All Ages | Activity

Bones, bones, and more bones! This Halloween get macabre with us and enjoy our all ages show-and-tell program that will have you intrigued, surprised, and a maybe a little creeped out.

Fee: $4 per program participant / Vehicle use fee may apply

Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors

Weather: In case of rain, will be moved indoors

RSVP: RSVP Required.

Doors close 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.

Adults & Teens (Ages +12) | Presentation and Walk

AFSP’s signature education program, Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention, provides participants with life-saving knowledge and confidence critical to preventing suicide.

This presentation will cover what we know about this leading cause of death, the most up-to-date research on prevention, and what we can all do to help save lives. Participants will learn the common risk factors for suicide, how to spot the warning signs in others, and practical examples for how to engage in critical conversations and connect to resources.

Join us to learn how to keep ourselves, our loved ones and those in our community safe. When it comes to suicide prevention — talk truly can help to save lives

Fee: Free / Vehicle use fee may apply

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors and Outdoors

Distance: About a mile on pavement and sand

RSVP: RSVP not required, Walk-ins welcome.

Program departs 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.

Free Programming

All Ages | Activities, Crafts, and More

AVAST, MATIES! Captain Jones and his band of pirates welcome ye to our little island. Become one of the crew by playing historic pirate games, crafting a hat, and embarking on a treasure hunt.

Schedule

TBD

11:00am-3:00pm

11:00am - 12:00pm, 1:00pm-2:00pm

Fee: Free | *Parking fees collected 8am-4pm across Jones Beach State Park. Empire Passes also accepted.

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors and Outdoors.

Weather: In the case of inclement weather, all activities will be indoors.

RSVP: RSVP needed for crafts not admission, Walk-ins welcome.

All Ages | Tours

Drop in anytime during these hours to request a touch tank experience with an educator. Our educator will introduce you to hermit crabs and snails, some of which you might recognize from around Long Island!

Fee: Free

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: No RSVP needed, walk-ins welcome.

The experience typically takes about 15 minutes to explore the different animal species and shells we house in our tank.

Children (Ages 0-8) | Read-aloud

Drop in to our hour of storytelling. Our educators will make our picture books come alive for your children. Our library of entertaining picture books will keep your kids interested all morning long.

Fee: Free

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: No RSVP needed, walk-ins welcome.

Each picture book takes about 10 minutes to be read aloud.

Children (Ages 7-12) | Activity

Join an educator each week to explore a different topic in science, technology, engineering, art, or mathematics through experiments, art projects, and more. 

Fee: $4 per program participant / Vehicle use fee may apply

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: RSVP Required.

Doors close 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.

All Ages | Tours

Drop in anytime during these hours to request a touch tank experience with an educator. Our educator will introduce you to hermit crabs and snails, some of which you might recognize from around Long Island!

Fee: Free

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: No RSVP needed, walk-ins welcome.

The experience typically takes about 15 minutes to explore the different animal species and shells we house in our tank.

Adults & Teens (Ages 12+) | Hike

State parks are a great place to explore from behind the lens of a camera! Photographers of all experience levels are invited to hike through the West End. Participants must provide their own camera equipment. Participants are welcome to use their phone cameras.

Fee: $4 per program participant / Vehicle use fee may apply

Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors

Distance: Up to 2 miles of walking on sand and pavement.

RSVP: RSVP Required.

Program departs 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.

Children (Ages 3-6) | Class

Come to Jones Beach and join us for an exciting new activity every week. Your little one will get creative, get moving, and start learning about the fun of the outdoors and of science.

Theme: Autumn

Fee: $4 per program participant / Vehicle use fee may apply

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors, with possible short outdoor activity

RSVP: RSVP Required.

Doors close 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.

Adults & Teens (Ages 12+) | Craft

Learn a new skill with us and create a craft to decorate your home, gift to a friend, or just to help you unwind and relax.

Theme: Wire Wrap Jewelry

Fee: $4 per program participant / Vehicle use fee may apply

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: RSVP Required.

Doors close 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.

All Ages | Tours

Drop in anytime during these hours to request a touch tank experience with an educator. Our educator will introduce you to hermit crabs and snails, some of which you might recognize from around Long Island!

Fee: Free

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: No RSVP needed, walk-ins welcome.

The experience typically takes about 15 minutes to explore the different animal species and shells we house in our tank.

Adults & Teens (Ages 12+) | Hike

State parks are a great place to explore from behind the lens of a camera! Photographers of all experience levels are invited to hike through the West End. Participants must provide their own camera equipment. Participants are welcome to use their phone cameras.

Fee: $4 per program participant / Vehicle use fee may apply

Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors

Distance: Up to 2 miles of walking on sand and pavement.

RSVP: RSVP Required.

Program departs 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.

Adults & Teens (Ages 12+) | Volunteer Event

Ages 12 and up—all children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Plan to arrive by 10:00 am (schedule below). Help survey Jones Beach! NYS DEC and NYS Parks, with support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, hosts a Marine Debris survey and clean-up biannually. Come learn more about why this survey is so important! The duration depends on conditions but is expected to take 3-4 hours.

For this day at the beach, we will provide:

• PPE (gloves)

• Garbage bags

• Data recording materials

• Other equipment needed for the cleanup and survey

However, we ask that you please bring:

• Reusable water bottle

• Sun protection

• Weather appropriate clothing

• Closed toed shoes

• Lunch or light snack

Schedule:

10:00am—Welcome, Sign-in and registration (waivers and photo release) at Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center

10:30am—Introduction to staff, project, and research protocols

11:00am— Walk to beach

11:30 am—Survey and beach cleanup. Some groups will finish earlier than others. Survey's usually take between 2.5 - 5 hours depending on number of volunteers and the amount of trash present.

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Presented by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center with support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program

If there are questions, please feel free to reach out to francis.mcparland@dec.ny.gov or jbenc@parks.ny.gov.

Children (Ages 0-8) | Read-aloud

Drop in to our hour of storytelling. Our educators will make our picture books come alive for your children. Our library of entertaining picture books will keep your kids interested all morning long.

Fee: Free

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: No RSVP needed, walk-ins welcome.

Each picture book takes about 10 minutes to be read aloud.

Adults & Teens (Ages 12+) | Citizen Science

Help us catalog the species that can be found at Jones Beach State Park during the summer! Please have the free “iNaturalist” app pre-downloaded and bring your own smartphone to participate in this program.

We will be walking outdoors on our trails to find different species. Please dress for the weather.

Learn more about iNaturalist here:

https://www.inaturalist.org/

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects

Fee: Free

Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors

Distance: Up to 1 mile of walking across sand and/or pavement

RSVP: RSVP Required

Children (Ages 7-12) | Activity

Your kids will take some time to use their senses to understand the world around them and learn ways to take care of their wellness.

Fee: free / Vehicle use fee may apply

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors, with outdoor walk if weather allows.

Distance: If weather allows, up to 1 miles of walking on sand and/or pavement.

RSVP: RSVP Required.

Doors close 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.

Children (Ages 7-12) | Activity

Join an educator each week to explore a different topic in science, technology, engineering, art, or mathematics through experiments, art projects, and more. 

Fee: $4 per program participant / Vehicle use fee may apply

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: RSVP Required.

Doors close 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.

Children (Ages 3-6) | Class

Come to Jones Beach and join us for an exciting new activity every week. Your little one will get creative, get moving, and start learning about the fun of the outdoors and of science.

Theme: Pumpkins

Fee: $4 per program participant / Vehicle use fee may apply

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors, with possible short outdoor activity

RSVP: RSVP Required.

Doors close 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.

Adults & Teens (Ages 12+)

Think of all the things of your life that makes you feel gratitude. Now, let's write them down and put them away for safekeeping! This wellness craft is the perfect way to celebrate the season.

Practicing gratitude can enhance mental, emotional, and physical well-being

Fee: Free

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors and Outdoors.

RSVP: RSVP required

All Ages | Tours

Drop in anytime during these hours to request a touch tank experience with an educator. Our educator will introduce you to hermit crabs and snails, some of which you might recognize from around Long Island!

Fee: Free

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: No RSVP needed, walk-ins welcome.

The experience typically takes about 15 minutes to explore the different animal species and shells we house in our tank.

Children (Ages 0-8) | Read-aloud

Drop in to our hour of storytelling. Our educators will make our picture books come alive for your children. Our library of entertaining picture books will keep your kids interested all morning long.

Fee: Free

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: No RSVP needed, walk-ins welcome.

Each picture book takes about 10 minutes to be read aloud.

All Ages | Tours

Drop in anytime during these hours to request a touch tank experience with an educator. Our educator will introduce you to hermit crabs and snails, some of which you might recognize from around Long Island!

Fee: Free

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: No RSVP needed, walk-ins welcome.

The experience typically takes about 15 minutes to explore the different animal species and shells we house in our tank.

Children (Ages 7-12) | Activity

Join an educator each week to explore a different topic in science, technology, engineering, art, or mathematics through experiments, art projects, and more. 

Fee: $4 per program participant / Vehicle use fee may apply

Outdoors/Indoors?: Indoors

RSVP: RSVP Required.

Doors close 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.