Birding with NYC Bird Alliance
2025-09-27 09:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York)
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 must register separately for each date you would like to attend.
Birding sessions meet at 9am on the following dates:

Saturday, September 27
Saturday, October 25
Sunday, November 23
Saturday, December 6

Note: We do not provide binoculars and suggest that attendees bring their own.
Want us to continue birding programs in the future? Please make a donation during checkout. All donations made will be used to continue birding programs.
As space is limited, if you are not able to attend please let us know ASAP so we can fill in your spot by emailing info@vancortlandt.org.
These events are funded by NFWF’s Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program.
Photo by Jack Rothman

Rising NYRR at the NYRR Cross Country Series #1
2025-09-28 10:00 - 11:00
Kids head to the scenic trails for a fun cross country event with our friends at NYRR! Registration for this event is FREE and open to participants of all abilities and age 2 to 18. Perfect for both new and experienced runners, this fun three-event series is a great way for kids to stay active, build confidence, and experience the thrill of cross country. Every finisher will receive a New Balance cooling towel.
Register today!

REIMAGINING: Chalk Art & Live Music Gathering
2025-09-28 13:00 - 15:00
Join us for an afternoon of creativity and reflection as we gather at the Enslaved African Burial Ground in Van Cortlandt Park. The event will begin with a moving live performance by musician Juan Usera and The Sambuco Tribe, setting the tone and making space for remembrance and renewal. Following the music, Bronx-based artist Tijay Mohammed will lead a chalk art festival along the pathway, transforming the ground into a vibrant canvas that honors history and sparks imagination for the future.
This unique gathering blends art, music, and community in a powerful act of reimagining, bringing people together in a shared experience of creativity and remembrance.
RSVP Now.
Juan Usera is a fourth-generation Bomba practitioner and culture-bearer from Santurce, Puerto Rico, a community educator, researcher, college professor, musician, and performer. He specializes in Puerto Rican and Caribbean music and culture and has over 20 years of experience developing highly engaging cultural activities and arts programs throughout the New York tri-state area. Juan is the founder and director of La Tribu del Juey Sambuco (La Tribu), an Afro-Caribbean music and dance ensemble and arts in education company. La Tribu has been featured at Lincoln Center and El Museo del Barrio among many others. He is the recipient of a NYSCA Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant, City Parks Foundation grant, and NYFA City Artists Corps grant among others.

Ghanaian-born artist Tijay Mohammed currently resides in Bronx, NY. As an artist he has a strong passion for exploring issues that affect community and humanity at large. His work explores the concept of ‘excess’ in the production and consumption of products, and offers a solution through the integration of materials reuse and up-cycling. Tijay has spearheaded workshops and community-oriented projects for esteemed organizations, including the Studio Museum Harlem, Brooklyn Museum, Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Wallach Art Gallery, Lehman College, University of Ghana, and Pinto Community Centre in Trinidad and Tobago.

REIMAGINING: Chalk Art & Live Music Gathering is part of Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s Reimagining initiative. In partnership with the Design Trust for Public Space and Immanuel Oni, Liminal Sp, VCPA invites the community to reimagine the park’s Enslaved African Burial Ground site as a memorial space that fosters long-term healing and restoration. This project is supported by the Mellon Foundation.

Wetland Wednesday
2025-10-01 09:00 - 12:00
Fall Edition: Phragmites Removal
Join us to restore Van Cortlandt Park wetlands by removing invasive Phragmites. This October, we’ll cut back reeds to prepare areas for native plantings.
When: Wednesdays in October from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Van Cortlandt Golf House (southern end)
What to bring: Clothes that can get muddy, water bottle, sunscreen.
Tools and gloves provided. Ages 15+ welcome (minors need waiver).
RSVP Now.
Groups of 6+ email noel@vancortlandt.org
This program is supported by the NFWF Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program.

Trail Work Thursdays
2025-10-02 09:00 - 12:00
Please note that due to the weather forecast the October 30th Trail Thursday event has been canceled.
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: Van Cortlandt Park, Learning Garden, across from Riverdale Stables. Time: 9 am sharp; work begins at 9:15 am
Upcoming Activities Include: Clearing debris and overgrowth; Ensuring trail safety and accessibility; Desire line closures
What to Bring: Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toed shoes. Bring water and a snack.
Why Join Us? Contribute to the vitality and safety of the trails you love! Engage with fellow community members, learn about trail maintenance, and enjoy the satisfaction of hands-on work in the great outdoors. Necessary tools and gloves will be provided!
RSVP Now.
Want to bring a group? This event is limited to small groups of 5 or less. If you would like to bring more 6 or more people please reach out to stewardship@vancortlandt.org to schedule a separate event.
Volunteer Policy for Minors

Ages 15 – 17: A parent or guardian must sign and submit a volunteer waiver. Once the waiver is on file, the minor may participate without an accompanying adult.
Ages 12 – 14: A parent or guardian must accompany the minor and remain on-site for the entire project.
Under 12: Children may volunteer only at events specifically labeled family-friendly and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

Concert: Irish Ghanaian Fusion
2025-10-02 17:30 - 19:00
Move to the music as we explore the liminal spaces between Irish traditional music and West African Ghanaian music. Revel in lively, blended compositions drawing from both traditions, as performed by renowned musicians from the Ghanaian drum ensemble Ekome Femo including Amos Gabia (voice/djembe/ dun dun), Raymond Odai Laryea (djembe/dun dun/ gankogui), Dylan James (banjo/fiddle), and ethnomusicologist/performer Colin Harte on (voice/piano/bodhrán/djembe). Watch! Learn! Join in!
RSVP Now.
This event is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Super Seedlings - Family Gardening Days
2025-10-04 10:00 - 12:00
Super Seedlings is a FREE, drop-in gardening program for kids ages 2-7 and their caregivers.
Each session will have a fun seasonal theme to explore, crafts, plants to water, soil to dig into, and more!
Come once, twice, or all four weeks for some playing and planting! We hope to see you there!
📅 Dates:
Saturday, October 4th
Saturday, October 11th
Saturday, October 18th
Saturday, October 25th
🕐 Time: 10 AM – 12 PM
📍 Location: VCPA Learning Garden & Compost Site located at: Mosholu Avenue and Broadway (next to the Horse Stables).
Drop-ins are welcome, but advance registration is recommended.
Please e-mail us with any questions at gardening@vancortlandt.org

City of Forest Day
2025-10-04 10:00 - 13:00
Join us for a tree planting in the Northeast Woods to celebrate City of Forest Day.
When: Oct 4th, 2025
Morning: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Woodlawn Playground, Van Cortlandt Park
What: Plant native plants
What to bring: Clothes that can get dirty, water bottle
Tools and gloves provided.
RSVP Now.
Groups of 6+ email noel@vancortlandt.org

Rising NYRR at the NYRR Cross Country Series #2
2025-10-05 10:00 - 11:00
Kids head to the scenic trails for a fun cross country event with our friends at NYRR! Registration for this event is FREE and open to participants of all abilities and age 2 to 18. Perfect for both new and experienced runners, this fun three-event series is a great way for kids to stay active, build confidence, and experience the thrill of cross country. Every finisher will receive a New Balance souvenir.
Register today!

Canine Court Volunteer Event
2025-10-06 16:00 - 18:00
Canine Court needs some TLC! Help keep this doggie happy by volunteering to clean up Canine Court!
NYC Parks staff does not perform daily maintenance inside dog runs.
Daily maintenance is up to volunteers- like YOU!
Join us for an afternoon of weeding, cleaning and spreading woodchips to spruce up Canine Court.
VCPA provides all necessary gear. You bring the can-do attitude
Enter the park at Broadway and W. 252nd.
RSVP Now.

CANCELED Van Cortlandt Nature Group Walk
2025-10-08 09:30 - 10:30
Due to the forecast of rain and winds, this walk has been canceled.
Take a slow walk in the park and learn about our local flora and fauna from naturalist Debbi Dolan. Debbi has a wealth of knowledge about nature that she enjoys sharing with everyone.
Walk will meet in the parking lot of the Riverdale Stables.
What to expect in October:
Autumn arrived right on schedule this year with crisp days and tinges of fall color. The warblers are passing through the park and the raptors are crossing the skies of Van Cortlandt Park. Hummingbirds have been filling up on jewelweed nectar in preparation for their southern migration. The Tibbett Meadow is looking glorious with asters and goldenrod that are providing sustenance for the hungry migrant species and our resident birds.
Celestial events
The Full Hunter’s Moon will reach peak illumination on Monday, October 6, and it’s a SUPERMOON. it’s the first of three Supermoons in 2025, making it the largest and brightest full Moon of the year. Rising low on the horizon, it will appear bigger, brighter, and more golden than any other Moon this year, casting long, glowing light across autumn fields, landscapes, and evening skies. Gardeners, photographers, and stargazers alike will find it a sight to remember.
According to the Almanac, this full Moon came to be called the full Hunter’s Moon because it signaled the time to go hunting in preparation for the cold winter ahead. Animals are beginning to fatten up ahead of winter, and since farmers had recently cleaned out their fields under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily see the deer and other animals that had come out to root through the remaining scraps (as well as the foxes and wolves that had come out to prey on them).

Canoemobile Community Paddles
2025-10-17 16:00 - 17:30
Join Wilderness Inquiry‘s Canoemobile and Van Cortlandt Park Alliance for FREE canoe rides on Hester and Piero’s Mill Pond during this special event!
Meet us at the northern end of the Van Cortlandt Golf House any time between 4:00 and 5:30 PM – and come ready to paddle!

No experience needed!
People of all abilities are welcome!
Minors must be accompanied by an adult, and weigh a minimum of 30 lbs to ride.
First come, first served! The last paddle goes out at 5:30 pm.
Waivers are required and will be available on-site.

RSVP Now.
Canoemobile travels around the country so that a diverse array of students have the chance to experience the nation’s best outdoor field trip. In addition, Canoemobile offers free and open-to-the-public paddles in communities where it is working. These experiences change waterways into places of recreation, learning, and community-building. From San Francisco to the Bronx, communities welcome Canoemobile to serve more than 30,000 youth and adults of all backgrounds and abilities each year.
https://www.wildernessinquiry.org/programs/about-the-canoemobile-program/

REIMAGINING: Fall Get-Together
2025-10-18 13:00 - 16:00
VCPA’s Fall Get-Together is our final REIMAGINING event of the season. We look forward to an afternoon of interactive music and art. Create a meaningful homage to honor your own ancestors and craft a personal message to leave behind to commemorate the burial ground and those who are buried there. The event will feature live music highlighting traditional Afro-Caribbean rhythms and dances including bomba, plena, guaracha, and changüí. Attendees will have the opportunity to play instruments and learn some dance moves.
This unique gathering blends art, music, and community in a powerful act of reimagining, bringing people together in a shared experience of creativity and remembrance.
Event will be held by the Enslaved Burial Ground in Van Cortlandt Park.
RSVP Now.
As our community reimagines what can be at the Burial Ground, we encourage you to take the survey to let us know more about what you would like to see in this sacred space.
REIMAGINING: Fall Get-Together is part of Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s Reimagining initiative. In partnership with the Design Trust for Public Space and Immanuel Oni, Liminal Sp, VCPA invites the community to reimagine the park’s Enslaved African Burial Ground site as a memorial space that fosters long-term healing and restoration. This project is supported by the Mellon Foundation.
Featured Artists:

Juan Usera is a fourth-generation Bomba practitioner and culture-bearer from Santurce, Puerto Rico, a community educator, researcher, college professor, musician, and performer. He specializes in Puerto Rican and Caribbean music and culture and has over 20 years of experience developing highly engaging cultural activities and arts programs throughout the New York tri-state area. Juan is the founder and director of La Tribu del Juey Sambuco (La Tribu), an Afro-Caribbean music and dance ensemble and arts in education company. La Tribu has been featured at Lincoln Center and El Museo del Barrio among many others. He is the recipient of a NYSCA Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant, City Parks Foundation grant, and NYFA City Artists Corps grant among others.
Ghanaian-born artist Tijay Mohammed currently resides in Bronx, NY. As an artist he has a strong passion for exploring issues that affect community and humanity at large. His work explores the concept of ‘excess’ in the production and consumption of products, and offers a solution through the integration of materials reuse and up-cycling. Tijay has spearheaded workshops and community-oriented projects for esteemed organizations, including the Studio Museum Harlem, Brooklyn Museum, Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Wallach Art Gallery, Lehman College, University of Ghana, and Pinto Community Centre in Trinidad and Tobago.
Stephanie Alvarado (they/she) is a queer nonbinary disabled femme antidisciplinary artist, poet, archivist, photographer, facilitator and cultural organizer for 20 years. Alvarado was born and raised in the Bronx, NY by way of Guayaquil, Ecuador. They alchemize photography, feminist performance, community based photo archiving, collage, and social practice into community building and disability justice practices in public spaces for queer, trans, and people of color through their artist project, Fotos y Recuerdos created in January 2020. Alvarado combines in person workshops on public park lands and community gardens with hybrid and virtual programming for accessible models engaging technologies of photo archiving and storytelling in community.
Immanuel Oni is a first-generation Nigerian-American artist and spatial designer living in New York City originally from Houston, TX. He believes art is not about what he is making, but who he is making it for. His work explores loss and its deep connection with space. He utilizes spatial justice design and visual storytelling to unearth narratives related to trauma, healing, and ritual. His canvas consists of repurposing existing public space infrastructure such as light posts, fencing, underutilized green areas or mobile spaces to prompt community dialogue and connection. He has led and participated in international art and urbanism workshops in Venice, Hong Kong, and Lagos. He has been a Fellow for the Design Trust for Public Space, Culture Push, New York for Culture and Arts, More Art Engaging Artist Commission NY, and received awards from Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY, Youth Design Center, Architectural League of New York, and the New York State Council of the Arts. He is a former Director of Community Design at the New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and Adjunct Professor at Parsons the New School for Design. He is the co-founder and Creative Director of Liminal, a non-profit that works at the intersection of art, unity, and space.
Jeremiah Olayinka Ojo is Harlem-based artist, educator and founder of Ilèkùn Wa, a research-driven collaborative artist studio that works at the intersections of design, historic preservation, and social engagement, while exploring the history and preservation of Black diaspora cultural heritage and spatial equity.

Van Cortlandt Nature Group Walk
2025-10-19 09:30 - 10:30
Take a slow walk in the park and learn about our local flora and fauna from naturalist Debbi Dolan. Debbi has a wealth of knowledge about nature that she enjoys sharing with everyone.
Walk will meet in front of Nature Center.
RSVP Now. Space is limited.
What to expect in October:
Autumn arrived right on schedule this year with crisp days and tinges of fall color. The warblers are passing through the park and the raptors are crossing the skies of Van Cortlandt Park. Hummingbirds have been filling up on jewelweed nectar in preparation for their southern migration. The Tibbett Meadow is looking glorious with asters and goldenrod that are providing sustenance for the hungry migrant species and our resident birds.
Celestial events
The Full Hunter’s Moon will reach peak illumination on Monday, October 6, and it’s a SUPERMOON. it’s the first of three Supermoons in 2025, making it the largest and brightest full Moon of the year. Rising low on the horizon, it will appear bigger, brighter, and more golden than any other Moon this year, casting long, glowing light across autumn fields, landscapes, and evening skies. Gardeners, photographers, and stargazers alike will find it a sight to remember.
According to the Almanac, this full Moon came to be called the full Hunter’s Moon because it signaled the time to go hunting in preparation for the cold winter ahead. Animals are beginning to fatten up ahead of winter, and since farmers had recently cleaned out their fields under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily see the deer and other animals that had come out to root through the remaining scraps (as well as the foxes and wolves that had come out to prey on them).

Retaining Wall Volunteer Project
2025-10-20 09:00 - 15:00
We previously had a workshop with the Jolly Rovers and partnered with NYC Parks and a few volunteers to address erosion issue on The Old Croton Aqueduct and John Muir Trail. We encourage everyone to volunteer while VCPA Trail staff finalizes this project. This volunteering opportunity is geared for those who hope to gain advance trail skills.
Volunteers can join us on the following days starting at 9am: Monday 10/20, Tuesday 10/21, Monday 9/27 and Tuesday 10/28
RSVP Now.
Topics covered:

Introduction and Safety: Briefing on goals, safety protocols, and proper tool usage.
Site Preparation and Excavation: Clearing the area, leveling the ground, and digging a trench for the foundation.
Stone Selection and Sorting: Choosing the right rocks for the wall’s base and upper courses, considering size and shape.
Building the Foundation: Laying the base course, ensuring proper alignment and compaction.
Constructing the Wall: Layering rocks, backfilling with gravel, and compacting the soil behind the wall.
Drainage: Incorporating drainage solutions like weep holes or permeable backfill.
Cover Bands and Copes: Applying finishing touches like cover bands or coping stones.
Finishing Touches: Landscaping around the wall, and cleaning up.
Tool Talk: Demonstrating tools and discussing on-site examples of dry-laid stone walls.

Please arrive at the meeting location by 9am and we will walk together to the work site on the Old Croton Aqueduct.
Volunteers must be 18+ for this project.

Trail Closure in the Northeast Woods
2025-10-25 10:00 - 13:00
Help restore the beautiful woodlands of Van Cortlandt Park’s east side with VCPA and Women of Woodlawn by closing a desire line!
What is a Desire line?
A desire line or social trail is an unauthorized trail that has been opened by repeated communal use and usually shortcuts the authorized trail path. The closure of unauthorized trails fits into both the purview of the trail stewardship and forest restoration programs in Van Cortlandt Park. It is vital to prevent compaction and ecosystem fragmentation. Desire lines can often be coupled with litter and dumping of trash.
When:
Saturday October 25th, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
(Please arrive on time – we depart for the worksite by 9:15 AM)
Where:
Meet outside the handball courts at Woodlawn Playground
Meet by the big tree outside the handball courts
(Located on the east side of Van Cortlandt Park)
What to Bring:
Long sleeves, long pants (denim or canvas recommended), and a hat
Sturdy, closed-toe shoes
Water bottle and snacks
Sunscreen and bug spray (recommended)
Your enthusiasm for conservation!
Space is limited. RSVP Now
Groups of 6 or more must email garcialeslie@vancortlandt.org to discuss scheduling their own event.

Halloween: Wags to Witches
2025-10-26 13:00 - 17:00
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, Van Cortlandt House Museum, and the Urban Park Rangers invite you to a FREE fang-tastic afternoon of family and doggy fun. Get ready for creepy crafts, face painting, spine-chilling stories with LINC and more!
Event will be held on the lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum.
RSVP Suggested.
Join us at 3pm for our Third Annual Pup Parade & Canine Costume Contest.
Register your pup day-of between 2pm and 2:45pm, or pre-register here.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for Nocturnal Creatures and Wildlife Hike leaving the Nature Center at 6pm and returning at 7:30pm.

Memorial Grove Clean Up for Veterans Day
2025-10-29 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-01 10:00 - 13:00
Join us in honoring our veterans by cleaning up Memorial Grove in Van Cortlandt Park. We’re hosting two volunteer events to ensure the grove is beautifully prepared for Veterans Day celebrations. This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with fellow volunteers.
Activities:

Raking Leaves: Gather and rake leaves to keep the grove tidy.
Picking Up Sticks: Collect sticks and debris to keep a clean environment.
General Upkeep: Assist with trimming and trash collection.

What We Provide:
Why Volunteer?

Honor Veterans: Contribute to a meaningful cause that honors our heroes.
Community Engagement: Meet and work alongside like-minded individuals.
Enjoy the Outdoors: Spend a rewarding day in the beautiful Van Cortlandt Park.
Make a Difference: Help create a welcoming and respectful space for Veterans Day.

RSVP Now
Recurring Annual Event: We plan to host this event every October, ensuring Memorial Grove remains a pristine and respectful space for Veterans Day each year. By joining us this year, you become part of a lasting tradition of community support and remembrance.

Join us in making Memorial Grove a beautiful tribute to our veterans. Your time and effort can make a significant impact!

Caribbean Connections
2025-11-01 13:00 - 16:00
Join Van Cortlandt House Museum and Van Cortlandt Park Alliance for an afternoon that brings together history, music, and flavor. This unique program highlights the significant ties between early New York and the Caribbean and Latin America.
The afternoon begins with a teaching musical performance by Juan Usera and the Sambuco Tribe, who will share the rhythms, traditions, and history of Caribbean and Latin American music while inviting the audience to listen, learn, and participate.
From 1:30- 2:30 PM, guests will have the chance to sample Caribbean flavors—including sweet pineapple and other tastes that shaped New York’s history of trade and culture.
At 3 PM, join VCHM Site Historian Nick Dembowski for a special, focused guided tour* of Van Cortlandt House Museum on early New York’s ties to the Caribbean and Latin America. The tour will uncover how colonial trade, migration, and culture connected the Bronx to the wider Atlantic world.
Registration is not required, but is suggested.
*Please note that the guided tour at 3 PM does have a capacity limit and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to join the tour right after the performance ends at 2:45 PM to ensure a spot on the tour.
Accessibility: This event will take place outdoors on the museum lawn, which is uneven in spots. Limited outdoor seating will be available. At this time, the historic house is accessed using stairs, and has three flights of stairs inside. Our Welcome Center is accessible via ramp, and a 360-degree tour of the historic house (general, not focused) is available on a tablet inside the Welcome Center.
Language: this program will be in both English and Spanish. The guided historic house tour will be delivered in English.
Getting here and parking:
Address for GPS: 6036 Broadway, Bronx, NY
Van Cortlandt House Museum is located inside Van Cortlandt Park at Broadway and West 246th Street in The Bronx. There is a paved tree-lined pedestrian path leading from Broadway to the museum.

Veterans Day Ceremony
2025-11-02 12:00 - 13:00
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance & Bronx Community Board 8
Veterans Day Ceremony
Memorial Grove • Van Cortlandt Park
Sunday, November 2, 2025 • 12 PM
This year, the program will include:

Procession and posting of the American Flag
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and singing of the National Anthem
Remarks by local War Veterans
Remarks by local elected officials and Community Board 8

Woodlawn Wednesdays
2025-11-05 09:00 - 12:00
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.
You might:
Remove Invasive Species: Tackle harmful plants like multiflora rose, bush honeysuckle, bittersweet, and Japanese angelica tree that threaten our native biodiversity.
Maintain Trails: Keep paths clear, safe, and welcoming for all park visitors.
No experience needed! We provide all tools and gloves. You’ll also learn about forest ecology, plant ID, and restoration techniques.
RSVP Now.
When:
Wednesday November 5, 2025 meeting at 9am and Wednesdays December 10 and 17 meeting at 10am
Where:
Meet outside the handball courts at Woodlawn Playground
(Located on the east side of Van Cortlandt Park)
What to Bring:
Long sleeves, long pants (denim or canvas recommended), and a hat
Sturdy, closed-toe shoes
Water bottle and snacks
Sunscreen and bug spray (recommended)
Your enthusiasm for conservation!
Groups of 6 or more must email noel@vancortlandt.org to discuss scheduling their own event.
Volunteer Policy for Minors
• Ages 15 – 17
A parent or guardian must sign and submit a volunteer waiver. Once the waiver is on file, the minor may participate without an accompanying adult.
• Ages 12 – 14
A parent or guardian must accompany the minor and remain on-site for the entire project.
• Under 12
Children may volunteer only at events specifically labeled family-friendly and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

Autumn Hike in the Park
2025-11-08 10:00 - 12:00
Spend your Saturday morning hiking with us in the beautiful Van Cortlandt Park!
Explore the Northwest Woods with a VCPA staff member learning about the nature around you and the changes that are happening as winter approaches. We will be meeting at the VCPA Learning Garden for a 2 hour hike. Enter the park at Broadway and Mosholu Ave. – the Learning Garden is near the entrance to the parking lot in front of the Riverdale Stables.
Put on your best hiking shoes and join us for a fun hike!
RSVP Now.

Van Cortlandt Nature Group Walk
2025-11-11 14:00 - 15:00
Tuesday, November 11 at 2pm meets in Riverdale Stables parking lot

Take a slow walk in the park and learn about local flora and fauna with naturalist Debbi Dolan. Debbi has a wealth of knowledge about nature, plants, and wildlife that she enjoys sharing.
RSVP Now.

Forest Fridays
2025-11-14 10:00 - 13:00
Please note: Forest Friday on December 19th, 2025 has been canceled due to high winds.
Remove invasive species from the Northwest Forest. Promote biodiversity, protect young trees, and maintain trails.
When: Fridays November 14 and 21 meeting at 9am and Fridays December 5, 12 and 19 meeting at 10am
Where: Van Cortlandt Park – VCPA Learning Garden (across from the Riverdale Stables)
What to bring: Long pants, closed-toe shoes, water
No experience needed – we provide tools, gloves, and teach forest ecology as we work.
Ages 15+ welcome.
Minors must have parents sign a volunteer waiver.
RSVP Now.
Limited to 30 volunteers. Groups of 6+ email noel@vancortlandt.org

Crunch and Munch
2025-11-15 10:00 - 13:00
Come join us for a free garden family event to celebrate a wonderful harvest season!
Festivities will include:

Leaf Crunching and Composting with Bronx Green-Up
Children’s Crafts and Activities
Garlic Planting with New York Restoration Project
Garden Harvesting
Seasonal Snacks and Beverages
& More!

Enjoy a day full of garden fun, celebration, and community!
Where: VCPA Learning Garden, Enter the park at Broadway & Mosholu Ave.
When: Saturday, November 15th from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M.
RSVP Now.

REIMAGINING: Rewriting the Will: A Workshop with David Mills
2025-11-15 13:00 - 15:00
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance presents a writing workshop led by poet and Bronx byproduct David Mills. Drawing inspiration from a historic Van Cortlandt family will, participants will engage in a powerful exercise: imagining and crafting their own “new will” from the perspective of an individual enslaved on the Van Cortlandt plantation.
Together, participants will reflect on questions of legacy and power, naming both material and immaterial possessions, from tools and objects to emotions, dreams, and memories. This act of imaginative resistance reclaims voice and agency, transforming historical silence into testament.
Please bring your favorite pen/pencil and notebook with you!
Space is limited. RSVP Required.
The workshop will be held in the Van Cortlandt House Museum in a space that is only accessible by stairs.
About David Mills: David Mills holds an M.F.A. from Warren Wilson College and an M.A. from New York University in creative writing. He’s published four collections: Boneyarn (New York slavery poems), After Mistic (Massachusetts slavery poems), The Sudden Country and The Dream Detective. His poems have appeared in Ploughshares, Colorado Review, Fence, Crab Orchard Review, Jubilat, Callaloo, Brooklyn Rail, and Obsidian.
REIMAGINING: Rewriting the Will is part of Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s Reimagining initiative. In partnership with the Design Trust for Public Space and Immanuel Oni, Liminal Sp, VCPA invites the community to reimagine the park’s Enslaved African Burial Ground site as a memorial space that fosters long-term healing and restoration. This project is supported by the Mellon Foundation.

Rising NYRR at the NYRR Cross Country Series #3
2025-11-16 10:00 - 11:00
Kids head to the scenic trails for a fun cross country event with our friends at NYRR! Registration for this event is FREE and open to participants of all abilities and age 2 to 18. Perfect for both new and experienced runners, this fun three-event series is a great way for kids to stay active, build confidence, and experience the thrill of cross country. Every finisher will receive a medal and a New Balance beanie.
Register today!

Van Cortlandt Nature Group Walk
2025-11-16 10:00 - 11:00
Sunday, November 16 at 10am meets in front of Nature Center

Take a slow walk in the park and learn about local flora and fauna with naturalist Debbi Dolan. Debbi has a wealth of knowledge about nature, plants, and wildlife that she enjoys sharing.
RSVP Now.

End of Autumn Hike
2025-12-13 10:00 - 12:00
Join us for an escape into the crisp autumn air as we celebrate the very last weekend of Fall 2025!

This guided nature hike is the perfect way to spend your Saturday before the snowy winter settles in. Hike through peaceful trails, enjoy the last bit of leaves falling to the ground, and reconnect with the outdoors during this calm, beautiful transition into winter.
Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or just looking for a relaxing way to spend your day, this hike offers the ideal blend of scenery and fresh air. Come make the most of autumn’s final moments! This hike will include some hills so wear proper walking shoes.
RSVP Now.
