Mission

City Parks Foundation is the only independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer programs in public parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. At City Parks Foundation, we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community development, and education programs for all New Yorkers. Our programs and community building initiatives -- located in more than 350 parks, recreation centers, and public schools across the city -- reach 425,000 people each year. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks reflect thriving communities.

Activities

GREEN GIRLS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
Open to girls in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Our innovative program inspires early adolescent girls to excel as environmental scientists and stewards of New York City’s precious natural resources. We take middle school students on outdoor adventures in parks and along waterways after school and during the summer. Whether bird-watching, canoeing or conducting science projects, Green Girls develop a new understanding of natural ecosystems for girls, discover how they can create positive change within their environment, and learn about future careers in the sciences.

Green Girls Science based program continues throughout the school year with free weekly sessions. Green Girls after school combines science, technology, interactive games and field trips that focus understanding of natural ecosystems in our city.

GREEN GIRLS FREE SUMMER INSTITUTE
CPF's FREE Green Girls Summer Institute engages up to 30 middle school girls, ages 10-13, in five weeks of fun-filled outdoor adventures in New York City's parks and waterways. Based at IS 204 in Long Island City, Green Girls travel to all five boroughs to study the dynamic urban forests of New York City. Whether bird-watching, canoeing, conducting experiments, or citizen science projects, Green Girls develop a new relationship and understanding of natural ecosystems in our densely packed city.

Green Girls are learning to care for our city’s parks and gaining insight into the challenges and benefits of doing so. In addition, Green Girls learn to document New York City’s natural world with guidance from professional photographers and videographers, further heightening the wonder and fragility of New York's natural world and emphasizing the role of artists in documenting its beauty.

Eligibility