CityParks Learn’s STEM-based programs teach public school students that science is fun, while making a direct connection to the natural world and the ways in which they can help protect our environment. Our programs — Seeds to Trees, Learning Gardens, Coastal Classroom, and, new in 2025, Eco-Innovators — reach more than 4,100 students in school, after school and during the summer. Programs are supported by nearly 100 high school and college paid interns who gain critical job skills. Teacher training encourages educators to plan their own lessons using parks as outdoor classrooms.
View our program overview here.
Feeling frustrated or discouraged about climate change? Are you ready to take a leadership role in the care of New York City’s environment? Join CityParks Eco-Innovators! In this paid summer internship, you’ll work with young people from across the City to invent creative projects that push the resiliency movement forward. Make real change as you explore advocacy tools and learn techniques to tackle and help solve challenging environmental issues, including expanding green spaces, increasing recycling and reducing waste, and improving energy efficiency.
Our gardens fosters a love of science and nature among kids through hands-on lessons during the school year and group programs during the summer as well workforce training for high school students. From gardening to growing fresh produce, elementary and middle school kids learn the fun of community gardening, healthy eating, understanding biodiversity of our urban environment and more in our four gardens across the city.
Our program invites middle school kids to use the New York City waterfront as outdoor classrooms to get actively involved in our marine ecosystem with hands-on learning. Participants will explore our waterways and learn about everything from water ecology to quality, urban waterfront restoration to preservation, sparking excitement and passion for conserving our coasts and waterways.
Our Teacher Training programs provide 2nd – 8th-grade teachers with academic and administrative tools to conduct science lessons using a New York City park as their outdoor classroom.
This program has been temporarily suspended. Check back later for updates!
Generous private support for CityParks Learn programs is provided by The Pinkerton Foundation, The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation, Guru Krupa Foundation, The Linda B. and Howard S. Stern Family Foundation, Rose M. Badgeley Charitable Trust, the Glenn W. Bailey Foundation, The Burpee Foundation, the Catskill Watershed Corporation in partnership with New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the Michael Tuch Foundation, the Watershed Agricultural Council, the Jane and Frances Stein Foundation, The Laura B. Vogler Foundation, and Dr. Robert C. and Tina Sohn Foundation. Supporting sponsors Ernst & Young, The Walt Disney Company. Generous public support for CityParks Learn is provided by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and by the New York City Council under the leadership of Speaker Adrienne Adams, with special thanks to Council Member Amanda Farías, Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, Council Member Kamillah Hanks, Council Member Tiffany Cabán, Council Member Farah Louis, Council Member Julie Menin, Council Member Chi Ossé, Council Member Lynn Schulman, and Council Member Nantasha Williams. Learn programs are made possible in partnership with NYC Parks.
Because of you, NYC’s kids are learning how to protect our environment and being introduced to a new sport for life, community volunteers are transforming a green space in need of care, and free world-class performing arts are being brought to our parks all around the city—all for free. When you support City Parks Foundation's free programs, you are helping our parks, our communities, and our city thrive.
