Alley Pond Environmental Center Youth Nature & Outdoor Education Programs

Alley Pond Environmental Center Youth Nature & Outdoor Education Programs includes Sunny Bunnies, Lil' Hoppers, Toddler Time, Wee Sprouts, Busy, Busy Squirrel, Pumpkins!, I Want to Be a Vet 1, I Want To Be A Vet 2, and Vet Tech 101 - Anatomy. Activities listed include reading The Busy Little Squirrel, observing and touching a chinchilla, taking a short walk to look for squirrels, acorns, and squirrel nests, learning about different kinds of vets, making a make-believe pumpkin patch, and learning about skeletal structures and animal bodies.

Programs

• Sunny Bunnies — 3-4 years · Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
• Lil' Hoppers — 3-4 years · Sundays, 9:30 am - 11:00 am · $300 per session
• Toddler Time — 2-3 years · Tuesdays or Thursdays or Saturdays, 11:00 am - 12:15 pm
• Wee Sprouts — 18-23 months · Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays, 9:30 am - 10:30 am
• It’s Your Turn: A Morning Bird Walk for Adults — Adults · Saturday, 10:30 am - 11:45 am · $15 · Guided by Wing Kong.
• I Want to Be a Vet 1 — 5-7 · Sunday, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm · $22 · Drop-off. Learning about different types of vets, their role for animals in captivity, and the needs of animal ambassadors.
• Busy, Busy Squirrel — 2-3 · Saturday, 9:30 am - 10:30 am · $22 · With one adult. Toddlers read The Busy Little Squirrel, observe and touch a chinchilla, and take a short walk in the park looking for squirrels, acorns, and squirrel nests.
• Monthly Adult Yoga: Relax & Rejuvenate — Adults · Sunday, 10:30 am - 11:30 am · $18 per class · Beginners welcome. Please bring your own mat and props.
• Fall Forest Bathing Walk — Adults · Sunday, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm · $25 · A 90-minute meditative forest bathing walk led by certified guide Linda Lombardo.
• I Want To Be A Vet 2 — 5-7 · Sunday, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm · $22 · Drop-off. Learning about different types of vets, their role for animals in captivity, and the needs of a new set of animal ambassadors.
• Pumpkins! — 3-5 · Saturday, 11:00 am - 12:15 pm · $26 · With one adult. Make-believe pumpkin patch, matching game, pumpkin-colored animal, story time, nature walk, craft, and songs.
• Vet Tech 101 - Anatomy — 8-10 · Saturday, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm · $34 · Drop-off. Students learn about skeletal structures, parts of animal bodies, and how to examine animals for healthy bones and mobility.

At a glance

• Ages: 2–18 years old
• Price range: $15–$300
• General schedule: The site states ongoing Early Childhood Programs and single day weekend programs, plus weekday programs.
• Facility hours: Most weekdays, Monday - Friday, APEC is open from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Most weekends, APEC is open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The building and animal room are open to the public 7 days a week, except for major holidays.

About the provider

The Alley Pond Environmental Center was established in 1972 and was designated a National Environmental Study Area in 1979. Its mission is to educate children and adults in the New York metropolitan area, protect and preserve Alley Pond Park, open spaces, and waterbodies, and advocate for sustainable environmental policies and practices. School programs serve students from the five boroughs of New York City as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties, and public programs are available for visitors from 18 months to seniors.

APEC is not a wildlife rescue or rehabilitator and is not licensed to handle wild animals. It cannot take in injured or orphaned wildlife. Lil' Hoppers and Toddler Time require one adult; Wee Sprouts also requires one adult. Several programs note space is limited. Some programs specify no siblings except babies in a carrier or car seat. One program states children must be able to use the bathroom independently and no diapers or pull-ups are allowed. Some classes are not offered individually. Some pages note that some dates may be excluded for holidays.

Last updated September 27, 2026.