Discover the rich history and environmental significance of Van Cortlandt Park with our interdisciplinary education program, Unearthing the Past/Building the Future. This unique experience invites Bronx middle and high school students to explore the historical, environmental, and social justice dimensions that have shaped their local community.

Please note- this is a multiple part program, and you are booking the date for session 1. VCPA staff will reach out to schedule the remaining sessions.

On Day 1, students will investigate the legacy of enslaved people and their pivotal role in the development of the park, including its origins as a plantation.
There are 2 options for the remaining two sessions which will be run as an on-site field trip to Van Cortlandt Park and a follow up session held at the school.
1-Learn about Tibbetts Brook’s historical context and its recent daylighting project, which highlights New York City’s largest green infrastructure initiative for flood mitigation and environmental resilience.
2-Delve into food justice, addressing topics such as ancestral crops, traditional land stewardship methods, and the disparities within the local food system. Through interactive discussions and activities, students will develop a deeper appreciation for food equity and the importance of community stewardship. Utilizing creative expression students will develop a final project that illustrates what they learned.

The program is designed to foster historical, environmental, and social awareness, empowering students to actively contribute to the preservation and enhancement of their environment and community.

FALL 2024- Thanks to a generous grant we are able to offer a limited number of free Unearthing the Past programs. These will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

Visit the VCPA Youth Run Farm Stand where you’ll meet the teens who manage a real-life farmers market!

Pre-k kids learn to identify locally grown vegetables. Older kids learn what parts of the plant we eat, sample local produce, decorate pumpkins during the fall, and talk with VCPA’s high school interns about running the market.

Activities (and veggies!) vary with the season. Each child gets a $2 voucher to shop–and work on their math skills while trying new foods and building ownership over choices that build healthy eating habits.

The market is located on the corner of Orloff Avenue and Gale Place. Trips are available from July through October after 2 pm.

Geared toward high school level Regents and AP classes, this program aims to expose students to the concepts and methods of field analysis used by biologists and research ecologists. Labs include an in-class section that should be completed prior to your trip and the field study section in Van Cortlandt Park.

Once booked, VCPA staff will contact you to select the option below that best fits your class:

Freshwater Ecology: Includes water quality measurement, benthic macroinvertebrate identification, and pond health assessment. (Students do not enter the water.) Approx. 90 minutes.

Invasive Species Project: Includes causes and effects of invasive plants as well as how ecosystems respond, using a real site in the park as a field study. Features videos for in-school lab time and field work in Van Cortlandt Park. Approx. 120 minutes.

Geology of Van Cortlandt Park: While hiking through the glacier created hills of Van Cortlandt Park students observe how natural processes such as weathering and erosion shape the land. After the hike students do a deep dive into soil composition. (Approx. 120- 150 minutes)

Pollution in our Waterways: Includes the concepts of point and nonpoint source pollution and microplastics. Students use real data on trash they find in VCP to determine the prevalence and effects of different types of pollution on the wetlands of the park. (Seasonally available) Approx. 120 minutes

Using all of their senses to observe the park around them, students experience the forest, field, and wetlands of Van Cortlandt Park.

This program can be customized to fit any age or topic and can focus on the seasons, trees, animals, ecosystems, or simply getting your students outside and making observations.
Program length: 45-75 minutes, depending on age and ability.

Note: This program is now booked through the VCPA Volunteer Page at https://vancortlandt.org/programs-overview/community-stewardship/

With miles of hiking trails and hundreds of acres of natural areas within Van Cortlandt Park, your students can help maintain a healthy park. Depending on the season, students will help with trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, or planting projects to promote a healthy ecosystem.

Best for older students, middle school and up, the average volunteer day is 2-3 hours long and is customized to fit each group.

Is the pond a healthy ecosystem? How can we tell?
Students explore the ecosystem of Hester & Piero’s Mill Pond in search of answers to these questions. By observing and identifying macroinvertebrates found in the pond, students will determine the diversity of the pond ecosystem and learn how that information helps scientists gauge the health of that system.
Note: Students do not enter the water.

Everything in the garden is connected! Students will learn that familiar vegetables they eat are actually parts of plants grown in the garden; they will see how bees and butterflies help the garden grow; and they will explore the role worms and other decomposers play in making rich soil for planting. Get ready to get your hands dirty!

Help plant or harvest vegetables, turn food scraps and weeds into compost, and make sure our garden is running smoothly. Tasks vary by group and season but include general maintenance of the site: weeding and watering the vegetable beds; harvesting produce; adding organic material to compost bins; chopping, turning, and sifting bins; and lots more!

We provide tools, gloves, and garden information. You provide eager students, ready to spend some time giving back to the park and their community.

Enter the park at Broadway and Mosholu Ave.