Celebrate Spring with Family-Friendly Activities at Wave Hill!

Spring at Wave Hill is packed with nature-inspired programs, artistic endeavors and, of course, an abundance of vibrant flowers, vistas and views. Bring your young ones along for kid-friendly programs in our serene oasis, ranging from the Family Art Project and Family Walks to Nature Demonstrations, Spring Birding and hands-on Garden Workshops. Wave Hill’s spring programs offer something for every young naturalist.

Programs are free with admission to the grounds, unless otherwise stated. Register, where required, online or onsite at the Perkins Visitors Center.

What: Spring Programs for Families

Where: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx, New York

Schedule:    

Family Art Project. every Saturday and Sunday, 10AM-1PM

Explore a nature-inspired theme, listen to stories and create masterpieces to take home and share!

Family Walks

After the Family Art Project, continue exploring the theme on a family-friendly walk through the gardens or woodlands, led by naturalist and educator Gabriel Willow. Ages six and older welcome with an adult.

• Signs of Spring Family Walk, SUN, March 8, 1PM: If you look close enough, you’ll find early signs of spring budding all around you. Discover early blooms and bursting buds on this walk.

• Chirps and Tweets Family Walk, SAT and SUN, April 11 and 12, 1PM: Can you mimic a bird call? Discover a range of birds that fly through Wave Hill, on a walk with naturalist and educator Gabriel Willow through the gardens and woodlands. Spring Wings Week event.

• Blossom and Bloom Family Walk, SUN, May 10, 1PM: Flowers are admired for their range of shapes and colors, but they also serve a vital role in the ecosystem. Join naturalist and educator Gabriel Willow on a walk through the gardens and woodlands of Wave Hill to discover a range of flowers.

Nature & Birding

Spring Birding, Sundays, March 8, April 12, May 10, and SAT, April 11, 9:30AM

Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of diverse bird species and their behavior on these captivating walks through the gardens and woodlands. Observe the plants, insects and habitats at Wave Hill that make it an appealing destination for such a wide variety of birds. Birders of all levels welcome! Severe weather cancels. (NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission). Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Registration recommended.

Live Bird Demonstrations, SAT, April 11, 12PM and 2PM

Volunteers for Wildlife return to Wave Hill to share live birds such as the eastern screech owl, American kestrel and red-tailed hawk. Between programs, get a close-up look at skulls, feathers and other bird-related artifacts. Ages eight and older welcome with an adult. Spring Wings Week event.

Owl Pellet Dissection, SAT, April 11, 2-4PM

Owls are creatures who swallow their prey whole. Parts of the prey, such as bones, feathers and fur are bound up during digestion into a tight pellet, which the owl regurgitates. Drop-in for this exploratory workshop, and discover the origins of the owl’s diet. Ages six and older welcome with an adult. Spring Wings Week event.

Junior Arborist Station, SAT, April 25, 11AM-3PM

Kids ages seven and older are invited to don tree-climbing harnesses and hardhats and ascend into the canopy of our old sugar maple tree to get a birds-eye view of Wave Hill. On hand to assist budding arborists, as well as answer questions about the big old trees at Wave Hill, are arborists from Almstead Tree, Shrub & Lawn Care, which has generously sponsored this drop-in event. Ages seven and older welcome with an adult. Arbor Weekend event.

Early Morning Bird Walk, SAT, May 16, 8AM

Join naturalist Gabriel Willow on a special early morning walk to spot birds in the gardens and woodlands as well as the skies above Wave Hill. You’ll be amazed by the diversity of birds that are active on the grounds before the gates open to the public. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Registration recommended.

Nature Presentation: Let’s Talk Turtles, SUN, May 17, 1PM

Spring is an “active” time for turtles, as the females wander around in search of safe places to lay their eggs. Join an environmental educator from the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum to discover fascinating facts about these rotund reptiles, and meet a turtle or two from the Museum’s collection. Ages six and older welcome with an adult. Registration recommended.

Gardening & Crafts

Terrarium Gardening Workshop, SAT, March 14, 2-3:30PM

Don't have a garden or greenhouse? Tiny ferns and other tropical plants thrive in the humid conditions of an enclosed glass jar as if in their own miniature greenhouse. Design and plant your own fanciful landscape in a glass jar with a selection of diminutive plants, perfect for home or office. Assistant Director of Public Programs Laurel Rimmer provides plants, materials and technical assistance. $50/$35 Wave Hill Member per project. Ages eight and older welcome with an adult. Registration required.

Kokedama Workshop, SAT, March 28, 2-3:30PM

Originating in Japan, Kokedama are living plant and moss balls bound up with string. Choose from a variety of houseplants and design your own Kokedama under the guidance of Anna Macoby, a gardener and florist from Australia, now living in Brooklyn. Simple to care for, these hanging plants bring a new style of indoor gardening to your home. $40/$30 Wave Hill Member per project. Ages ten and older welcome with an adult. Registration required.

Green-Roof Birdhouse Woodworking Workshop, SUN, May 3, 10AM-4PM

Sharpen both your woodworking and gardening skills as you construct and plant a birdhouse with a rooftop of live succulent plants. Master carpenter and Director of Facilities Frank Perrone and Assistant Director of Public Programs Laurel Rimmer provide instruction and inspiration in this hands-on workshop. No previous carpentry experience required. $65/$50 Wave Hill Member per project. Ages 12 and older welcome with an adult. Registration recommended.  

The Family Art Project is generously sponsored by Target, with additional support provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. Sustaining support is provided by the Sally and Gilbert Kerlin Endowment for Environmental Science and Nature Education. Support for Garden Programs is provided by the Hagedorn Fund. Support for Public Programs is provided by The William Froelich Foundation.

Wave Hill, Inc. is an independent, non-profit cultural institution governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The buildings and grounds of Wave Hill are owned by the City of New York. With the assistance of the Bronx Borough President and Bronx representatives in the City Council and State Legislature, Wave Hill’s operations are supported with public funds through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; the Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquariums Grant Program administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.