Nature & animals in New York City
24 listed across 21 neighborhoods. Ages, schedule, and price up front - we link out to each provider.
Neighborhoods with nature & animals
Alley Pond Environmental Center
nature/animal · Douglaston
AgesPrograms from 18 months through age 14 (early childhood 18 months–4; summer drop-off 6–14; ages 2–5 with adult)
ScheduleBuilding typically Mon–Fri 9 am–4:30 pm; weekends 9 am–1 pm; trails dawn to dusk
PriceParking and entrance free; suggested donation $5 per person
Bronx Zoo Children's Programs
nature/animal · Bronx
AgesZoo Explorers and Discovery Girls ages 8–12
ScheduleDrop-off Zoo Explorers on select Saturdays/Sundays 9:30 am–12:00 pm; Discovery Girls multi-session Sundays
PriceZoo Explorers $60 non-member / $48 member; Discovery Girls series $120 non-member / $96 member
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Kids & Families
nature/animal · Prospect Heights
AgesChildren's Garden classes ages 2–13; Discovery Garden for kids of all ages
ScheduleDrop-in Discovery Garden; Fall First Discoveries Wednesdays & Fridays; Children's Garden class series spring/fall/summer
PriceSeeds (ages 4–5) Friday $280 nonmember/$255 member; Saturday $350/$325 (7 sessions) — see class page for all fees
Brooklyn Bridge Park Environmental Education Center
nature/animal · Brooklyn Heights
AgesEarly Nature Experiences ages 2–4 when offered; Open Hours all ages
ScheduleOpen Hours Thursdays and Fridays 3–5 pm; Saturdays and Sundays 1–5 pm (2026 season preview)
PricePublic Open Hours free
Central Park Zoo Children's Programs
nature/animal · Upper East Side
AgesJunior Keepers K–2 and 3–5; Intro to ZooKeeping grades 6–8
ScheduleSelect Saturdays and Sundays 9:00–10:30 am
Price$65 non-member / $52 member
Greenbelt Nature Center
nature/animal · Mid-Island
AgesMini Camp, Peepers, and Tree Tots for youngest naturalists; school programs PreK–12
ScheduleApril–November Tue–Sun 10 am–5 pm; November–March Wed–Sun 11 am–5 pm
PriceFree admission to nature center (confirm current programs; SI Greenbelt)
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Junior Rangers
nature/animal · Queens
Ages4–14 (Junior Rangers 7–14; Junior Junior Rangers 4–6)
ScheduleSelf-guided Junior Ranger activity booklet; ranger-led kids/family programs on NPS events calendar; Visitor Center Friday–Monday 10 am–4 pm (NPS plan-ahead page)
PriceNo park entrance fee; Junior Ranger Birding Buddies and similar ranger events listed free when offered
New York Aquarium Children Programs
nature/animal · Coney Island
AgesJunior Keepers ages 8–11
ScheduleSelect Saturdays 8:30–10:00 am
Price$40 non-member / $32 member
New York Botanical Garden Children's Education
nature/animal · Bronx
AgesNature Explorers ages 2–3; seasonal camps ages 4–13; Garden Sprouts ages 3–5; Garden Crafters ages 6–12
ScheduleDrop-in family programs in Adventure Garden and Edible Academy; registered seasonal camps and gardening classes
PriceGarden Sprouts $225 non-member / $202.50 member per season section (example winter/spring rates on site)
Park Pals at Floyd Bennett Field
nature/animal · Brooklyn
AgesPark Pals designed for children ages 0–6 and caregivers
ScheduleMonthly Sunday sessions about 10–11:30 am at The Nest, Floyd Bennett Field (check JBRPC kids/families calendar)
PriceJamaica Bay Riding & Polo Club kids/family events — check listing; many JBRPC kids programs free or donation (confirm event page)
Prospect Park Zoo Family Programs
nature/animal · Prospect Heights
AgesAll ages (children must be accompanied by an adult)
ScheduleSeasonal family events (e.g. Family Fall Fest, Spring Fling); Conservation Kids Activities in summer
PriceFamily Fall Fest / Spring Fling $20 non-member / $16 member
Queens Zoo Family Programs
nature/animal · Corona
Ages2+ with caregiver
ScheduleEvening family programs on select Saturdays (e.g. 5–8 pm pajama story time style events)
Price$36 non-member / $30 member (one ticket covers one caregiver and one child)
Staten Island Zoo
nature/animal · West Brighton
AgesChildren 3–14 admission category; under 14 must be accompanied by an adult
ScheduleWinter hours 10 am–4 pm (last entry 3:15 pm) effective November 1
PriceAdults $12; seniors $9; children 3–14 $8; members and children 2 & under free
Wave Hill Children and Families
nature/animal · Riverdale
AgesFamily Art Project suited for children and their families; storytime all ages
ScheduleFamily Art Project most Saturdays and Sundays 10 am–1 pm; storytime 11:30 am first and third Saturdays
PriceFamily Art Project free with admission; storytime free drop-in
Blue Heron Nature Center
nature/animal · Tottenville
ScheduleUrban Park Rangers kids and family events on the park calendar (nature games, science fair, birding, family camping)
PriceListed Urban Park Rangers events free
Clay Pit Ponds Interpretive Center
nature/animal · Staten Island
AgesTot Time ages 0–5; Nature Explorers ages 5–12; all-ages hikes also listed
ScheduleInterpretive Center Tuesday–Saturday 9 am–4:30 pm; Sundays 12–4:30 pm; Tot Time and Nature Explorers on NY State Parks events calendar
PriceAll programs free of charge; children must be accompanied by an adult
Hudson River Park Discovery Tank
nature/animal · Chelsea
AgesScience Saturdays recommended ages 3+ with adult supervision; Guided Gallery for all ages
ScheduleYear-round public programming at Pier 57; Guided Gallery hours and Science Saturdays on park events calendar
PriceDiscovery Tank free for the public; Guided Gallery and Science Saturdays free
Inwood Hill Nature Center
nature/animal · Inwood
ScheduleSaturdays and Sundays 10 am–noon and 1–3 pm; kid-friendly ranger activities on park events calendar
PriceUrban Park Rangers events free
Orchard Beach Nature Center
nature/animal · Pelham Bay
ScheduleSeasonal Urban Park Rangers kids and family programs including seal explorations and shoreline walks on Parks events calendar
PriceUrban Park Rangers events free
Prospect Park Audubon Center
nature/animal · Flatbush
ScheduleSaturday and Sunday 10 am–1 pm; also open public school holidays; Animal Encounter and weekend nature exploration on calendar
PriceFree public programming
Queens Botanical Garden Kids Programs
nature/animal · Flushing
AgesGarden Buds ages 2–3; Children’s Garden Pre-K–5th; Junior Naturalists entering 6th–9th
ScheduleSeasonal multi-week sessions (fall Sundays listed for Children’s Garden and Garden Buds); summer sessions also offered
PriceFall Children’s Garden $400 non-member / $380 Family+ member; Garden Buds $150 non-member / $142.50 Family+ member (need-based scholarships available)
Queens County Farm Museum
nature/animal · Floral Park
AgesFarm Camp ages 5–12; Bug Buddies ages 3–10; school programs Pre-K–12
ScheduleGrounds open daily 10 am–5 pm year-round (except special admission days/holidays)
PriceFree general admission most days (354 days/year); fees on ticketed event days and for registered school/org groups
Salt Marsh Nature Center
nature/animal · Marine Park
ScheduleSaturdays and Sundays 10 am–noon and 1–3 pm; ranger-led birding and family camping on event calendar
PriceUrban Park Rangers events free; family camping via lottery
Van Cortlandt Nature Center
nature/animal · Riverdale
ScheduleUrban Park Rangers nature programs on NYC Parks events calendar
PriceFree Urban Park Rangers nature center / park programs (NYC Parks)