Animal Story Time (3-Class Series)
Thursdays, October 7, 14, 21 | 10:00-10:45 am
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Enjoy a special story time with your little animal lover. Enjoy animal-themed stories,
classic children’s songs, playing musical instruments, and meeting live animals. A different book will be shared in each class with a special critter from the story. Masks are required for all participants ages 2 & up. One adult per child. Siblings are not permitted to join the class, other than infants age 1 and younger. Spots are limited. Ages 2-3 (with one adult) | $48 per child |
Grades 1st-3rd:
Curious Kids - October
Tuesdays, October 12, 19, 26 | 3:15-4:30 pm
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Our weekly series will connect literacy and STEM activities with a focus on apples and world geography, bird migration and the harvest moon. Children will engage in a safe, fun, and enriching educational environment. Dress for weather as program is all outdoors. Masks are strongly recommended for all participants, and students 12 and older must show proof of vaccination to enter the building.
Spots are limited. Ages: Grades 1st-3rd (drop-off) | $95 per child |
Grades 4th-6th:
Science Pod - October
Tuesdays, October 12, 19, 26 | 3:15-4:30 pm
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Join Mr. Jacob this October for three exciting Fall Frenzy classes! Each lesson will include fun, educational STEM activities relating to Fall topics and a nature hike. Children should dress for weather as program is all outdoors.
Masks are strongly recommended for all participants, and students 12 and older must show proof of vaccination to enter the building. Spots are limited. Ages: Grades 4th-6th (drop-off) | $95 per child |
Mandala Sip-N-Paint
Thursday, October 21st | 6:30 - 8:30pm
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Join Masa Kitani, of Creative Scene Inc., under our outdoor tent, to paint your own wine glass - mandala style! The mandala design will be taught step by step and all supplies will be provided to paint one wine glass. No experience necessary. Creating mandalas is excellent for relaxing; you can easily distract the mind by focusing on the patterns you are creating. Seats are limited, pre-registration is required. Bring your own beverage. Spots are limited.
Masks are required for all to enter the building. APEC is mandated by NYC to check proof of vaccination for all persons 12 years of age and over prior to entering the building. Ages: Adults ages 21 & up | $35 per person |
Apples to Apples
Saturday, October 23 | 11:00 am-12:00 pm
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It’s as easy as apple pie to enjoy fall at APEC! Toddlers will enjoy tasting different types of apples and observing APEC’s Animals tasting them too. Which apple will the guinea pigs enjoy the most? Do you think the rabbit will like the same apples you like? Little ones will also learn about the parts of an apple and create an apple painting craft. ONE adult per child. Masks must be worn by all adults and children for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 2-3 (with one adult) | $20 per child |
Vet Tech 101 - Intelligence
Saturday, October 23 | 2:30-4:30 pm
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Come join us for this new spin on an old class! Not only will students learn about animal health basics and animal handling, but a new emphasis will be placed on animal intelligence! Students will get to learn about different forms of intelligence, which animals are smarter than others, and the cognitive needs of our animal ambassadors! Students will also learn how to check to make sure the animals are receiving proper cognitive stimulation by giving them examinations. Our Vet Tech students will learn the ins and outs of keeping some of the most common pet animals in peak medical condition. Students are required to wear masks for the entire program, and students 12 and older must show proof of vaccination to enter the building. Spots are limited.
Ages 9-12 (drop-off) | $32 per child |
Young Chefs: Eat, Drink & Be Scary!
Thursday, October 28 | 3:00-4:30 pm
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No bones about it…this class is chock full of Halloween delights! Young Chefs will fiendishly create Jack O’Lantern Quesadillas, Spider Apple Slices, and delicious mugs of Hot Cocoa with Floating Eyeballs. Chefs will also play Halloween Bingo as they enjoy their ghoulish meal. All materials included. Participants are required to wear masks for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 8-12 (drop-off) | $26 per child |
Escape the Haunted House
Friday, October 29 | 3:00-4:30 pm
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Oh No! A witch has cast a spell on our outdoor tent and turned it into a haunted house. We need your help to reverse the spell. You will be working in teams to decode ciphers and solve riddles to break the spell. Teams will be moving from clue to clue and meet APEC animal ambassadors along the way. The event ends with a spooky Halloween apple station and hot cocoa. This is an all-outdoor event. Masks are strongly recommended.
Spots are limited. Grades: K-2 (drop-off) | $28 per child |
Halloween Haunted Hike & Trivia Game
Friday, October 29 | 6:30-8:30 pm
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Welcome trick-or-treaters! Prepare for this one-of-a-kind nighttime walk of our park to meet some of the nocturnal and creepy animals that live right in our neighborhood. Arachnids, bats, and many more creatures of the night will be visible from our trails. (At the very least, these animals WILL be watching us even if we are having trouble spotting them.) Please bring flashlights or headlamps- if you do not have any, one will be provided for the duration of the program. (You may also want to pack garlic to ward off vampires.) The festivities will conclude with a Halloween-themed trivia game, sweet treats, and spooky hot chocolate! Masks are strongly recommended for participants for this all-outdoor program.
Spots are limited. Ages: 9-11 (drop-off) | $32 per child |
Tasty Treat-Making for APEC's Animals
Saturday October 30 | 10:00-11:15 am
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Start your Halloween early at APEC with live animals and animal treats! Meet scaly, furry, and creepy, crawly critters, followed by making animal treats for some of APEC’s animals. Children will also prepare a Halloween-themed snack to eat during the class and play some fun games. All participants must wear masks for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 6-8 (drop-off) | $24 per child |
Halloween Celebration for Little Ones
Saturday October 30 | 10:00-11:15 am
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Come in costume to celebrate Halloween at APEC! Share a fun Halloween story, enjoy a Halloween-themed game, and meet a snake, tarantula, and rabbit. Children will help make treats for the rabbits and create a tasty treat to enjoy at the end of class. ONE adult per child. Masks must be worn by all adults and children for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 3-5 (with one adult) | $24 per child |
Halloween Celebration Too!
Saturday October 30 | 10:30-11:45 am
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Due to high demand, we are offering another section of this popular Halloween class! Come in costume to celebrate Halloween at APEC! Share a Halloween story, enjoy a Halloween-themed game, and meet a snake, tarantula, and rabbit. Children will help make treats for the rabbits and create a tasty treat to eat in class.
ONE adult per child. Masks must be worn by all adults and children for the entire program. Spots are limited. Ages 3-5 (with one adult) | $24 per child |
Grades 1st-3rd:
Curious Kids - November
Tuesdays, November 2, 16, 30 | 3:15-4:30 pm
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Our weekly series will connect literacy and STEM activities with a focus on seasonal adaptations, pumpkins, and turkeys. Children will engage in a safe, fun, and enriching educational environment. Dress for weather as program is all outdoors. Masks are strongly recommended for all participants. Spots are limited.
Ages: Grades 1st-3rd (drop-off) | $95 per child |
Grades 4th-6th:
Science Pod - November
Tuesdays, November 2, 16, 30 | 3:15-4:30 pm
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Over the course of this program, students will explore various topics in the realm of natural sciences, and through a series of hikes, animal meet and greets, and STEAM activities we will view our world in a new light.
Week 1 November 2nd. Don’t Be Scared – Do elephants really fear mice? What do you fear? Ever wonder why you fear it… or why we fear anything at all? Join APEC in a one-of-a-kind class that explores phobias on a biological scale and get to meet our snakes and arachnids. Lastly, we can learn some helpful tricks to overcome your fears! Week 2, November 16th. Creativity & Nature – take a breath and relax with APEC as we explore poetry, art, and meditation in natural settings. Let the forest and ponds of Alley Pond Park inspire your inner creativity and bring introspection and peace of mind. In the wise words of Bob Ross, “Look around. Look at what we have. Beauty is everywhere — you only have to look to see it.” Week 3, November 30th. Archaeology and the Ancients – In this class, we will explore humanity’s deep past by looking at past civilizations, their advancements, their monuments, and design a monument of our own that portrays our greatest inspirations and will withstand the test of time! Ages: Grades 4th-6th (drop-off) | $95 per child |
Evening Pajama Party & Story Time
Friday November 5 | 7:00-8:00 pm
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Wrap up your busy school week with a fun story time program! Come in your pajamas and bring your favorite stuffed animal to share 2 classic children’s stories. Touch and observe some furry friends and share a dessert of warm cookies and milk. One parent per child. All participants are required to wear masks for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 3-5 (with one adult) | $20 per child |
PJ Party
Friday November 5 | 7:00-8:00 pm
I Want to Be a Vet
Saturday, November 6 | 11:00 am-12:00 pm
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Aspiring veterinarians will enjoy learning about the many aspects of veterinary care. Veterinarians provide different medical care for different types of animals depending on their patients-zoo animals, farm animals or pets! Children will learn about the special needs of a variety of APEC’s Animal Ambassadors and observe them up-close. All participants must wear masks for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 6-8 (drop-off) | $20 per child |
How Do You Make Orange?
Sunday, November 7 | 11:00 am-12:00 pm
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Channel your inner artist and learn which color combinations make orange, green, and purple. After reading Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh, toddlers will enjoy mixing playdough and paints to create secondary colors. Observations of a scaly orange guest and green spotted frog will make connections to colors in nature. Spots are limited.
Ages 2-3 (with one adult) | $20 per child |
Nature Bingo
Thursday, November 11 | 10:30 am-12:00 pm
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Love yelling, BINGO!?” Join us for an educational game of Nature Bingo. Learn different facts about plants and animals from the game. Develop your observation skills when meeting different animals from APEC’s Animal Collection. Wrap up the class with a relaxing nature walk in the park. Each child will “win” a science book to add to their home library. Participants are required to wear masks for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 5-7 (drop-off) | $26 per child |
Those Darn Squirrels - On the Nature Trail
Thursday, November 11 | 1:00-4:30 pm
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This engaging afternoon includes hilarious nature literacy, Alley Pond Park trail exploration along with squirrel yoga poses, STEM activity – design and create your own abacus, animal meet and greet, and more. Masks must be worn for the entire program. This program will be outdoors and indoors, dress appropriately for weather. Participants should bring snack and labeled water. Spots are limited.
Masks are required for all to enter the building. Anyone 12 and older must show proof of vaccination to enter the building. Grades 1-3 (drop-off) | $52 per child |
Sumo Bots!
Thursday November 11 | 1:00-4:30 pm
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In this exciting new program students will learn how to create a robot with nothing more than popsicle sticks, wooden blocks, water, and empty syringes. We will teach students about the physics of how these “robots” will move. Once instructions are given, students create their own sumo bots! Once construction is completed, students will use their bots to compete against one another. Bots will go into one on one combat to see which will reign supreme. Whose bot will rise, and whose bot will fall (off the table). If your child likes science and engineering as well as a little friendly competition, then this is their program! At the culmination of the program, students will take their sumo bots home.
Students are required to wear masks for the entire program, and students 12 and older must show proof of vaccination to enter the building. Please let us know if you would prefer your child to not use hot glue, alternative options are available. Spots are limited. Ages 10-12 (drop-off) | $56 per child |
Owl Prowl Night Hike
Friday, November 12 | 7:00-8:30 pm
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Join biologist and naturalist, Ranger Eric Powers, and learn how to identify owls by sight and sound. The program will begin with an exciting presentation, and hopefully we will have a live owl join us. Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa as Ranger Eric guides you on a very quiet night walk in search of owls and other nighttime wildlife. Flashlights are not needed. This will be an all-outdoor program – dress appropriately for the weather. Social distancing and face masks are required for all participants. Pre-registration required. Spots are limited.
This program is sponsored, in part, by a grant from the JPB Foundation. Masks are required for all to enter the building. Anyone 12 and older must show proof of vaccination to enter the building. Ages Adults and Children 8+ | $15 per person |
Fall Leaves
Saturday, November 13 | 10:15-11:30 am
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Celebrate the rainbow of fall colors with a reading of Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert. Then design your own Leaf man after collecting leaves in the park. Families will also meet live animals that share the fall colors. Participants are required to wear masks for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 3-5 (with one adult) | $24 per child |
Forest Bathing Walk
Saturday, November 13 | 2:00-3:30 pm
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Take a 90-minute meditative Forest Bathing walk, led by certified guide Linda Lombardo. Based on the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, this unique walk inspires mindful connections with the natural elements of the woods for a range of healthful benefits. We will explore the colors of Autumn and falling leaves, all the while, enjoying the crisp, cool air of the season. All precautions for COVID-19 will be taken, including social distancing. Face masks when near others. According to Linda, “Take this time to be present, lower the stress you may be experiencing, and connect with nature, which naturally boosts your immune system.” Spots are limited, pre-registration is required.
Ages Adults | $24 per person |
Vet Tech 101 - Intelligence
Saturday, November 13 | 2:30-4:30 pm
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Come join us for this new spin on an old class! Not only will students learn about animal health basics and animal handling, but a new emphasis will be placed on animal intelligence! Students will get to learn about different forms of intelligence, which animals are smarter than others, and the cognitive needs of our animal ambassadors! Students will also learn how to check to make sure the animals are receiving proper cognitive stimulation by giving them examinations. Our Vet Tech students will learn the ins and outs of keeping some of the most common pet animals in peak medical condition. Students are required to wear masks for the entire program, and students 12 and older must show proof of vaccination to enter the building. Spots are limited.
Ages 9-12 (drop-off) | $32 per child |
Butternut Squash Soup & Turkey Legs???
Friday, November 19 | 3:00-4:30 pm
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It sure is getting chilly outside, but during this cooking class, our Young Chefs will cozy up with a bowl of delicious butternut squash soup. And since it is a month to enjoy turkeys, we will create ‘chocolate caramel turkey legs’ for dessert while playing a game of fun turkey trivia!
Children should dress for the weather as a nature walk is part of the class. All materials included. Participants are required to wear masks for the entire program. Spots are limited. Ages 8-12 (drop-off) | $28 per child |
Full Moon Walk and Fireside Chat
Friday, November 19 | 7:00-9:00 pm
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Explore our trails by the light of a full moon and enjoy a nighttime experience led by a seasoned urban naturalist. The November full moon, known to the Beaver Moon, marks the time beavers build their winter dams and prepare for the cold season during this month. Masks are highly recommended, and registration required. No flashlight please. The walk ends with hot cocoa and toasting marshmallows around a roaring campfire. Spots are limited.
Ages Adults | $20 per person |
Busy, Busy Squirrels
Saturday, November 20 | 10:30-11:30 am
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Fall is a frenzy of activity for our cute squirrel friends. Has you toddler ever wondered why they are so busy? Read The Busy Little Squirrel to learn more about these cute creatures. Toddlers will also observe and touch a squirrel relative-a chinchilla! Take a short walk in the park looking for squirrels, acorns, and squirrel nests. Participants are required to wear masks for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 2-3 (with one adult) | $20 per child |
Native American Herbaceous Plant Walk
Sunday, November 28 | 1:00-3:30 pm
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Led by Jocelyn Perez, Herbalists Without Borders (HWB) NYC Queens Chapter Coordinator, naturalist, and conservationist. As she identifies plants you will hear about their medicinal uses, edibility, and Native American folklore! Meet at front entrance of APEC. Be sure to dress for weather. Masks are recommended. Registration required. Spots are limited.
Ages Adults, Children, & dogs (on a leash) | $10 per person |
Parents Night Out - Get Wild at APEC
Friday, December 3 | 5:30-8:30 pm
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Drop off the kids and let them get wild with APEC educators as they learn about habitats of the world and discover the amazing animals that live in each of them! The evening kicks off with a short, guided nature hike along our trails (dress for the weather). Back inside, there will be engaging and fun ice breaker games. Children should bring their own dinner and beverage. Following dinner break they will learn about animals and get creative with Legos. Each participant will leave with their own hard copy of Big Book of Animals – A Lego Adventure in the Real World (Scholastic). Participants are required to wear masks for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 6-10 | $45 per child |
I Want to Be a Vet
Sunday, December 5 | 10:30-11:30 am
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Aspiring veterinarians will enjoy learning about the many aspects of veterinary care. Veterinarians provide different medical care for different types of animals depending on their patients-zoo animals, farm animals or pets! Children will learn about the special needs of a variety of APEC’s Animal Ambassadors and observe them up-close. All participants must wear masks for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 6-8 (drop-off) | $20 per child |
Snowman Breakfast
Friday, December 17 | 3:00-4:30 pm
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An entire meal of Snowmen? Exactly! APEC Young Chefs will be preparing scrumptious snowman pancakes, snowman powdered donut kabobs, & even snowman poop! Children should dress for the weather as a nature walk is part of the class. All materials included. Participants are required to wear masks for the entire program. Spots are limited.
Ages 8-12 | $28 per child |
The environmental center is located in Alley Pond Park, surrounded by lush nature trails where visitors can enjoy NYC's natural landscapes. Guests are welcome to attend one of APEC's many nature oriented programs for all ages and visit the center's animal ambassadors. Please explore our website to learn more and register for programs.
Follow our journey on social media:
224-65 76th Ave.
Oakland Gardens, NY 11364 |
MAIN: (718) 229-4000
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Email Us
contact@alleypond.org |