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  • A group of people working in the woods.

    Woodlawn Wednesday: Forest Restoration

    Woodlawn Wednesday: Forest Restoration

    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. When: Wednesdays, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Please arrive on time – we depart for...

  • Two men in black hats and blue shirts working in the woods with saws.

    Forest Fridays

    Forest Fridays

    Join us for forest restoration work at a new work location. Your work opens the forest floor for native wildflowers, oak seedlings, and the understory waiting underneath. When: Fridays, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM New Location: Van Cortlandt Park — meeting at the Classic Playground on the southern end of the park. What to bring: Clothes that can get dirty, sturdy shoes, water bottle, sunscreen.  Tools and gloves provided. RSVP Now. Ages 15+ welcome (minors need signed waiver: https://vancortlandt.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/VCPA_Waiver_Form_2019.pdf) Limited to 30 volunteers per shift. Groups of 6+ email noel@vancortlandt.org

  • A grey hummingbird on jewelwood plants with orange flowers.

    Van Cortlandt Nature Group Walk

    Take a slow walk in the park and learn about local flora and fauna with naturalist Debbi Dolan. September heralds the beginning of autumn as we say farewell to summer. Fall bird migration is underway, and Van Cortlandt Park is an important stopover for migrating birds and provides critical breeding habitat. Raptors, warblers, thrushes, sparrows, and other songbirds find Van Cortlandt Park to be a productive area. Hibernating mammals like chipmunks and squirrels are hoarding for the winter months. Pollinating bees, wasps, butterflies are still going strong, and dragonflies are on the hunt for mosquitos. Rosehips, blackberries, elderberries, and acorns...

  • Two young men with loopers cutting plants in a wired bin.

    Tune-Up Tuesdays – Garden Volunteer Days

    Tune-Up Tuesdays – Garden Volunteer Days

    Turnip to volunteer and help us take care of our Learning Garden! 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! Location: The VCPA Learning Garden is located near the Mosholu Avenue and Broadway entrance of the park (past the Northwest playground). Dates: September 8 September 22 October 13 October 27 November 10 November 24 Time: 10 am - 1 pm. RSVP Now. Volunteers must be 18 and older. Groups of 5+ must register as a unit via email to gardening@vancortlandt.org.

  • A grey hummingbird on jewelwood plants with orange flowers.

    Van Cortlandt Nature Group Walk

    Take a slow walk in the park and learn about local flora and fauna with naturalist Debbi Dolan. September heralds the beginning of autumn as we say farewell to summer. Fall bird migration is underway, and Van Cortlandt Park is an important stopover for migrating birds and provides critical breeding habitat. Raptors, warblers, thrushes, sparrows, and other songbirds find Van Cortlandt Park to be a productive area. Hibernating mammals like chipmunks and squirrels are hoarding for the winter months. Pollinating bees, wasps, butterflies are still going strong, and dragonflies are on the hunt for mosquitos. Rosehips, blackberries, elderberries, and acorns...

  • A salmon colored background with a graphic of a woman on a blanket doing yoga next to a tree.

    Yoga at the Farmstand

    Yoga at the Farmstand

    Take a pause from your day and join us for an accessible, beginner-friendly yoga practice at the youth run farmstand. Yoga at the Market • Curated by Timothy Lewis Wednesdays:...

  • A graphic about a movie series called Four-Legged Friend with a blue background and stars and characters from the movies with a movie poster for Babe.

    Starlight Cinema: Babe

    Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Horace Mann School Present: Starlight Cinema: Four-Legged Friends FREE! Movies in the Park FREE! Friday Nights Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground 6:30-ish • Movies Begin at Last Light 5:30 PM • Music of 1995, 2000, 2007, 2017 5:30 PM • Movie-themed Crafts September 11: Babe (1995) September 18: Best in Show (2000) September 25: Ratatouille (2007) October 2: Paddington 2 (2017) Thursday, October 8: Official Rain Date Movies are presented FREE thanks to Horace Mann School. Visit our Movies Page for more details!

  • A pond surrounded trees and a blue sky with some green plants growing on the water surface

    The Ecology of Van Cortlandt Park: Past to Present

    Join the Urban Park Rangers, Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, and Van Cortlandt House Museum for a special collaborative tour. The land we know as Van Cortlandt Park has a long history, with deep human impact on its ecology. From indigenous Lenape land, to plantation, to flagship park, Vanny continues to evolve today, with daily stewardship, natural area restoration, and the city’s largest green infrastructure project to date—Daylighting Tibbetts Brook. Join the Urban Park Rangers, Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, and Van Cortlandt House Museum for a special collaborative tour, digging into this fascinating topic. Come prepared for a slow walk on...

  • A cover a book with a man with binoculars and a blue sky with clouds with texting about birding and an upcoming reading.

    Christian Cooper Reading

    Van Cortlandt Park Alliance Presents: CHRISTIAN COOPER Author • TV Host • Birder in conversation with Lili Taylor Author • Actress • Birder Tuesday, September 15, 2026 7pm to 9pm P&T Knitwear Books and Podcast 180 Orchard Street New York, NY 10002 Doors open at 6:45pm 7pm: Reading and Q&A 8pm: Book Signing Wine & Cheese Ticket: $10

  • Starlight Cinema: Best in Show

    Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Horace Mann School Present: Starlight Cinema: Four-Legged Friends FREE! Movies in the Park FREE! Friday Nights Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground 6:30-ish • Movies Begin at Last Light 5:30 PM • Music of 1995, 2000, 2007, 2017 5:30 PM • Movie-themed Crafts September 11: Babe (1995) September 18: Best in Show (2000) September 25: Ratatouille (2007) October 2: Paddington 2 (2017) Thursday, October 8: Official Rain Date Movies are presented FREE thanks to Horace Mann School. Visit our Movies Page for more details!

  • A man in a white outfit with a orange scarf around his waist teaching people to dance on the lawn

    Concert: Irish Ghanaian Fusion

    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. Watch! Learn! Join in! RSVP Now. This program is supported by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council. Special thank you to the Van Cortlandt House Museum.  

  • A group of people looking at a body of water.

    Birding with NYC Bird Alliance

    Birding with NYC Bird Alliance

    Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and NYC Bird Alliance invite you to join us during 4 weekend mornings of birding in the park this fall. 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 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: Sunday, September 20 Sunday,...