Hot Compost Hands-On Workshop
Queens
2:00 PM- 4:00 PM
Take your composting to the next level at this hands-on workshop! Learn to make and manage a “thermophilic” batch of compost—a pile that will heat up to kill weed seeds and pathogens—ready to use in as little as three months! Participants work together with NYC Compost Project staff to build a pile at our compost demo site. Come ready to get dirty! $5 per person.
Sunday- August 7th, 2016
Central Park Conservancy Family Performance Festival Leaf Arrow
Manhattan
12:00 PM- 1:30 PM
Each summer, Central Park Conservancy hosts a series of eco-education and multicultural performances for the whole family to enjoy. Formerly known as A Clearing in the Forest, this year’s Family Performance Festival is chock-a-block full of fun and learning through music, storytelling, park adventures, puppetry, and more! Through contemporary and historical storytelling, songs, and traditional dance, learn about the special relationship the Native American people have with the Earth. Celebrate your appreciation of the natural environment with an interactive show featuring coyote tales, creation stories, and historic folklore. This unique performance will remind even the youngest audience members that we must respect and care for our parks!
What’s In Bloom in the Heather Garden August Tour
Manhattan
1:00 PM- 2:00 PM
Take a walking tour of the Heather Garden in Fort Tryon Park with horticulturist Madeline Byrne and learn about the dozens of plants currently in bloom. Learn about the garden’s history and how the Heather Garden compares with the plants found at the New York Botanical Garden, where Madeline Byrne has over 15 years of experience. These tours are wheelchair accessible but persons with mobility issues may find them challenging because of the park’s many steep paths.
Living with Urban Coyotes
Queens
1:00 PM- 2:30 PM
Join the Urban Park Rangers in learning about coyotes, an oft-misunderstood member of our local habitat.