Have you heard about Discovery Sessions at Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s Environmental Education Center? These special programs are great for birthday celebrations, enrichment outings for a scout troop, or a fun weekend experience for a group of your child’s closest friends. The Conservancy offers three different sessions tailored to specific age groups. All sessions include staff-led crafts, games, and a chance to closely interact with some of the Ed Center’s animals!
- Puppets, Party, and Play (ages 2-4) is packed full of fun activities for little ones complete with a silly puppet show, interactive storytime, and sing-alongs.
- Junior Naturalist (ages 5-7) is a nature-themed session where participants learn about some of the wildlife in the Park through age-appropriate games, crafts, and a puppet show.
- Zany Science (ages 8-10) is a program for slightly older participants to investigate the nature of the Park with a captivating science experiment and a special eco-art project to take home.
Discovery Sessions are available for groups of up to 15 children and their caregivers on weekend mornings from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. It is an hour and a half of non-stop fun activities!
How does the fun begin? Upon arriving, you are handed a magnifying glass and given the opportunity to explore the Education Center as your choice of party music plays. During this time, you can get acquainted with some of the animals in the touch tank and try out some of the activities in the focal point of the space: the Discovery Station.
© Alexa Hoyer
Start the session’s activities off right with a puppet show! Join your friends on the rug and grab a wildlife pillow, or a big comfy bean bag chair to sit back and enjoy an interactive story about animals in the Park and East River. Silly, yet educational, the show will have kids giggling from start to finish!
After the puppet show, it is time to get crafty. Educators lead participants in creating a Crazy Critter Craft such as the adorable Crab Crowns. These make for a great photo op for your party-goers and a nice take-home to enjoy beyond the session. Next, it is back to the comfy seats for an enthusiastic educator’s interactive reading of a favorite story from one of the Center’s library books. Then it is time to get moving – participants will follow the educators outdoors to engage in a little fun competition while learning about some of Brooklyn’s wildlife neighbors. Can you jump as far as a bullfrog? Or recognize local bird calls? Find out with our custom Wacky Wildlife Games!
© Alexa Hoyer
The final activity is often people’s favorite: meeting some of the Environmental Education Center’s animal inhabitants up close! Party-goers will touch the rough scaly skin of our turtles, watch them move around outside of their enclosures, and even help feed some of the animals a snack. Before it is time to go, educators lead visitors in a cheerful sing-along and hand out some party favors.
© Alexa Hoyer
Discovery Sessions are a great opportunity for new and returning visitors to experience a fun and one-of-a-kind morning in our beloved Environmental Education Center!