Experiences
Explore Fort Wadsworth after sunset on our Lantern Tour! Rangers will lead you through the dark rooms and passages of Fort Tompkins. Along the way, you will learn about the history of the fort and some unusual stories that have taken place over the centuries. This unique opportunity will allow visitors to see Fort Tompkins in a whole new light! Spots are limited and reservations on Eventbrite are required. We will meet at the Visitor Center and then walk to Fort Tompkins. Contact 718-354-4500 for questions.
Join us for a tour around Fort Tompkins as we explore the fort and surrounding areas. Inclement weather will cancel this program. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring water. Call 718-354-4500 to make a reservation.
Discover information about the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the U.S. at the Sandy Hook Lighthouse Keepers Quarters
The Visitors Center, once New York City's first airport terminal, now houses a ranger desk, a bookstore, bathrooms, and many exhibits on the history of aviation, particularly here at Floyd Bennett Field, as well as exhibits about the ecosystems and flora and fauna of the New York Harbor area.
The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is the gateway to this 900-acre preserve, home to salt marshes, uplands, open bay and beach areas, and two man-made ponds, all supporting hundreds of species of plant and wildlife. The one story, flat-roofed building contains a ranger desk, colorful exhibits on the eco-system of the surrounding area, a classroom, a bookstore, wheelchair accessible bathrooms, water fountains, and tactile, hands-on nature exhibits. Restrooms are open when the visitor center is
Learn about one of the oldest military installations in the nation on the northeastern shore of Staten Island.
Outdoor Activities
See the breathtaking natural scenery and historic military buildings of Sandy Hook's peninsula by bike. Sandy Hook's Multi Use Path is seven miles long and begins at the entrance to the unit. The main path runs past the beaches and to the Fort Hancock parade ground past historic Officers Row. You also ride past the Nike radar site, and have a chance to visit various historic batteries and the Sandy Hook lighthouse. This is a flat and even path.
Visitors are able to fish at many sites throughout Gateway. A fishing/parking permit is required after hours throughout the park. There are also some sites that require permits at all time. Visit our fishing page to learn where you need a parking permit and how to purchase the permit.
Programming
Explore the Sandy Hook Holly Forest through the South Beach Dune Trail. Learn about the ecology of holly forests, the science behind its’ formation, and connect with nature! Dress for winter weather.
Free. Register on Eventbrite.
Join the American Littoral Society for a winter walk to discover local waterfowl and seals! Explore different species, learn how they adapt to the cold, and pick up tips for spotting and identifying them in their natural habitats. Come connect with the winter wildlife that calls our shores home!
Dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes - hats, gloves, and layers are recommended.
Join a park ranger for a beginner-friendly, guided bird walk to learn about Sandy Hook’s winter birds. We’ll start on the oceanside of Fishing Beach before caravanning to Horseshoe Cove to explore
a variety of winter birds, with a focus on diving and dabbling ducks. This walk kicks off a new monthly birding club at Sandy Hook! On the first Sunday of each month, we’ll visit a different birding
hotspot throughout the park. Dress for winter weather. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow.
Free. Register on Eventbrite.
Spring into a new season with the seals! Join a park ranger to learn more about the seals that visit and haul out at Sandy Hook! Visitors will learn about seal identification, habitat, and diet. After the indoor program, venture to the bayside to see if the seals are out. Come with binoculars and dressed for the weather. Free. Register on Eventbrite.
The program won’t put you to sleep! Join a park ranger to learn more about the seals that visit Sandy Hook. After a brief presentation, we’ll head out to see whether the seals are enjoying their afternoon nap. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow. Please come dressed for winter weather. Sign up on Eventbrite.
Join us for an open house at the historic Mont Sec House. You'll be able to explore this 19th century officer's home at your own pace with a self-guided tour. A ranger will be present to answer your questions. Contact 718-354-4500 for further details.
Step back in time and enjoy a cozy morning of knitting and crocheting inside the charming, 1940’s style History House. Bring your own project, settle into the parlor, and work at your own pace while
1940’s music plays in the background. No formal instruction will be provided. This self-guided gathering offers individuals the opportunity to create and connect with the resource in a historic setting.
Free. Register on Eventbrite.
An 1898 lieutenant’s quarters on “Officers Row” overlooking Sandy Hook Bay is furnished to the
WWII era - the busiest time in the fort’s history.
Enjoy this unique experience at your own pace with a self-guided tour.
Join us for a rewarding experience at beautiful Sandy Hook by lending a hand at our park cleanups!
Volunteers will enjoy views of natural, cultural, and historical resources while they remove litter and debris, helping protect native habitats and minimize debris around the park.
This is a family-friendly volunteer opportunity and fun for all ages.
Sign up on volunteer.gov: Volunteer Opportunity Detail
Join the American Littoral Society for a Winter Wildlife Walk to discover the waterfowl and seals that spend the colder months along our shores! We’ll explore a variety of species, highlight their unique traits, and share where you can spot them in their natural winter habitats. You’ll also learn how these animals adapt to the cold and pick up helpful tips for identifying them in the field.
Please dress warmly - hats, gloves, and plenty of layers are recommended.
Wander with a park ranger at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge while it’s a winter wonderland! Explore how plants and animals at the park survive and adapt to the winter. Open to all ages. Please dress for the conditions.
Join the American Littoral Society for a winter wildlife walk to discover the waterfowl and seals that spend the colder months along our shores! The naturalist will lead you to explore a variety of
species, highlight their unique traits, and observe the seals from a distance. In their natural winter habitats, you’ll also learn how these animals adapt to the cold and pick up helpful tips for identifying them in the field.
Lindsay McNamera, of Beachy Birder Adventures, in partnership with the Sandy Hook Foundation, joins us on Saturday, March 21, for our Return of the Ospreys walk! Celebrate spring by looking for all your favorite coastal birds. Grab your adventure buddy and join us on Saturday, March 21, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.
Opportunity for Quilters of all skill levels to sew socially, learn new skills or get advice on projects you are currently working on. Contact 718-354-4500 for questions.
The Army Ground Forces Association is a volunteer membership Park Philanthropic Partner performing restoration projects and interpreting Battery Gunnison/New Battery Peck in WWII-era uniform. Visitors are invited to see projects in progress and learn about Fort Hancock’s military
history. As restoration work is being performed, formal tours are not being conducted, but visitors are welcome to chat with members as they work. Free.
The Army Ground Forces Association is a volunteer membership Park Philanthropic Partner performing restoration projects and interpreting Battery Gunnison/New Battery Peck in WWII-era
uniform. Visitors are invited to see projects in progress and learn about Fort Hancock’s military history. As restoration work is being performed, formal tours are not being conducted, but visitors are welcome to chat with members.
This tour commemorates the first recorded raid on the Sandy Hook Lighthouse during the American Revolution. The Patriot Provincial Congress in New York ordered Major William Malcom to dismantle the Lighthouse’s lighting system to make it useless to British warships entering Lower New York Harbor. Join the Sandy Hook park historian to learn more about this and other raids, followed by a climb to the top of the 261-year-old lighthouse. Participants must be 48 inches tall to climb.
Free. Register on Eventbrite.
The Staten Island Chapter of the Amateur Astronomer’s Association hosts free public stargazing at the main parking area, lot A. Telescopes will be provided. Rain or cloudy weather will cancel this program. For details call 718 354-4500.
Join a Park Ranger and hike along the Multi-use path and park trails. Create a seasonal journal and record soundscapes, tracks, plants and animals...look for elusive hibernating critters. All ages are welcome. Questions, contact Ranger Kathy: 718 354-4500.
Join American Littoral Society for a winter walk to discover local waterfowl and seals! Explore different species, learn how they adapt to the cold, and pick up tips for spotting and identifying them in their natural habitats. Come connect with the winter wildlife that calls our shores home!
Dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes - hats, gloves, and layers are recommended.
Outdoor Activities
Experiences
Event Programming
