Garden Volunteer Session, Mad Fun Farm  

Concrete Safaris

Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 10am - 1pm

Location: Mad Fun Farm is located outside of 1775 Third Avenue, NYC  

Join Concrete Safaris to help clean and beautify this community garden. Tasks include: building raised beds; shoveling topsoil; planting herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers, spreading mulch; picking up trash; weeding and more. Dress in layers and bring a water bottle.  

Ages: All ages are welcome to participate; children must be accompanied by an adult

Time Commitment: Three hours 

Contact: Mac Levine at [email protected]. Registration is available online
www.concretesafaris.org/en/ 

9/11 Memorial 5K Run/Walk and Family Day  

National September 11 Memorial and Museum

Date/Time: Sunday, April 26; 5K events begin at 8am Family Day activities are 9am - 2pm

Location: Run/Walk begins at Pier 26; Family Day will be held on Greenwich Street, between Cortland and Liberty, adjacent to the 9/11 Memorial Plaza   

911 Memorial is sponsoring their annual 5K Run/Walk and Family Day to raise awareness about the National September 11 Memorial and Museum and to encourage volunteerism in memory of 9/11. Following the 5K Run/Walk, Family Day festivities will include entertainment and meaningful activities for all ages, food and refreshments. Information will be available about visiting and supporting the Memorial and Museum, and about volunteer opportunities for adults. Pre-registration and a fee are required for participating in the 5K, and there are adult, teen and child divisions. The Family Day event is free and does not require registration  

Ages: All ages are welcome 

Time Commitment: Varies

Contact: [email protected]

www.911memorial.org/5k-runwalk-family-day

Summer Teen Internship  

DOROT

Date/Time: Session 1: June 22-July 16 from 10:30am - 5pm, Monday-Thursday;  

Session 2: July 20-August 13 from 10:30am - 5pm, Monday-Thursday 

Location: Manhattan 

DOROT's Summer Teen Internship Program offers two four-week sessions for high school students entering 10th grade through graduating seniors. Through a competitive process, we choose up to 18 interns for each session. Summer interns are expected to volunteer with DOROT during the academic high school year. For those who are entering college, we hope you will volunteer during college breaks. Teen interns help bridge the generation gap and alleviate social isolation for older adults through friendly visits, birthday deliveries, computer tutoring, cooking and dining with a senior and much more.   

Ages: High School students entering 10th grade through graduating seniors.

Time Commitment: Four days per week for four weeks

Contact: Shelley Levine at [email protected], 917.441.5051
www.dorotusa.org 

Keeping It Green For Families

Central Park Conservancy

Date/Time: Sundays, April 12 and 26, 10am - noon

Location: Central Park 

Spring is FINALLY HERE! Spend quality time with your family helping keep Central Park green.  Environmental educators will lead mulching and leaf-raking projects throughout the Park.  Close-toe shoes are required. This program is for families; no groups. Space is limited, advance registration is required. This program is made possible by the GM Foundation.  

Ages: Ages five and up, accompanied by adult.

Time Commitment: Two hours 

Contact: For more information or to register for a session, email [email protected] or call 212.360.1461
www.centralparknyc.org/keepingitgreen 

NY Cares Day - Spring 2015  

NY Cares 

Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 9:30am - 3pm

Location: All over New York City  

Take part in New York City's largest hands-on spring-cleaning event, and join more than 4,000 volunteers to revitalize the city's public outdoor spaces. This year, volunteers will clean up shorelines, restore garden beds, plant flowers and trees, paint benches, and remove invasive species. By the end of the day, 70 parks and gardens in all 5 boroughs will be transformed. New York Cares Day Spring is also an important fundraiser. With your generosity, we'll raise funds to pay for supplies on the day, as well as support our year-round volunteer programs, which provide services for 400,000 New Yorkers in need. Register online to be part of an "individual" team in a specific borough.   

Ages: Ages 12 and up, accompanied by an adult at all times

Time Commitment: Approximately six hours

Contact: [email protected], or the Project Hotline, 212.401.1101. Click here for more information or to register online.
www.nycares.org 

Annual Hippo Playground Project Spring Fair   

Hippo Playground Project

Date/Time: Sunday May 3 - Two shifts: 9.45am - 1pm & 12:45 -4pm. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED  

Location: Hippo Playground - entrance is at Riverside between 87th or 90th Streets

Sign up early for this fun family volunteer opportunity, working at the Hippo Playground Project Spring Fair. Volunteers are needed to take tickets, distribute prizes and assist children with fair activities and games. Funds raised will be used to maintain the Hippo Playground, make the park house and bathroom handicap accessible and purchase a piece of play equipment for the playground at 142nd Street.   

Ages: Children 8-14 accompanied by parents and anyone 15 years old and up.    

Time Commitment: Three hours and 15 minutes

Contact: [email protected]; register for a volunteer time slot on Sign-up Genius  

www.riversideparknyc.org/groups/hippo-playground/ 

Spring Forest Restoration  

Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy

Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 10am - 1pm

Location: Meet at VCP Nature Center, east of 246th Street and Broadway  

Join the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy and help clean up and restore the park after a long winter. Please dress for weather - long sleeves, long pants, solid footwear - and clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Registration is required, please call or email.    

Ages: All ages 

Time Commitment: Three hours 

Contact: Paulina Mohamed at [email protected], 718.430.4687
www.vcpark.org 

Plant a Row for the Hungry  

Ample Harvest or Garden Writers Association

Date/Time: During the growing season  

Location: Your garden, community garden, or wherever you have the opportunity  

Spring is in the air and gardeners everywhere can't wait to get started. Whether you plant a container garden on a windowsill or a deck, overthrow a patch of lawn in favor of a garden, or join a community effort, planning a row dedicated to the local food shelf can make a world of difference. Donating dedicated produce or extra produce from your garden helps food shelves provide more healthy food options and helps prevent food waste. Check out Doing Good Together's Plant a Row for the Hungry page for more information, reflection questions for your family, and additional resources. To find a food shelf near you that would like to receive your produce donation, visit Ample Harvest's find a food pantry page.   

Ages: Everyone can participate 

Time Commitment: Varies

Contact:  Ample Harvest, [email protected] or Garden Writer's Association, Plant a Row for the Hungry, PAR Hotline 1.877.492.2727
www.ampleharvest.org, www.gardenwriters.org