My husband is the type of man who could live in a forest, forage for berries, set up a tent and marvel at the miniature beings who roam our earth floor. And as long as he had a radio that could transmit the WFAN sports broadcast 24/7, I can say with complete certainty he’d plant himself there for all eternity.
Every opportunity where he can involve our kids in an impromptu nature walk or lesson is one my husband grabs by the reins and plows into full steam ahead.
And while I’ rather swim in a chlorinated pool than a natural body of water, and slip on a pair of Guess wedges than hiking boots, we’re still both tree-huggers and fully committed to instilling our kids with a love of all things green and eco-friendly.
When a friend of mine just regaled me with details of her eight-hour round trip to Lake George to go camping, much to her amazement, I told her she could’ve cut her traveling to a total of 60 minutes and set up a tent right here in New York City.
Imagine, in this concrete jungle of ours you can trek through a forest, sleep in a tent and, if necessary, hop in your car and be back in civilization in a matter of minutes.
So if you’re ready to experience the abundance of natural resources this great city of ours has to offer while the summer is still in full swing, keep reading for some great ways to get outdoors without schlepping to Yellowstone National Park.
Urban Park Rangers Weekend Adventures
Each weekend the Urban Park Rangers offer exciting Weekend Adventures in a park near you. These programs enable adults and families to experience the natural world in new and unexpected ways. The variety of these activities is as vast as the parks themselves. They include canoeing, fishing, hiking, biking, archery, camping, wildlife viewing, and astronomy, as well as special programs for kids and families. On a Weekend Adventure program you can immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature, discover our city’s diverse culture, and delve into our rich history, all for free. On an Urban Park Ranger program, adventure, discovery, and the natural world are only a few blocks away.
Family Camping
Camping affords parents the opportunity to unplug from the diversions of everyday life and to laugh and play with our families. The Urban Park Rangers celebrate the tradition of camping throughout the spring and summer, and they look forward to welcoming your family. Families can indulge in a unique urban, yet rustic camping experience at this local site which features picnic tables, a grill, fire ring, portable restrooms, lots of rugged natural space — and all in New York City! Sleeping outdoors in a tent, picking up a Junior Ranger activity booklet and earning a Junior Ranger badge and patch. Fishing, kayaking, biking, hiking, sailing, birding and the list goes on.
This camping experience is a good test-run for families curious about camping and whether they’re ready to do it on a grander scale. It gets kids into the natural rhythm of the earth, helps them recognize wildlife in the city and what they have to do to care for the earth.
Family Camping programs take place in all five boroughs, but space is limited and families are chosen by lottery. To enter your family in the lottery, visit their Urban Park Rangers Registration page. You must supply your own sleeping bag and bedding.
Canoeing
Few truly unique experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The rhythm of the waves, the sun on your face, and the exhilaration of slicing through the water, all add up to an experience you’ll never forget. Our trained Urban Park Rangers will lead you on canoe adventures that range from the gentle waters of protected lakes, to the challenging open waters of rivers and bays. On an Urban Park Ranger canoe program, you can go from novice to expert in one just one summer!
Most canoe programs are first-come, first-served, but a few require registration due to the level of difficulty. Advanced canoeing programs are for experienced canoers only. Children 8 years old and up are welcome. For registration programs, participants are chosen by lottery. To enter your name in the lottery, visit our Urban Park Rangers Registration page.
For the rest of the summer’s events check out the Urban Park Rangers Events Page!
Take a Wild foods tour in NYC! Get your kids Foraging! Learning about and harvesting wild foods. They’re free! This is the original Easter egg hunt, so kids love it. NYC’s Steve Brill’s tours and presentations feature a great diversity and abundance of common, renewable, seasonal edible and medicinal wild plants or mushrooms.
Stargaze with a Pocket Star Guide (Thanks to PBS Parents)
photo courtesy
With your child, research online or from a library book which stars, planets and constellations you can see in the sky at different times of year. Fill your pocket field guide with drawings of the stars, planets and constellations that you’d like to see in the night sky. Making your own pocket field guide is fun and easy – you can get the step by step instructions here. Then, head outside with your homemade field guide and see what you can find!
Try a Photo Scavenger Hunt (Thanks to Nature Rocks)
Make a list of items to photograph, such as: one kind of animal, two types of birds, four types of insects, five types of plants, etc., and head out to a nearby natural area to look for the items. When items are spotted, photograph them and check them off the list. When you get home, you can even print the best ones and hang them up! Worried that younger kids won’t treat a nice camera with care? Try purchasing a disposable camera instead.
Get tips for taking great nature photographs from the experts. For a challenge for older kids, have them develop the scavenger hunt list themselves by thinking about all the things that can be found in nature that they might see in the area where you’ll be going.Evidence suggests that if children grow up interacting with nature, they are more likely to develop a conservation ethic, volunteer, recycle and participate in outdoor recreation as an adult.
Or plan your own CAMPOUT! Get a blanket, go outdoors and tell stories, sing songs and of course eat marshmallows.
I love this concept. We live in Charlotte, NC – hardly the metropolis you live in – but still a busy city. There’s a place called McDowell Nature preserve that gives us the feel of being in the wilderness, with a lake, forest, trails, everything – and it’s 3 minutes from Target and a 24-hour grocery store.
I really love this idea! We’re in a mid-sized city ourselves, and it can get hectic. But there’s a nearby nature spot that gives us that peaceful, out-in-the-wild feeling — complete with trails, water, and woods — yet it’s just minutes away from all the city essentials.
I love how this post highlights the beauty of exploring nature with kids right in New York City – it’s amazing how much greenery you can find without leaving the city. It really reminds me of why photography is such a powerful way to capture these little adventures, and I recently read an inspiring piece on https://skylum.com/blog/national-photography-day that gave me fresh ideas for framing outdoor moments. Taking the time to notice the details – the way sunlight hits the leaves or the little critters kids spot – makes these outings even more memorable.
I absolutely love this idea! We live in a mid-sized city too, and life can feel pretty fast-paced and overwhelming at times. Thankfully, there’s a beautiful nature spot nearby that gives us the perfect escape peaceful trails, calming water views, and wooded areas that make it feel like you’re miles away from civilization. The best part is that it’s still only a few minutes from all the conveniences of the city, so you really get the best of both worlds.
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