Volunteers will meet by the Park House, near Center Blvd. & Borden Ave.

Please bring your own pair of gloves if you have one. You should also bring your own water bottle, wear a mask, comfortable clothing, and closed toed shoes. All volunteers must have also completed HPPC's volunteer waiver.

Once you arrive, those who need them will be given a pair of gloves and you will be directed to an area to pull weeds. Please email info@hunterspointparks.org with any questions or concerns.

Please register on our Signup here.

Explore the fascinating world of microscopic tardigrades (water bears) and their legendary survival skills! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll assemble a pre-cut cardboard shadowbox, create a vibrant watercolor background, and draw and paint your own science-inspired mini scene. Wrap up by framing your masterpiece as a whimsical shadowbox collage.

Join scientific illustrator Monica Schroeder for an adults-only, beginner-friendly shadowbox collage workshop celebrating the wonders of microfauna—especially the nearly indestructible tardigrade!

Kick off with a lively mini-presentation packed with quirky and astonishing tardigrade science, then dive into painting, drawing, cutting, and gluing your own whimsical shadowbox inspired by these curious creatures.

We’ll even have a microscope set up—if luck’s on our side, you might spot real tardigrades swimming in moss samples collected from our very own park!

Monica will be available for individualized guidance and feedback.

All materials are provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own supplies if you prefer:

• Colored Markers

• Watercolors

• Cardboard box

• Mats to frame your box

Come for the science, stay for the art—or simply to meet your neighbors! This free community class is a great way to connect, create, and uncover the hidden lives of microfauna in a fun, hands-on setting.

Children aged 14 or older must be accompanied by a guardian.

Taught by Monica Schroeder, scientific illustrator & kayaker

www.artistmonicaschroeder.com

Please register for this on our Eventbrite.

Join us on Saturday, May 2nd for I Love My Park Day! We will be volunteering together with people from throughout NY State, helping with weeding and mulching beds throughout the park, hand cleaning playground equipment, planting drought-tolerant annuals in the park's planters, and helping to apply wood sealant to benches.

Volunteers will start at 9am in Gantry Plaza, and the event is open to all ages and experience levels. We will end our day at around 12PM.

This event is being run by New York State Parks in conjunction with Parks and Trails New York and Hunters Point Parks Conservancy. You can sign up to volunteer at Gantry Plaza State Park here.

If you would like to join an event outside of Long Island City, please view the interactive map to find an event near you!

Please join us on Thursday, April 30th for another Queens Landing Open House at our Environmental Center from 2:30-4:30PM.

We will have crafts, activities, and be showcasing our beautiful animals from the Newtown Creek!

Join scientific illustrator Monica Schroeder for an adult, beginner-friendly watercolor workshop exploring the fascinating world of fungi and mushrooms.

We’ll begin with a brief presentation featuring fun facts about fungi, an introduction to color theory, and practical tips for drawing and watercolors. Then we’ll move into a step-by-step paint-along session—perfect for complete beginners and a welcome warm-up for more experienced painters.

After the guided portion, you’ll have plenty of time to relax and paint at your own pace, with Monica available for individualized guidance and feedback.

All materials are provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own supplies if you prefer:

• Watercolor paper

• Paints & watercolor pencils

• Mixing palettes

• Brushes

• Fineliner markers

Come discover the surprising science of fungi while building your watercolor skills.

Children aged 14 or older must be accompanied by a guardian.

Taught by Monica Schroeder, scientific illustrator & kayaker
www.artistmonicaschroeder.com

Please register for this on our Eventbrite.

Microbes live all around us but have you ever seen the ones that live in your local park? Join us at Hunter’s Point Park Conservancy’s Queens Landing Boathouse to learn more about the bacteria and fungi living in the park environment and how they could be sampled as we take a leisurely walk through the park. After the walk participants will have a chance to view examples of colonies formed on agar from the park under a stereo-microscope and can play with agar plates and samples taken from the park during the walk. Those plates will then be incubated at the local community biology lab, Biotech Without Borders, and photographs will be distributed after growth occurs in a couple weeks.

Danny Chan (he/they) is a microbiologist and community organizer who is passionate about frugal and open science. After various experiences as a lab technician he obtained his M.Sc during the course of a PhD in infectious disease microbiology. He then worked as a fact-checker for pharmaceutical ads and as an instructor in informal science spaces. In 2021 he was a Global Community Biosummit Fellow and in 2023 he was a Open Life Science Fellow. Danny is excited to teach folks hands-on lessons about the possibilities of building more just and equitable technologies through understanding and respecting microbial life. He is a member of the local community biology lab in Long Island City: Biotech Without Borders.

We will meet at the Queens Landing Boathouse & Environmental Center and then go on a brief walk through the park.

Please register for this on our Eventbrite.

Join us for a cleanup of our restored saltwater marshes!

For more details and sign up, please click here.

Join us on Saturday, April 18th from 5-6PM for a bird walk with seasoned birder and naturalist, Gabriel Willlow!

We will meet at the Oval in Hunter’s Point South Park (at the intersection of Borden Ave and Center Blvd.) and take a walk through the park. Bring your own binoculars if you have them!

Please register on our Eventbrite.

Rockin’ with Rockweed: Up close and personal with New York City’s brown macroalgae.
Rockweed (Fucus spp.) is a brown seaweed that occurs in many rocky shorelines of NYC and throughout the northeastern U.S. However, there is little known about this seaweed that lines the jetties and provides habitat for smaller marine life. This two-hour workshop aims for participants to get up close and personal with this seaweed by going to sites to collect them or see them in their natural habitat. Participants can also have the option of making herbarium art out of the rockweed by setting up the herbarium press on-site, bringing them home, and seeing the results one week later. This workshop is a collaboration between Hunters Point Park Conservancy (HPPC) and Biotech without Borders (BwoB).

About the workshopper

As a marine biologist by training, Lowell Iporac (he/they) specializes in seaweed ecology in tropical areas, and moving to NYC brings many opportunities to apply that research to coldwater, urban settings. Since then, Lowell has shared his expertise to both college and high school students in formal classroom settings such as NYU and Manhattan University and informal settings such as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Bronx Zoo. Lowell’s passion for teaching is driven by the initiative for communities to gain a better understanding of how our ecosystems work and address the challenges to environmental and social justice.

Please register for this on our Eventbrite.

Join us for a walk in the park to learn about our wetland grasses!

This walk and talk will begin at the Queens Landing Boathouse & Environmental Center. Hunters Point Parks Conservancy executive director, Jessica Sechrist, and environmental educator, Serina Griffin, will then lead the walk to our restored salt water marsh and teach about native grasses and NYC wetlands.

We will go over ecology, historical wetlands in NYC, and hopefully do some seining in the marshes!

Please register for this walk on our Eventbrite.

Bees, Beetles & Butterflies: Create Illustrated Bookmarks

*This class is for teens and adults!*

Celebrate the beauty and importance of pollinators in this relaxed, hands-on art workshop on April 8, 6–8 PM.

In this unique class, you’ll learn about bees, butterflies, beetles, and other beneficial insects while creating your own set of illustrated bookmarks using watercolor, marker, and ink. Your finished artwork will be cut into four bookmarks, mounted on decorative paper, and optionally finished with ribbon—perfect to keep or share as gifts.

The session begins with a short, engaging introduction to pollinators, followed by a brief watercolor warm-up before you dive into your own creative process. You’ll tape, paint, cut, and assemble your pieces step-by-step in a supportive, fun environment.

Led by watercolor artist and scientific illustrator Monica Schroeder, this class is ideal for beginners and experienced artists alike.

Materials: All materials will be provided.

Come learn, create, and leave with something beautiful—and useful!

Please register for this on our Eventbrite.

Please join us on Thursday, March 26th for another Queens Landing Open House at our Environmental Center from 2:30-4:30PM.

We will have crafts, activities, and be showcasing our beautiful animals from the Newtown Creek!

You can register for this on our Eventbrite.

Meet at the Overlook in Hunter's Point South Park (56th Ave & Center Blvd) to view the night sky with the Hunter's Point Parks Conservancy and astronomer Novaughn Miller. We will be looking at various night sky objects such as the moon, Saturn, and constellations.

We will be out in the park from 6:00-10:00PM - please stop by!

For more details and registration please visit our Eventbrite.

Join us for a brief overview of basic astronomy concepts and star knowledge storytelling at the Queens Landing Boathouse & Environmental Center.

Stay tuned for our Eventbrite link!

Join us for a free art class hosted by Hunter's Point Parks Conservancy in partnership with Art instructor Donna Levinstone. This class will focus on watercolor lighthouse painting!

We will meet at the Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center at 6:00PM.

All ages are welcome :)

You can register on our Eventbrite.

Join us on the evening of March 5th at the Queens Landing Boathouse & Environmental Center for a speaker talk from Harris Moore for a presentation about the NY Artificial Reef Program, its benefits to the local ecology, and the specifics of the Prudence Ferry Project. 

Register on our Eventbrite.

We will meet at the Queens Landing Boathouse & Environmental Center and then take a walk through the park! The walk is from 11AM-12PM.

Walk will be led by HPPC staff member and environmental educator Serina Griffin.

We will talk about winter plants, animals, and other features of the park! We will end at the Oval in Hunter's Point South Park (at the intersection of Center Blvd. and Borden Ave.).

Register for this on our Eventbrite.

Please join us on Wednesday, February 26th for another Queens Landing Open House at our Environmental Center from 2:30-4:30PM.

We will have crafts, activities, and be showcasing our beautiful animals from the Newtown Creek!

You can register on our Eventbrite.

Watercolor Winter Birds: An Art & Science Workshop

with Hunters Point Park Conservancy & North Brooklyn Community Boathouse

Did you know that some birds live in New York City year-round, while others migrate here just for the winter? Join us for a relaxed, adult-focused program that blends fascinating bird science with an encouraging, hands-on drawing & watercolor lesson.

In this class, you'll learn the basics of observing and drawing birds, then transform your sketches into a finished watercolor painting. Through a series of short, follow-along demonstrations, you'll be introduced to skills useful for sketching from nature, keeping a nature journal, or beginning a more in-depth watercolor practice focused on birds.

Adults and teens (accompanied by an adult) are welcome.

Register on our Eventbrite.

Scientific illustrator Monica Schroeder will guide you through:

• Sketching birds in multiple positions

• A brief, artist-friendly overview of bird anatomy

• Watercolor fundamentals and brush techniques

• Using color (instead of black) to create light and shadow

• The "mother color" technique for a more natural, cohesive look

After the guided lessons, you'll have time to work on your own individual project with personalized support.

All materials are provided, though participants are welcome to bring their own supplies if preferred.

Materials include:

• Watercolor paints, palettes, and brushes

• Watercolor and/or mixed-media paper

• Drawing tools

We’ll provide printed reference materials, or you’re welcome to use your phone or tablet to view reference images.

Presented by art instructor and scientific illustrator Monica Schroeder.

SPACE IS LIMITED: YOU MUST BE REGISTERED

This event will take place at the Queens Landing Boathouse & Environmental Center.

 Contact monbertkayak@gmail.com with questions.

Join us for a free winter art class hosted by Hunter's Point Parks Conservancy in partnership with Art instructor Donna Levinstone. This class will focus on winter tree charcoal drawing!

We will meet at the Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center at 5:30PM.

You can register for this on our Eventbrite.

Please join us on Wednesday, January 29th for another Queens Landing Open House at our Environmental Center from 2:30-4:30PM.

We will have crafts, activities, and be showcasing our beautiful animals from the Newtown Creek!

You can register on our Eventbrite.

Hunters Point South Park is once again selected as a MulchFest 2026 site for chipping! 

Mulchfest is a yearly NYC holiday tradition of recycling your Christmas tree. You can bring your Christmas tree to our site anytime between Dec. 26 and January 11th. 

Your tree will be chipped and made into mulch. The mulch will be available on January 10th and 11th from 10AM to 2PM for you to come and grab!

To find a local Mulchfest site, please visit nyc.gov/mulchfest or by calling 311.

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy will be tabling, we look forward to seeing you there!

Hunters Point South Park is once again selected as a MulchFest 2026 site for chipping! 

Mulchfest is a yearly NYC holiday tradition of recycling your Christmas tree. You can bring your Christmas tree to our site anytime between Dec. 26 and January 11th. 

Your tree will be chipped and made into mulch. The mulch will be available on January 10th and 11th from 10AM to 2PM for you to come and grab!

To find a local Mulchfest site, please visit nyc.gov/mulchfest or by calling 311.

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy will be tabling, we look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for a guided tour of the waterfront led by Jessica Sechrist from Hunters Point Parks Conservancy and Angela Stangenberg from NYS Parks. We'll meet at the plaza in the northern end of Gantry Plaza State Park (where Anable Basin meets the East River, close to the intersection of Center Blvd and N. Basin Road: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GqCV5n8nUEGGwzSv8).

We'll walk through Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunter's Point South Park, discussing their history, ecology, environmental impact, and role in the community, and end at the Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center for light refreshments to toast the New Year.

Please register on our Eventbrite.

Join us for a fun winter craft! We will be making snowy owl figurines with real pine cones.

Join us at the Queens Landing Boathouse & Environmental Center for a fun winter craft!

All materials are provided and all ages are welcome!

Please register on our Eventbrite.

Please join us on Wednesday, December 17th for another Queens Landing Open House at our Environmental Center from 2:30-4:30PM.

We will have crafts, activities, and be showcasing our beautiful animals from the Newtown Creek!

You can register on our Eventbrite.

Hunters Point Park Inspired Watercolor Bookmarks

Unwind and explore your creativity in this beginner-friendly, guided art class designed for adults. You’ll start by dividing watercolor paper into four sections to create one continuous image—then separate them into unique bookmarks. Add your personal touch using watercolors, markers, or pencils, line the backs with decorative paper, and finish with an optional ribbon accent.

As you paint, you’ll be inspired by the natural beauty of Hunter’s Point Park and the nearby Newtown Creek. Discover its tranquil origins during the Lenape era, the environmental changes brought by European settlement, and the ongoing restoration efforts shaping its bright future. Learn simple, actionable ways to protect this vital waterway while celebrating its rich history and wildlife.

SPACE IS LIMITED: YOU MUST BE REGISTERED

*CLASS FOR ADULTS!*

Guided by artist Monica Schroeder.
No prior art experience needed—just bring your curiosity and love of nature!

All materials provided, including:

• Watercolors

• Watercolor pencils

• Brushes

• Watercolor paper

• Watercolor markers

Register on our Eventbrite.

Please join us on Thursday, November 20th for another Queens Landing Open House at our Environmental Center from 2:30-4:30PM.

We will have crafts, activities, and be showcasing our beautiful animals from the Newtown Creek!

You can register on our Eventbrite.

Join us for free Watercolors on the Waterfront classes hosted by Hunter's Point Parks Conservancy in partnership with Art instructor Donna Levinstone. This class will focus on autumn still life painting!

We will meet at the Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center at 5:30PM.

You can register for this on our Eventbrite.

This activity will include using vegetables and fruit and paint to stamp the structures of different types of plankton! This is a great way for students to learn more about zooplankton and phytoplankton that are present in NYC water bodies.

Hudson River Park Trust has created an activity sheet for this lesson that can be seen here: https://hudsonriverpark.org/the-park/parks-river-project/science/stem-lessons-and-activities/plankton-stamps/.

We will meet at the Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center- all materials provided!

You can register for this on our Eventbrite.