PROGRAMS

The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park serves approximately 3,500 children and adults through its comprehensive programming each year. The goals of the FVCP programs are to encourage the use of the Park as an educational resource and to promote environmental stewardship amongst families and young people.  The Friends offer programs in the following areas:

I. Volunteer Programs

Are you interested in volunteering with the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park?  If so please visit our new webpage for volunteers.  All individuals who are interested in volunteering with us must register there first and then they can sign up for our volunteer events.  Any groups who would like to register please contact us- please do not use the webpage for volunteers.

Trails Restoration Crew

The Friends, in partnership with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, is currently seeking 12-20 individuals interested in developing critical skills focused on clearing, improving, and maintaining high quality trails for the Bronx community. These individuals will have the opportunity to work along side trails professionals, learning techniques for stone working, trail construction, and sustainable design. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned veteran, all can develop a tool kit in trail construction and maintenance while shaping the future of Van Cortlandt Park. 

Forest Restoration Volunteer Events

The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park have adopted the forests that transect the John Muir Nature Trail, John Kieran Trail and the Croton Extension Trail of Van Cortlandt Park. Each spring and fall, during our Forest Restoration Volunteer Days, volunteers help to clear the trail and to re-establish the paths by removing invasive plants, and planting native trees and shrubs. 

Compost/ Community Gardening

For many years, the Friends have developed and maintained a compost site. For the first time, the compost site and garden will be made available to the public and to volunteers so that they can participate in various gardening projects and programs.

Corporate Volunteer Days

For a $500 donation, the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park will provide a 1-day, 3-hour volunteer event for up to 30 people that is tailored to your employees and schedule.  Volunteers will have the chance to help with either a trail or forest restoration project in the Park.  FVCP will plan and manage the logistics of your project and provide gloves,  tools and supervision.  Included in this donation is a $500 corporate membership at our Patron Level.  Click here for more information and a Corporate Membership form.

Any corporation requesting a group larger than 30 people will be charged $50 for each increment of 10 additional people.

CANCELLATION NOTE: Since this is a donation to FVCP, there are no refunds for cancellations.  Alternate dates may be possible.  Business membership status will remain active.

Contact Sara Kempton at sara@vancortlandt.org or 718-601-1460 for more information on our Volunteer Programs.

II. Non School Hour Programs

Summer Teen Program

Started in 1992, the Friends' flagship Summer Teen Program is an example of what young people can do if they are given a chance. Over the past fourteen years, the Summer Teen Program has brought over 600 teenagers into the Park for internships. The teens have helped preserve and protect the Park by doing a variety of tasks including trail building, brochure design, native species planting, and lake monitoring. In the process, they have grown and become better park stewards. During the Summer of 2011, the Friends had a crew of 13 high school students, 3 hired by the Friends, 4 NYC Summer Youth Employment Program participants and 6 students from the Bronx High School of Law and Finance, maintained the Croton Extension Trail, the John Muir Nature Trail, the Friends Compost Site/ Garden and the Van Cortlandt House Museum Grounds.

Environmental Internship

The Environmental Internship, in partnership with the Riverdale Neighborhood House, provides high school students with the opportunity to take an active role in their environment. The program runs from November through June, with teens working every Friday (4:30 to 6pm) and alternating Saturdays (9:30am to 2:30pm) in Van Cortlandt Park.  Throughout the year, teens will learn many aspects of environmental education.  In the past topics covered have including tree and bird identification, water quality testing, forest ecology, composting fundamentals and trail maintenance.  With this basic knowlege, they then will develop and implement their own projects within the Park giving them the opportunity to focus on those aspects of the Park that interest them the most.

The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park are once again partnering with the Riverdale Neighborhood House to provide an Environmental Internship program for high school students.  Click here for an application which is due on October 17th, 2011.

Junior Naturalists Program

The Junior Naturalists program is an afterschool program that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the spring and fall for middle school students.  This fall, in lieu of Junior Naturalists we are doing a Garden Crew program for 6th-12th grade students that will meet on Tuesdays from 4-6pm starting on Tues. September 20th.  Visit our front page for more information.

III. Programs for Teachers

Environmental Explorations

The Friends are pleased to announce that our Teacher Workshop series will be offered again through the After School Professional Development  Program and in partnership with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Bronx River Alliance for P in-service credit in the Summer of 2011.  Information will be posted here in May.

IV. Programs for School Groups

Van Cortlandt Adventures

Bring your students to the fourth largest park in New York City, Van Cortlandt Park, for a truly unique educational experience in a beautiful natural setting. Our programs allow you to add 1,146 acres of wetlands, meadows, old growth forest and a lake to your classroom.  Whether you come once or several times, your students will have fun and learn the importance of preserving nature.

Forester for a Day

Two part program- First students will learn about the basics of forest ecology, including requirements for survival, habitats and the web of life. During the second visit, students will have an opportunity to plant trees and shrubs along the trail to help restore it. Program for 4th grade and up. Each visit is 1.5 to 2 hours. Spring and Fall only.

Nature Awareness

The sights, sounds, textures and scents of the woodlands and meadows are a wonderful experience for everyone. Let us introduce your students to the natural beauty that is Van Cortlandt Park as we hike through woodlands and wetlands along the John Kieran Trail. Program for 3rd grade and under. Program runs for 1 to 1.5 hours.

Freshwater Ecology

Your students will play the role of an aquatic biologist to determine just how healthy Van Cortlandt Lake is. We will test the pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and more of the lake. Then, using nets, students will collect insects and fish and examine them under microscopes.  The data collected will be compared with other students results to determine the status of the lake over time. Program for 3rd grade and up. Program runs for 1.5-2 hours. Spring, Summer and Fall only!

Take a Hike

Hike through the trails of Van Cortlandt Park with a knowledgeable tour guide. Tree identification, exotic and native wildlife and a little park history are just some of the topics of the tour. Bring walking shoes and water for this adventure in the park. Program for 6th grade and up. Programs runs for 1 to 3 hours. Year-round.