Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Jumping for June in the Park!

 

Forest Fridays Fridays - Meet at 9am With 640 acres of urban woodland, Van Cortlandt Park could use your help!  In May, we are focusing on the Northwest Woods in the park. RSVP Now. Meet at VCPA Garden & Compost Site.   Birding with NYC Audubon Saturdays, June 3, 10, 17 - Meet at 9am Explore Van Cortlandt Park’s ecologically diverse grounds and celebrate a long tradition of birding in the park. Each walk will be led by a New York City Audubon guide. RSVP Now. Meet at the Nature Center.   Paint the Afternoon Away Saturday, June 3 - Starts promptly at 1:30pm Paint the afternoon away in our garden! Join us for a paint-filled afternoon as we decorate wine glasses and transform them into one-of-a-kind planters. Adults only. Tickets. Meet at VCPA Garden & Compost Site.   Barefoot Dancing with Bahar Music and Dance Ensemble Saturday, June 3 - 2-4pm Kick off your shoes and dance on the lawn of the Van Cortlandt House Museum. Enjoy an afternoon of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean sounds and movement with Bahar Music and Dance Ensemble. RSVP Now. Meet at Van Cortlandt House Museum Lawn.   Water Chestnut Wednesdays Wednesdays - Meet at 9am Hop into a pair of waders or a canoe for Water Chestnut Wednesdays as we work together to maintain the health of Hester & Piero's Mill Pond. Water chestnut is an invasive aquatic species that, if left unchecked, can disrupt the local ecosystem.  VCPA provides all necessary gear. You bring the can-do attitude! RSVP Now. Meet at the southern end of Van Cortlandt Golf House.   Honoring Our Enslaved African Ancestors Saturday, June 10 - 1-3pm Master Batá Drummer Anthony Carrillo, Awo Juan Usera, and Awo Xavier Rivera will play the sacred Batá drums and dedicate an Oro for Égun ceremony to the ancestors who are buried in the Enslaved African & Kingsbridge Burial Grounds in Van Cortlandt Park. RSVP Now. Held near the Enslaved African & Kingsbridge Burial Grounds. Kids’ Paint Afternoon Saturday, June 10 - Starts promptly at 1:30pm Paint the day away! Follow a guided painting lesson–and put your own twist on it! It's a fun way to celebrate the beginning of summer and the almost-end-of-school for  the year. For children 13 and under. Admission fee includes one child + adult chaperone. Tickets. Meet at VCPA Garden & Compost Site.   Garden Tune Up Tuesdays Tuesdays, June 13 + 27, 10am to 1pm Let’s tend to our growing veggies together.   Volunteers are needed for maintaining the compost bins, weeding, planting, and building garden beds.  RSVP Now. Meet at VCPA Garden and Compost Site.   NY Philharmonic Tuesday, June 13, starting at 8pm THE PHIL IS BACK!!! And, as always, it is FREE for all to enjoy. Pack a picnic, BYOB (bring your own blanket), and get ready for a lovely evening on the Parade Ground.  Concert site is at the Parade Ground, located adjacent to the Nature Center and Van Cortlandt House Museum.  Philharmonic program information is available here.   Third Annual Juneteenth Celebration Monday, June 19, 6pm-7:30pm Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Bronx Arts Ensemble invite you to an evening of arts in honor of Juneteenth. The program will begin on the back deck of the Van Cortlandt Golf House with performances, including music and spoken word. Then join us for a procession with drums to the Enslaved African Burial Ground for a libation ceremony, honoring the memory of the enslaved African people who built the park.  Guest artists include renowned drummer Baba Don Babatunde, actress Ashley Hart Adams, violist Judith Insell, Courtney Carey Stars of Tomorrow Concert Chorale, and West African drummer Yahaya Kamate. Meet Ghanese artist Tijay Mohammed, whose 18-foot installation Baobab Tree of Life is adjacent to the Enslaved African Burial Ground.  RSVP Now. Program starts on the back deck of the Van Cortlandt Golf House.   Volunteer Clean Up Day Tuesday, June 20, meeting at 9am Summer holidays bring lots of visitors to the park. Lots of visitors can make a mess!  Volunteers are needed to help park staff tidy up. This week, lend a hand after Father’s Day weekend!  We provide gloves and materials to help keep this park in tip-top shape. You provide can-do spirit and sturdy shoes for walking! RSVP Now. Meet in front of the Van Cortlandt Golf House.   Support Our Work in Van Cortlandt Park Make a Donation The park is really big. Our staff is really small. Only with your help can we grow our capacity, hire more staff, and take on projects to improve Van Cortlandt Park… for YOU!  Please consider a gift to Van Cortlandt Park Alliance today. Donate! VCPA Merch Shop! Show your love for Van Cortlandt Park while supporting the Alliance! Shop Now!   Become a Member Members get VCPA merch and invitations to member only hikes while supporting their favorite park! Join Now Our Contact Information Van Cortlandt Park Alliance 80 Van Cortlandt Park, Ste. E1 Bronx, NY 10463 718-601-1460 http://vancortlandt.org