Brooklyn Bridge Park has released the schedule of events available to families over the summer season, and we can't wait to check some of them out.

To get our pre-summer fun started, I signed up for the "Public Seining" session to learn about the sealife and plants living in the Hudson River. The event was nice and simple, which helped get us back outside, with the plus of being an educational activity.


After catching some sealife, we learned more about them from the onsite educator table. It was a good way to start our morning in Brooklyn Bridge Park. We spent the rest of the afternoon, walking around on the different Piers and enjoying the fresh air.

While we only signed up for that one class, there's lots more classes and activities we plan to check out during the summer.

Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) and Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy (Conservancy) are excited to offer an enriching season of arts and culture, fitness, recreation, environmental education, and volunteer opportunities from May to October.

Brooklyn Bridge Park 2021 Activities

All events and activities in the Park will strictly adhere to the City’s guidance on COVID-19 safety procedures and protocols. Please note that advanced registration is required for most programs, with a limited number of walk-up spots available. Please see brooklynbridgepark.org for more detailed information.

EDUCATION

The Conservancy hopes to reopen the Environmental Education Center to the public in September — in the meantime, families and students can learn about the history of the Brooklyn waterfront, the plants and animals of the East River estuary, and the ecology and design of Brooklyn Bridge Park through monthly educational themes featuring virtual Open Hours, online learning units, self-led outdoor activities like monthly Scavenger Hunts, virtual nature and wildlife workshops, and field trips (both in-person and virtual).

Journey to the Stars will return on select Fridays June through August. Amateur Astronomers of New York City will set up hi-powered telescopes along the Pier 1 promenade for participants to enjoy the wonders of the universe and have a rare chance to view select stars and planets from NYC.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy has also partnered with Trail Blazers to offer a brand new summer day camp in Brooklyn Bridge Park running from July through August. Campers will develop an appreciation for nature and the environment, while making memories to last a lifetime, through hands-on education, waterfront adventures, nature activities, and play. Participants can choose to attend the full program or pick and choose individual weeks.

ARTS & CULTURE

Cultural programming this season will include brand new family-friendly and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-centered events, as well as the return of yearly favorites like the annual Hindu Lamp Ceremony, the Brooklyn Americana Music Festival, and a shortened run of the Movies With A View series.

The Conservancy’s new Open Studios Residency has returned in an expanded format, featuring two artists-in-residence Fogo Azul NYC and Oyo Oro Afro-Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble. The public is invited to view open-air rehearsals, every other Sunday from 10:00am-2:00pm to get a unique window inside the creative process, while enjoying live performing arts activating Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The Residency culminates on Sunday, July 11 with both companies premiering their original works developed for the Park at Pier 1’s Harbor View Lawn.

Public Art Fund this summer will bring Claudia Wieser’s first outdoor public artwork, a grouping of large scale geometric structures that the public can immerse in and explore. The piece will be on display opening in July at the Main Street entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park.

FITNESS & RECREATION

From May through October, the Conservancy will host a broad range of free weekly Waterfront Workouts with top-notch instructors from local partners Abhaya Yoga, Chelsea Piers Fitness, and Dodge YMCA.

Participants can choose from morning Vinyasa Yoga, Sunset Yoga, Amp'd Bootcamp, Pilates, Zumba, and a brand new Family Fitness class in Brooklyn Bridge Park's unbeatable outdoor setting. Advanced registration is required and opens every Tuesday at 10:00am for the following week of fitness classes.

In addition to Waterfront Workouts, there is also the popular Walk-Up Kayaking program presented by the Conservancy and Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse. Visitors will launch from the Pier 4 beach and glide along the East River starting in June on Wednesdays from 4-8pm through the end of August, and Saturdays from 10am-4pm through the end of September.

The Conservancy’s Adult Summer Soccer League will run from June 9-August 11, with weekly games on Wednesday evenings. Participants can sign up for the Men’s team, Co-ed team, or sign up to be a free agent.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, in partnership with Big City Volleyball, will welcome back Volleyball Leagues this May through October. The league is 6v6, with games on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and tournaments on select Saturdays.

VOLUNTEER

Throughout the season, volunteers can give back to the community on Saturday mornings, May 29 through October 30, at Green Team and Coastal Cleanups. Green Team offers nature enthusiasts an opportunity to learn about gardening and horticulture, while Coastal Cleanups will allow visitors to help keep the Park’s shorelines clean and beautiful.

For teenagers looking to complete community service hours, the Conservancy is excited to offer two additional sessions of the increasingly popular TIDES (Teens Interested in and Dedicated to Environmental Sciences) program this summer and fall. TIDES provides an opportunity for teenagers to learn about ecology, conservation, and environmental sustainability, while completing hands-on activities in the Park.

Waterfront Walks kick off on select Sundays starting on May 9 and run through the end of October. Traverse the Park’s beautiful landscape on an immersive tour with Conservancy docents and learn about the history of the Brooklyn waterfront, how the Park came to life, and BBP’s sustainable design.

More upcoming events will be added on an ongoing basis at www.brooklynbridgepark.org/events