Van Cortlandt Park Alliance

You Are What You Eat Workshop
2024-07-08 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
What does food mean to you? Join Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and explore your relationship with food through creative collage!
What does food mean to you?
How does food relate to your identity?
Does it connect you to family, friends, or heritage?
How does eating certain foods make you feel?
In this all-ages free workshop, each participant will spend time reflecting on what food means to them and creating a small art piece to take home. Come join us for a fun and crafty morning!
All materials will be provided.
📅 Date: Monday, July 8th
🕐 Time: 10 AM – 12 PM
📍 Location: VCPA ‘s Educational Garden and Compost Site is located at: Mosholu Avenue and Broadway (next to the Horse Stables).

Summer Garden Tune-Up Tuesdays
2024-07-09 10:00 - 13:00
Turnip to volunteer! At the VCPA Educational Garden & Compost Site, we are open and enjoying (and expanding!) our rebuilt space while maintaining our plants and produce. Volunteers will learn how to care for the garden, maintain compost bins, weed, water, and harvest produce. No gardening experience needed. 18 and older.
Groups of 5+ must send an email to gardening@vancortlandt.org to register.
Summer Dates: Tuesdays July 9 and 23 and August 13 from 10am-1pm

Starlight Cinema: Enchanted Forest
2024-07-09 19:00 - 22:00
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Horace Mann School Present:
Starlight Cinema: Enchanted Forest
FREE! Movies in the Park FREE!
Tuesday Nights
Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground
8:30-ish • Movies Begin at Last Light
7 PM • Music of 1939, 1987, 2001, 2014
7:30 PM • Movie-themed Crafts
July 9: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
July 16: The Princess Bride (1987)
July 23: Shrek (2001)
July 30: Into the Woods (2014)
August 6: Official Rain Date

Water Chestnut Wednesdays
2024-07-10 09:00 - 12:00
In July. join us every Wednesday morning for Water Chestnut Wednesday! Your help is crucial in removing water chestnuts from the lake, an invasive species that poses a significant threat to our local ecosystem. Your efforts will make a big difference in preserving the beauty and health of Van Cortlandt Park.
📅 When & Where:

Dates: July 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st
Time: 9 AM – 12 PM
Meeting Location: Van Cortlandt Golf House

🛠 Activities Include:

Removing water chestnuts directly from the lake.

🎒 What to Bring:

Plenty of water and a snack.
A hat and sunscreen.
An extra pair of socks.

🔧 We Provide:

Waders and gloves.
Necessary equipment.
Guidance and support.

🤝 Get Involved: No previous experience is required. Just bring your adventurous spirit and be ready to jump into the water to help preserve the beauty of Van Cortlandt Park.
📢 RSVP Now: Sign up and make a significant impact on your park. We look forward to seeing you there!
Note: Plans may change according to the needs of the park and weather conditions.

Youth Run Farm Stand
2024-07-10 14:00 - 19:00
We are very excited to bring our Youth Run Farmstand featuring fresh local produce and local goodies at affordable prices back!
Wednesdays 2-7pm
from July 10 to October 30
Gale Place and Orloff Avenue
We accept WIC, FMNP Checks, EBT, Snap, Fresh Connect Checks, Cash and Credit/Debit.

Forest Fridays
2024-07-12 09:00 - 12:00
🌳 What: Forest Restoration in the Northwest Forest
📅 When: Fridays, July 12th, 19th, and 26th
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Where: Van Cortlandt Park – Garden & Compost Site
Join us for our Forest Friday events this July! We will be focusing on removing invasive species like wineberry, bittersweet, mile-a-minute, and more. These activities are crucial in preserving the health and biodiversity of our forest.
Activities Include:

Invasive Species Removal: Help us eradicate invasive plants that threaten our native ecosystem.
Forest Restoration: Assist in the restoration of native plants and habitats.
Hands-on Activities: Engage in practical conservation efforts that make a real difference.

What to Bring:

Long sleeves and pants
Sturdy shoes
Water and snacks
Enthusiasm for environmental conservation!

RSVP Now.

New Date: Family Fridays in the Garden
2024-07-12 10:00 - 12:00
Please Note: Our last Family Friday will be moved from August 9th to August 16th.
Come spend some time in Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s Education Garden this Summer!
Your family is invited to spend time in Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s Education Garden this Summer! Come out to dig for compost critters, water the plants, explore nature, and more!
This is a FREE drop-in program.
For children ages 2 to 12 years old accompanied by an adult(s).
📅 Dates:

Friday, July 12th
Friday, July 19th
Friday, August 2nd
Friday, August 16th

🕐 Time: 10 AM – 12 PM
📍 Location: The VCPA Compost Site and Education Garden is located at: Mosholu Avenue and Broadway (next to the Horse Stables).
Drop-ins are welcome, but advance registration is preferred.
Please e-mail us with any questions at gardening@vancortlandt.org

CANCELED- City of Water Day: Water Chestnut Removal
2024-07-13 10:00 - 13:00
Due to the forecast of thunderstorms tomorrow morning. VCPA is canceling our City of Water Day: Water Chestnut Removal event.
Stay safe and we hope to see you at a future event in Van Cortlandt Park.
City of Water Day is a region-wide day of free, family-friendly events on or near the water! City of Water Day features stewardship organizations that are raising awareness about the risk we all face from sea level rise and climate change, and explores ways we can build the adaptive capacity of our ecosystems and communities.
This special event will focus on removing invasive water chestnuts from the pond, a crucial effort in maintaining the health of our local water systems. By participating, you will directly contribute to the restoration of the park’s ecosystem and support initiatives like the daylighting of Tibbetts Brook.
🛠 Activities Include:

Removing invasive water chestnuts from the lake.
Learning about the importance of water health and local conservation efforts.

🌿 Why It’s Important: Water chestnuts are an invasive species that clog waterways, outcompete native plants, and disrupt aquatic ecosystems. By removing them, we improve water quality, enhance habitat for native species, and support broader conservation efforts such as the daylighting of Tibbetts Brook. This initiative aims to restore natural water flow, reduce flooding, and improve water quality in the Bronx.
🎒 What to Bring:

Plenty of water and a snack.
A hat and sunscreen.
An extra pair of socks.

🔧 We Provide:

Waders and gloves.
Necessary equipment.
Guidance and support.

🤝 Get Involved: No previous experience is required. Just bring your enthusiasm for environmental conservation and be ready to make a difference!
RSVP Now.

New Location! Bronx Arts Ensemble and Composers Now Collaboration: Dialogues
2024-07-13 14:00
NEW LOCATION!
Join Bronx Arts Ensemble and Composer Now for a FREE collaborative concert in the “Dialogues” series at the Van Cortlandt Golf House.
Visit Bronx Arts Ensemble website for more information.

Rowboating on the Mill Pond
2024-07-20 12:00 - 15:30
Village Community Boathouse is back with FREE rowboating on Hester and Piero’s Mill Pond. Rowboats for small groups will be available to paddle around the lake. Children must be accompanied by adults. First come first served.
Meet at the southern end of the Mill Pond- enter the park at Van Cortlandt Park South and Bailey Avenue.
Saturdays July 20 and August 3
12pm to 3:30pm

Bronx Arts Ensemble Woodwind Quintet
2024-07-20 14:00 - 15:00
A FREE concert called Symbiosis by Bronx Art Ensemble’s Woodwind Quintet on the Van Cortlandt House Museum Lawn. Interaction between nature and humans, meditations on animals and the environment, these themes have long been subjects of profound reflection and artistic expression.
Visit Bronx Arts Ensemble’s website for more information.

50s to 80s Pop Hits with Odane Whilby & Band
2024-07-27 14:00 - 15:00
Come join Bronx Arts Ensemble on the Van Cortlandt House Museum Lawn for an electrifying FREE performance featuring BAE teaching artist Odane Whilby and his band. Get set to sway to the timeless tunes of the 50s to the 80s. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable musical experience in the park!
Visit Bronx Arts Ensemble website for more information.

Forest Fridays in August
2024-08-02 09:00 - 12:00
🌳 What: Forest Restoration in the Northwest Forest
📅 When: Fridays in August
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Where: Van Cortlandt Park – Garden & Compost Site
Description:
Join us for our Forest Friday events this August! We will be focusing on removing invasive species like porcelain berry, bittersweet, mile-a-minute, Norway Maple and more. These activities are crucial in preserving the health and biodiversity of our forest.
Activities Include:

Invasive Species Removal: Help us eradicate invasive plants that threaten our native ecosystem.
Forest Restoration: Assist in the restoration of native plants and habitats.
Hands-on Activities: Engage in practical conservation efforts that make a real difference.

What to Bring:

Long sleeves and pants
Sturdy shoes
Water and snacks
Enthusiasm for environmental conservation!

RSVP Now!

NEW LOCATION: Respect|Extract BAE String Quartet
2024-08-03 14:00 - 15:00
Due to this weekend’s forecast for heavy rains, the concert has been moved to an indoor location:
Parish Hall at Christ Church Riverdale
5040 Henry Hudson Parkway East, Bronx, NY 10471
A FREE Concert by the Bronx Arts Ensemble String Quartet. Respect|Extract explores human interaction between land/air/sea and our various interpretations.
Visit the Bronx Arts Ensemble website for more information.

Monday Morning Clean Ups
2024-08-05 09:00 - 12:00
Nice weekends bring lots of visitors to the park. Lots of visitors make a mess!
Volunteers are needed to help park staff tidy up.
Help Van Cortlandt Park staff clean up after weekend picnicking.
We provide gloves and materials to help keep this park in tip-top shape.
You provide can-do spirit and sturdy shoes for walking!
Note: There will be no Monday CleanUps on 9/2 or 10/14.
Meet at 9 am at southern end of the Van Cortlandt Golf House.
RSVP Now.

Fairy Garden Workshop
2024-08-12 10:00 - 12:00
Monday, August 12th – 10-12 pm
Do you believe in magic? Do you believe in fairies and other enchanted creatures? You can invite them into your home with a magical fairy garden!
In this workshop, a child and accompanying adult will create a fairy terrarium garden with a live plant to take home. All materials will be provided.
Get Your Tickets!

Woodlawn Restoration Wednesdays
2024-08-14 09:00 - 12:00
Join us in the Northeast Woods to combat invasive species and prepare for fall planting. Meet us at Woodlawn Playground by the handball courts at 9 AM for a rewarding morning of ecological restoration.
Event Highlights:

Date: Every Wednesday in August and September.
Time: 9 AM – 12 PM
Meeting Location: Woodlawn Playground by the handball courts, walk to restoration site at 9:10am (so don’t be late)
Activities: Removing invasive species like multi-flora rose, porcelain berry, and angelica.
What to Wear: Sturdy shoes, protective clothing, sunscreen, and bug spray. Bring water.

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 complete this form to schedule a separate event.

New Date: Canine Court Volunteer Clean Up
2024-08-14 16:00 - 18:00
NYC Parks staff does not perform daily maintenance inside dog runs.
Daily maintenance is up to volunteers- like YOU!
Join us for an evening 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.

Canine Court Volunteer Clean Ups
2024-08-21 16:00 - 18:00
Wednesdays 8/21, 8/28 and 9/4 from 4-6pm
NYC Parks staff does not perform daily maintenance inside dog runs.
Daily maintenance is up to volunteers- like YOU!
Join us for an evening 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.

Post Labor Day Morning Clean Up
2024-09-03 09:00 - 12:00
Labor Day weekend bring lots of visitors to the park. Lots of visitors make a mess!
Volunteers are needed to help park staff tidy up.
Help Van Cortlandt Park staff clean up after this popular picnicking holiday.
We provide gloves and materials to help keep this park in tip-top shape.
You provide can-do spirit and sturdy shoes for walking!
Meet at 9 am at southern end of the Van Cortlandt Golf House.
RSVP Now.

Post Labor Day Afternoon Clean Up
2024-09-03 14:00 - 16:00
Labor Day weekend bring lots of visitors to the park. Lots of visitors make a mess!
Volunteers are needed to help park staff tidy up.
Help Van Cortlandt Park staff clean up after this popular picnicking holiday.
We provide gloves and materials to help keep this park in tip-top shape.
You provide can-do spirit and sturdy shoes for walking!
Meet at 12pm at VCPA’s Garden & Compost Site. Enter the park at Broadway and Mosholu Ave.
RSVP Now.

Chalk Art Fest
2024-09-05 16:00 - 19:00
FREE street chalk drawing event led by Ghana-born, Bronx artist Tijay Mohammed.
Create temporary art inspired by Adinkra and Uli symbols of West Africa, which adopt the spirit of the human body using basic geometric and abstract shapes, animals, and floral designs. Adinkra and Uli symbols promote healing while capturing joy, love, freedom, hope, pride, beauty, wisdom, strength, leadership, womanhood, and power.
In honor of the ancestors, the event will be held in front of the Enslaved African & Kingsbridge Burial Grounds, located behind the Tennis Courts. Parking is available in the Van Cortlandt Golf Lot and Broadway.

Caribeando Music and Dance Workshops with Juan Usera and the Sambuco Tribe
2024-09-07 13:00 - 15:00
This community interactive workshop series featuring Juan Usera and the Sambuco Tribe introduces the traditional genres of Bomba and Plena. Participants will learn Bomba and Plena dances, drum patterns, piquetes (dance improvisation), and songs.
Workshops will be held on Saturdays, September 7 and 21st from 1 to 3pm next to the Enslaved African & Kingsbridge Burial Ground behind the Tennis Courts.
Parking is available in the Van Cortlandt Golf Lot. No driving inside the park allowed.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.

Monday Afternoon Clean Ups
2024-09-09 14:00 - 16:00
Nice weekends bring lots of visitors to the park. Lots of visitors make a mess!
Volunteers are needed to help park staff tidy up.
Help Van Cortlandt Park staff clean up after weekend picnicking.
We provide gloves and materials to help keep this park in tip-top shape.
You provide can-do spirit and sturdy shoes for walking!
Note: There will be no Monday CleanUps on 9/2.
Meet at 2pm at VCPA’s Garden & Compost Site. Enter the park at Broadway and Mosholu Ave.
RSVP Now.

Birding with NYC Bird Alliance
2024-09-14 09:00 - 10:30
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.
Events are on Saturdays meeting at 9am on the following dates:

September 14th
September 28th
October 12th (World Migratory Bird Day)
October 26th
November 9th

Note: We do not provide binoculars and suggest that attendees bring their own.
RSVP Now.
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.
Photo by Jack Rothman

The Aeolian Trio Concert
2024-09-14 14:00 - 15:30
The Aeolian Trio Concert
Saturday, September 14, 2024
2pm to 3:30pm
Van Cortlandt House Museum Lawn
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance presents The Aeolian Trio as part of their 3-week US tour.
Original compositions for shakuhachi flute, acoustic guitar, and Uduboo drum, an African Ud made from bamboo.
The shakuhachi, a Japanese traditional bamboo flute that is rooted in Zen Buddhism, meets the guitar, a Spanish folk instrument that became a giant of jazz, rock, and pop. In ancient times, the shakuhachi was carried from the Middle East to Japan on the fabled Silk Road. Meanwhile, the guitar springs from flamenco and Renaissance traditions, and has antecedents in the Middle Eastern Oud. These seemingly disparate traditions separated by two continents spring from the same cradle of civilization.
Now, centuries later, in California, Tokyo, and New York, Japanese guitarist Kôfû Suwa and shakuhachi master Bruce Huebner join New York-based percussionist Todd Isler to reunite these ancient traditions and bring them into the 21st century. In their concert, we hear how the melisma and phrygian Spanish mode is answered by the nuances of the Japanese miyako mode of the Zen bamboo flute, and how the rich rhythmic traditions of South and Central Asia underpin the fusion.

RSVP Suggested.

Pathways to the Past: Enslaved African Legacy Tour
2024-09-18 18:00 - 19:00
Join VCPA’s Arts Integration Strategist, Ashley Hart Adams, on a guided walk that will enlighten participants on the true history that shaped Van Cortlandt Park.
For approximately 200 years, the Van Cortlandt family plantation relied upon the labor of enslaved people, as did many plantations and farms in the north. Enslaved Africans, their descendants, and Indigenous people were vital to colonial New York’s economy–growing, harvesting, milling, packing, and shipping the wheat that would be a staple export out of New York harbor. This tour will stop at several sites within the park that are daily reminders of their labor and lasting legacy.
This walk will be approximately 1 hour long and will include uneven surfaces so please wear appropriate shoes.
RSVP Required.

Caribeando Music and Dance Workshops with Juan Usera and the Sambuco Tribe
2024-09-21 13:00 - 15:00
This community interactive workshop series featuring Juan Usera and the Sambuco Tribe introduces the traditional genres of Bomba and Plena. Participants will learn Bomba and Plena dances, drum patterns, piquetes (dance improvisation), and songs.
Workshops will be held on Saturdays, September 7 and 21st from 1 to 3pm next to the Enslaved African & Kingsbridge Burial Ground behind the Tennis Courts.
Parking is available in the Van Cortlandt Golf Lot. No driving inside the park allowed.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.
RSVP Suggested.

Tree Planting for Climate Week
2024-09-28 09:00 - 12:00
🌳 What: Tree Planting for Climate Week in the Northwest Forest
📅 When: Saturday, September 28th
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Where: Van Cortlandt Park – Garden & Compost Site
Description:
Join us for a planting event in the Northwest Forest. These activities are crucial in preserving the health and biodiversity of our forest.
Activities Include:

Invasive Species Removal: Help us eradicate invasive plants that threaten our native ecosystem.
Tree Planting: Help us get new trees in the ground as the fall season begins.

What to Bring:

Long sleeves and pants
Sturdy shoes
Water and snacks
Enthusiasm for environmental conservation!

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 complete this form to schedule a separate event.

Rising NYRR at the Cross Country Course #1
2024-09-29 10:00 - 11:00
Kids of all ages and abilities can experience the joys of cross country running in Van Cortlandt Park!
Registration for this event is FREE and open to participants ages 2 to 18 of all abilities.
Every finisher will receive a New Balance souvenir.
Hosted by VCPA supporter, New York Road Runners.
