Fort Wadsworth

Lend a hand at one of the park’s clean-ups! Volunteers will remove litter and debris, helping to protect wildlife habitat. Find all details and required registration on Volunteer.gov, search “Sandy Hook.” 

Discover Floyd Bennett Field’s aviation history and explore restored aircrafts at a historic airplane hangar. Explore on your own during open house hours or join a park ranger for a guided tour at 10:30 a.m.

Paddle under the bridge from Gerritsen Creek and investigate Plumb Beach with the rising tide. Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided. Call (347) 672 3210 to make a reservation and for more information. (2 miles)

Roll into summer! Free, fun 5-week course for ages 10 & up. Learn bike skills, road smarts & group riding. Meets weekly. Beginners welcome!

Join the Summer Spin Squad!

Bike New York's free 5 week Summer Youth Program offers kids and youth ages 10 and up the chance to master bike skills while exploring the city!

This course covers a wide array of topics including road rules for safe group riding. After covering the essentials, kids get to put their new skills to the test with exciting rides through NYC's parks and greenways.

Whether your child is a complete beginner or already knows how to ride, our program is a guaranteed hit. We provide the equipment and instruction; all you need to bring is their enthusiasm.

Get ready for an unforgettable summer on two wheels!

Please note: Registration for this class should be under the student's name, not that of parent or guardian.

Bike New York's free group class is for children who are ready to ditch the training wheels and ride a two-wheeler for the first time. With our safe, easy, effective method taught by experienced instructors, kids will learn how to balance, pedal, start, stop, and steer a bicycle. 

Please note: Registration for this class should be under the student's name, not that of parent or guardian. 

We can provide bikes and helmets for kids ages 10 and up. For kids ages 9 and under, you must bring your child's own bike and helmet. 

To sign up and get more information email classes@bike.nyc 

Opportunity for Quilters of all skill levels to sew socially, learn new skills or get advice on projects you are currently working on. Meet with other people, share ideas and be creative together and work on a community memory quilt or America 250, thirteen colonies quilt. Contact 718-354-4500 for questions. 

Connect with the history of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse through creative building and guided discussion. Climb the 262-year-old lighthouse, tour the grounds, and recreate what you see with LEGO bricks. 

We walk on it and play with it, but what is sand? Let’s learn about it. For ages 3 to 6 with a guardian. Reserve on Eventbrite.

Kayaking for beginners. Open to the public, ages 6 and up with an adult. No reservation is required.

Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided.

Enjoy a scenic paddle around White Island. Find out the storied history of this Eastern end of Jamaica Bay. Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided. Call (347) 672 3210 to make a reservation and for more information.  (2.2 miles)

Kayaking for beginners. Open to the public, ages 6 and up with an adult. No reservation required. Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided.

The National Park Service and the American Littoral Society are partnering to teach children how to fish with a day of surf fishing and instruction on the beach. All skill levels welcome. Rods, reels, and tackle will be provided. Children ages 11 and up are welcome with a supervising adult. Supervising adults must have a copy of their NJ Saltwater Registry License. Bring your lunch and snacks. For fees and to register visit: https://www.littoralsociety.org.  

Learn about Leave No Trace, meet some bayside inhabitants, and join a Sandy Hook Park Clean-Up! Ages 7-14, with an adult. Waivers required. Reserve on Eventbrite.

Stop by the Life-Saving Station, operated by our park friends group, the Sandy Hook Foundation, to explore the historic building and visit the shop.

This is a fun “how to” paddle program. Learn to get in and out, go forward, turn, stop and back up a kayak. Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided. Call (347) 672 3210 to make a reservation and for more information.  

Stop by our boardwalk table to get summer beach essentials, park information, and the chance to take part in any activities and programs that the rangers brought to the beach for the day.

Take a walk on the beach with a park ranger and together we'll see what the shore has to offer! A day at the beach can be just as educational (and twice as fun!) as a day in the classroom.

Join a park ranger for a beginner-friendly, guided bird walk to learn about Sandy Hook’s birds.  

A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow. Reserve on Eventbrite. 

Learn about local marine life, ethics of fishing, how to cast your line and fish in saltwater! Children will receive a Jr. Angler Ranger booklet, ruler and earn a Jr. Angler badge. Equipment will be provided. Bring a hat, sunglasses, snack and water!  Inclement weather will cancel this program. Call for details, 718 354-4500. 

Did you know New York state has over 400 native species of bee? Join a park ranger to learn all about New York's native bees and what we can do to help them. This program will involve a woodworking demonstration where you'll learn how to make a bee hotel, a place where certain bees will make their nest. 

Join us for a park ranger-led program highlighting the nature and history of Jamaica Bay. For more information about a week's tour, call the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 718-318-4340.

Paddle along Mill Basin from Floyd Bennett Field to Four Sparrow Marsh and back. Which four sparrows and why the remarkable name? Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided. Call (347) 672 3210 to make a reservation and for more information. (2 miles)

Join a Park Ranger and hike along the Multi-use path and park trails. Create a seasonal journal and record soundscapes, plants and animals...learn about the local history. All ages are welcome. Questions, please contact: 718 354-4500

Join a park ranger on a peaceful walk through the refuge, and watch for wildlife while we enjoy a beautiful Jamaica Bay sunset on the evening of a full moon.

Join the National Park Service and Sadhana for our monthly beach cleanup series, Project Prithvi! Become a steward for your park and help make Jamaica Bay a better place for all of us this year. Gloves, garbage bags, and pickers will be provided.    

Meet at the red brick pavilion in the North Channel Bridge parking lot, south of Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge (Cross Bay Blvd. North Channel Bridge) on west side of Cross Bay Blvd.  

Dress appropriately for weather and conditions - hats, sunglasses, sturdy footwear, and sunscreen are recommended. Thunderstorms or heavy rains cancel.

Have you always wondered what was inside of Battery Weed, but have not been able to join in on a tour? Park Rangers will open up Battery Weed to explore at your own pace on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Stop by and learn about this wonder under the Verrazzano Bridge. 

 Designed for young explorers, this hands-on educational program introduces children to environmental conservation, wildlife observation, and park stewardship. Participants will develop leadership skills while learning how to protect and appreciate our natural resources. Contact 718-354-4500 for details. 

From the Revolutionary War to the Cold War, Sandy Hook boasts a rich military history. Stop in and learn about Sandy Hook’s history from cannons to missiles. Explore Artist in Residence Heather Heckel’s work, which displays 250 pieces of art.

Paddle to Rockaway Point and back.  This trip follows the scenic bay shore of Rockaway peninsula along the cove toward Rockaway Point. Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided. Call (347) 672 3210 to make a reservation and for more information. (2 miles)

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 details. 

Paddle around this large island in Jamaica Bay on this energetic trip. Learn about the history of the islands of Jamaica Bay. Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided. Call (347) 672 3210 to make a reservation and for more information. (5 miles)

Discover the fast and efficient system of steamboats and railroads used to get to the Jersey Shore from after the Civil War and into the 1900’s. Reserve on Eventbrite.

Start the weekend with beachside yoga led by Tony Costa. Supported by the Sandy Hook Foundation, classes take place just over the dunes on the beach in front of the Spermaceti Cove Lifesaving Service Station.

Paddle across Mill Basin toward the Paerdegat Bridge in this adventure of the Northwest corner of Jamaica Bay. Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided. Call (347) 672 3210 to make a reservation and for more information. (2.2 miles)

Bike Skills 101: Learn to Ride—Adults is a free class for adults and mature teens who are ready to ride. Whether you are 18 or 80, we’ll get you rolling in no time. With our safe, easy, effective method, Learn to Ride students learn how to balance, pedal, start, stop, and steer a bike, as well as adjust a helmet for proper fit. 

Please note: Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Registration for this class should be under the student's name, not that of parent or guardian. 

Loaner bikes and helmets will be provided. 

To sign up and get more information email classes@bike.nyc 

Join us for a park ranger-led program highlighting the nature and history of Jamaica Bay. For more information about a week's tour, call the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 718-318-4340.

Head East along the North Channel and explore the basin of this creek on a rigorous paddle. Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided. Call (347) 672 3210 to make a reservation and for more information. (4.5 miles)

Built in 1898 and designated a lieutenant’s quarters on Officers Row, History House 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.

Paddle around this large island in Jamaica Bay on this trip. Learn about the history of the island and the plants and animals that thrive there. Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided. Call (347) 672 3210 to make a reservation and for more information. (4.5 miles)

Come join us for our book club! We will be reading selections of nature-themed literature, and together think critically about nature literature and our place in the natural world. This will be an outlet for open and respectful discussion, and a space to jointly enjoy the works that we will be reading! Please bring your thoughts and questions.

Come join us at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge pollinator garden! We’ll review the guidelines for becoming a recurring gardener, discuss our goals for the season, plant native species, perform essential maintenance, and help care for the garden together. It’s a fantastic opportunity to support your local National Park and pollinators, and to get your hands dirty—especially if you don’t have your own garden!

All gardening tools and supplies are provided. Volunteers for this event must sign NPS volunteer form on-site. All volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the event.

Walk from beach to bay across the barrier spit of Sandy Hook. Moving from one place to the next, visitors will explore the abundant ecosystems and rich history of Sandy Hook.
Reserve on Eventbrite.

Paddle past unique natural and cultural landscapes on this intermediate paddle from Floyd Bennett Field's Seaplane Ramp. Dress to get wet, wear shoes that will not fall off, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack. Kayaks, personal floatation devices, paddles and instructions will be provided. Call (347) 672 3210 to make a reservation and for more information. (3 miles)