Kids’ Mindfulness Workshop
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.
STEAM Workshop: Clam Dissection
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.
Tiny Tots: Pumpkins
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.
Thankful Jars
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
Touch Tank Walk-in Hours
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.
Storytime Corner Walk-in Hour
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.
Touch Tank Walk-in Hours
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.
STEAM Workshop: Strawberry DNA
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.
Photography Hike
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.
Tiny Tots: Polar Bears
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: Polar Bears
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.
Adult Craft: Birdseed Balls
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: Birdseed Balls
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.
Adult Craft: Wreath Making
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: Wreath Making
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.
Family Wreath Making
Families (All Ages) | Activity
Join us for a fun seasonal craft! Create your very own custom wreath using our provided foraged materials.
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.
STEAM Workshop: Owl Pellets
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.
Tiny Tots: Owls
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: Owls
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.
Winter Wonders
Families (All Ages) | Walk + Activity
$4 fee per program participant
While the beach may be known to be the hot spot in the summers, winters at Jones Beach are just as wonderful! Join an educator to learn about identifying the animal tracks from our winter critters and explore how to harvest seeds from the dormant plants.
This is a leisurely walk throughout the paved sidewalks of the Pollinator Garden, and a short walk on the sand to see any wild animal tracks.
This program takes place OUTDOORS. Please dress appropriately and drink water. Program departs 10 minutes after start time. Please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov to cancel your reservation if you cannot attend so your spot can be made available to others.
Touch Tank Walk-in Hours
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.
Storytime Corner Walk-in Hour
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.
Storytime Corner Walk-in Hour
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.
Touch Tank Walk-in Hours
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.
Storytime Corner Walk-in Hour
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.
Touch Tank Walk-in Hours
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.
Storytime Corner Walk-in Hour
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.
Touch Tank Walk-in Hours
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.
BioBlitz: Changing Seasons
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/projects
Fee: Free
Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors
Distance: Up to 1 mile of walking across sand and/or pavement
RSVP: RSVP Required
Storytime Corner Walk-in Hour
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.
Balloon Survey and Beach Cleanup
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.
---
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.
Photography Hike
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.
Fishing Clinic
Join an educator and learn about the fish that live in Jones Bay with our free rod and reel fishing clinic. All ages welcome. CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY
This program takes place at Jones Beach State Park Field 10 Fishing Piers
Touch Tank Walk-in Hours
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.
Adult Craft: Wire Wrap Jewelry
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.
Tiny Tots: Autumn
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.
Photography Hike
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.
Touch Tank Walk-in Hours
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.
STEAM Workshop: Green Crab Dissection
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.
Storytime Corner Walk-in Hour
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.
Touch Tank Walk-in Hours
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.
Pirate Party
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.
Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention and Mindful Walk
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.
Spooky Skeletons
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.
Storytime Corner Walk-in Hour
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.
Touch Tank Walk-in Hours
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.
Migration Festival
Jones Beach is apart of a major migratory pathway--the Atlantic Flyway--and we get a front row seat to the migration of monarch butterflies, humpback whales, and hundreds of different bird species! Let's party and wish our favorite animals a safe journey south. Make a craft, learn to use binoculars, and compete in our fashion show!
Tiny Tots: Fossils
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: Fossils
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.
Fishing Clinic
Join an educator and learn about the fish that live in Jones Bay with our free rod and reel fishing clinic. All ages welcome. CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY
This program takes place at Jones Beach State Park Field 10 Fishing Piers
Birding & Biking
Adults (Ages +12) | Bike Ride
Join us for a leisurely bike ride with rest stops for birding. Learn about the different habitats on Jones Beach and keep your eyes open for shorebirds, ospreys, warblers, tree swallows, and more. No experience required. Binoculars are provided--but bikes and helmets are not.
We will be meeting at the Center, going over a few basics of birding and facts and then participants will follow our educator via bike across the West End.
Fee: $4 per program participant / Vehicle use fee may apply
Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors. Will be cancelled via email in the case of inclement weather.
Distance: Up to 4 miles of biking.
RSVP: RSVP Required.
Program departs 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.
Storytime Corner: En Español! Walk-in Hour
Jovenes (0-8) | Libros Ilustrados
Participe en nuestra hora de cuentacuentos. Escuche a nuestros educadores leyendo cuentos en español y ingles. Nuestra colección de libros entretendrá a tus hijos toda la mañana.
Tarifa: Gratis
¿Exterior/Interior?: Interior
RSVP: No se requiere RSVP, se aceptan visitas sin cita previa.
Cada libro ilustrado se lee en voz alta en unos 10 minutos.
Seaside Stretching
Adults & Teens (Ages 12+) | Wellness Activity
Journey down to the seashore to enjoy a guided stretch and meditative exercise.
Join the NYS Parks Wellness Challenge to win an exclusive sticker!
Fee: Free
Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors, but we will move indoors in the case of inclement weather.
Distance: Up to 1 mile walk there-and-back walk on a sandy beach.
RSVP: RSVP Required.
Program departs 10 minutes after start time. Please cancel your reservation if you cannot attend.
Touch Tank Walk-in Hours
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.