• Woodlawn Wednesdays

    Woodlawn Wednesdays

    Woodlawn Wednesdays: Forest Restoration at Van Cortlandt Park Help restore the beautiful woodlands of Van Cortlandt Park’s east side! Join us for Woodlawn Wednesdays, where volunteers like you play a vital role in preserving this important urban ecosystem. What You'll Do Each week, we'll focus on hands-on tasks that vary with the seasons. You might:...

  • Trail Work Thursdays

    Trail Work Thursdays

    Be a part of the community effort to maintain the trails in Van Cortlandt Park. Whether you’re an experienced trailblazer or new to trail maintenance, your help will make a significant impact! Meeting Details: Location: Van Cortlandt Park, Garden and Education Compost Site, across from Riverdale Stables. Time: 9 am sharp; work begins at 9:15...

  • Forest Fridays

    Forest Fridays

    Help protect and restore the forests of Van Cortlandt Park — one of NYC’s most ecologically significant green spaces. Join our Forest Friday crew to remove invasive species like multiflora rose, porcelain berry, and bittersweet. Your hands-on work will create space for native plants to return and help this 640-acre urban ecosystem thrive for generations...

  • Bocce & Tennis Courts at Indian Field Volunteer Event

    Join VCPA and Women of Woodlawn as we clean up the Bocce and Tennis Courts to get ready for Family Fun Day! Volunteers will meet up at the Bocce Courts inside the park off of E. 233rd just north of Van Cortlandt Park at 10am. Once the Bocce Courts are in good shape we will...

  • Cross Country Course Volunteer Days

    Cross Country Course Volunteer Days

    Be a part of the community effort to maintain the Cross Country Trail in Van Cortlandt Park. Whether you’re an experienced trailblazer or new to trail maintenance, your help will make a significant impact! Event Dates and Times: First Saturdays of the Month from April to August from 10am to 1pm.* *Please note that May...

  • Tune-Up Tuesdays

    Tune-Up Tuesdays

    Turnip to volunteer! Volunteers will help care for our garden, maintain compost bins, weed, water, and harvest produce. No gardening experience needed - just show up in clothing you will be comfortable getting dirty in! Join us on the following Tuesdays from 10am to 1pm: July 8 July 22 August 12 August 26 Enter the...

  • Woodlawn Family Fun Day

    EVENT POSTPONED TO JUNE 28, 2025.  MORE DETAILS TO COME. Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, Women of Woodlawn and Woodlawn Taxpayers Association Present Woodlawn Family Fun Day With a Special Ceremony to induct Van Cortlandt Park's woodlands into the prestigious Old-Growth Forest Network! Special thank you to our partners: NYC Parks Women of Woodlawn Woodlawn Taxpayers Association...

  • Family Fun Nature Walk

    Start your family's Spring Break off with a walk through VCP with Van Cortlandt Park Alliance! In this free guided hike, families will hit the trails while learning about amazing local wildlife, and how the park changes seasonally. Afterwards, (weather permitting,) join us for a nature craft and themed activities! Date: Wednesday, April 16th Time:...

  • Family Fun: Freshwater Friends

    Spring Break Family Fun: Freshwater Friends What sort of critters live underneath the waters in Van Cortlandt Park? Is the pond a healthy ecosystem? How can we tell? What in the world is an aquatic macroinvertebrate? Come explore the ecosystem of Hester & Piero’s Mill Pond with us to find out! In this hands-on exploration...

  • Birding with NYC Bird Alliance

    Birding with NYC Bird Alliance

    Explore Van Cortlandt Park's ecologically diverse grounds and celebrate a long tradition of birding in the park. We will look for various species of resident and migratory birds and discuss a wide range of avian topics. Each walk will be led by a NYC Bird Alliance (formerly NYC Audubon) guide. Advance registration is required. You...

  • City Nature Challenge 2025

    Join the global City Nature Challenge! Cities around the world collect data throughout the spring but at Van Cortlandt Park, you can identify macroinvertebrates and other wildlife from the pond. VCPA sets up “leaf packs” in advance to increase the diversity of creatures you will find!  There will also be guided “mini-hikes” around the area...

  • Forest Fridays

    Forest Fridays

    Help protect and restore the forests of Van Cortlandt Park — one of NYC’s most ecologically significant green spaces. Spring is here, and the forest is waking up. Join our Forest Friday crew to remove invasive species like multiflora rose, porcelain berry, and bittersweet. Your hands-on work will make room for native plants to thrive...