New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve
83 Nielsen Avenue Staten Island, NY 10309
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve
Spring Events Guide
(April—June)
2015
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve is a 260acre natural area near the southwest
shore of Staten Island. Once the site of
clay-mining, the Preserve today contains
a mixture of unique habitats such as
wetlands, fields, sandy barrens, spring-fed
streams and woodlands. As a
terminal point for some northern and
southern species, the area is rich with a
variety of plant and animal life.
Clay Pit Ponds is New York City's first State
Park Preserve. It is managed to retain its’
unique ecology. The Preserve is an Audubon Bird Conservation Area and is home
to Gericke Farm, where organic gardening is still practiced and taught.
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Enjoy hiking on our designated foot
trails!
Bring your own horse and ride our 5
miles of horse trails!
Our nature trails open daily from dawn to
dusk.
Preserve Headquarters (83 Nielsen Ave.)
open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.
Gate at Headquarters locked at 5 p.m.
STATE OF NEW YORK
Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor
Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
Rose Harvey, Commissioner
Leslie Wright, NYC Regional Director
Chris Cuschieri, Preserve Manager
Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Agency
Wildlife has free run of the Preserve.
This is their home and you are their guests.
Visitors must follow Preserve rules.
The Interpretive Center
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve
2351 Veteran’s Rd. West
Staten Island, NY 10309
Open Tuesday—Saturday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 718-605-3970 ext. 201
All programs are FREE of charge.
All children must
be accompanied by an adult.
Registration for public programs will be accepted two weeks prior to the program.
The Interpretive Center at Clay Pit Ponds
State Park Preserve strives to provide educational and recreational programs for
people of all ages.
The Interpretive Center also offers in-house
and outreach programs for schools and
other groups throughout the year. These
programs are free and are designed to fit
your curriculum needs and to enhance
your visit to our state parks.
Search for “Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve” on Facebook and “like” us for up-to
-date information about events.
For information or directions
please call us or visit our website
WWW.NYSPARKS.COM/PARKS/166/
DETAILS.ASPX
Fun for Kids:
Ages 5 and up
Spring Hike: Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, April 4th
2:00 p.m.—3:30 p.m.
Using your senses, check off and complete
a scavenger hunt while you explore the
woods of Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve with your family.
Tremendous Turtles
Saturday, April 11th 10:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m.
Learn about our reptilian friends and meet
some, followed by a craft.
Deer Detectives
Saturday, April 11th 2:00 p.m.—3:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 27th 10:00 am—11:30 a.m.
Learn all about white-tailed deer and how
to search for signs of their presence followed by a walk on our trails.
Earth Day
Saturday, April 18th 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.
Saturday, April 18th 2:00 p.m.—3:30 p.m.
Celebrate Earth Day and learn about the
environment around you!
Bringing Home the Birds
Saturday, May 9th 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.
Join us to celebrate International Migratory
Bird day by crafting your own bird feeder
to hang in your backyard!
Oh, Deer
Wednesday, April 8th 11:00 am—12:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 13th 11:00 a.m.—12:30 p.m.
Learn about white-tailed deer and how
their populations affect resources, followed
by a game.
Nature Frame
Saturday, June 20th 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.
Create a picture frame using natural elements, after a nature hike, to take home.
Family Adventures:
Fun For All Ages
Friday Hikes
April 3rd
April 10th
April 17th
April 24th
May 1st
June 5th
May 8th
June 12th
May 15th
June 19th
May 22nd
June 26th
May 29th
Fridays
3:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m.
Join us for a weekly nature walk and get
outside to enjoy the fresh spring air!
Tantalizing Trees
Wednesday, April 8th 2:00 p.m.—3:30 p.m.
Learn all about the trees in Clay Pit Ponds
State Park Preserve and your backyard,
followed by a walk on our trails.
Spring Break Stroll
Thursday, April 9th 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Enjoy our trails on this casual stroll that will
give us a chance to enjoy our surroundings
during the spring break.
Snazzy Seeds
Friday, April 10th
10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.
Learn all about seeds native to Clay Pit
Ponds State Park Preserve and how they
disperse, followed by a hitch hike.
Wildflower Wednesdays
May 6th
May 20th
May 13th
May 27th
Wednesdays
3:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m.
Come join us and appreciate the flowers in
May through various activities each week.
Herbal Sugar Scrub Workshop
Saturday, May 9th
1:00 p.m.—2:30 p.m.
Join local herbalist Gert Coleman & learn
how to make your own herbal sugar scrub
to take home! A $5 donation is suggested
for materials.
Family Adventures:
Fun For All Ages
Birding Gems of Staten Island
Sunday, May 24th
10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
Join us as we partner with NYC Audubon,
and Cliff Hagen of Protectors of Pine Oak
Woods to walk on our trails and observe
what spring migrants have arrived.
Wildlife Wednesdays
June 3rd
June 17th
June 10th
June 24th
Wednesdays
3:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m.
Learn about the different wildlife that
dwells in Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve
through various activities each week.
Summer Safety Saturdays
June 13th
June 20th
Saturdays
2:00 p.m.—3:30 p.m.
Start summer off right by learning about
potential natural hazards such as ticks, sun
damage and poison ivy.
Community Outreach
St. George Day
Saturday, April 25th 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
stgeorgedaysi.com
BirdFest 2015
Saturday, May 16th
nycgovparks.org/parks/conference-house
-park
NatureFest
Saturday, May 30th 11:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
statenislandmuseum.org
Conservation Celebration
Sunday, June 7th
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Statenislandzoo.org
Volunteer with Us!
I Love My Park Day
Saturday, May 2nd 10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
Help us keep Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve clean by volunteering your time and
effort to help us pick up trash around the
Park and spreading mulch on the trails.
We ask that you bring sturdy gloves, a
snack and bottled water.
Groups are welcome.
Volunteer service letters can be presented
upon request.
Connect with Us!
For up-to-date information, find our Facebook page and ‘like’ us at:
www.facebook.com/pages/Clay-PitPonds-State-ParkPreserve/128366067175189
If you would like to register for a program
or to be added to our mailing or e-mail list,
please e-mail [email protected] or call 718-6053970 ext. 201.
Donations for programs or materials are
appreciated.
Before your visit, please apply sunscreen
and bug spray. When you are leaving,
please always check for ticks!