All Ages | Activity

How many names does one living thing have? Embark on a mission to meet familiar animals, plants, and more here at Jones Beach, and speak their Algonquin-language names.

Fee: Free / Vehicle use fee may apply

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.

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: Bivalves

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.

All Ages | Games 

Play cornhole, ring toss, giant checkers, and more! A laid-back evening of outdoor games and fun for the whole family.  

Fee: Free / Vehicle use fee may apply 

Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors. 

RSVP: Not required. 

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: Bivalves

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+) | Volunteer

Help beautify our beachfronts by helping us on this cleanup. 

10:00am-10:10am: Volunteer Check-in and Paperwork 

10:10am- 10:15am: Introductions and Safety Talk. 

10:15am- 1:00pm: Beach Cleanup. Distance walked and end time of cleanup dependent on amount of trash present. 

Fee: Free / Please give your name to the West End 2 tollbooth to have your vehicle fee waived.

Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors. Will be cancelled via email in the case of inclement weather. 

Distance: Up to 3 miles walking across sand. 

RSVP: RSVP Required.  

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

Please scroll down for further information.

For this day at the beach, we will provide:

• PPE (gloves)

• Garbage bags

• Other equipment needed for cleanup

However, we ask that you please bring:

• Reusable water bottle

• Sun protection

• Weather appropriate clothing

• Closed toed shoes

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.

Updated 5:00pm 8/22: CANCELLED

Due to complications with the weather this week, tonight’s program is cancelled! The Jones Beach Bandshell and AOSNY may be rescheduling for tomorrow night, but please refer to their Facebook and website for more information:

Jones Beach Boardwalk Bandshell | Wantagh NY | Facebook

Long Island astronomy - Amateur Observers' Society of New York, Inc.

Sign ups for the rescheduling will not be handled by us—space would be available first come first served.

Speakers:

Amateur Observers’ Society of New York

Established in 1965, the Amateur Observers’ Society of New York (“AOSNY”) was created as a means for astronomy enthusiasts of all ages to meet together. Amateur Astronomy is about helping others, learning, doing, and having fun!

Their mission is to bring Long Island astronomy to the public and provide astronomy resources to members. This expresses their commitment not only to serve their members, but also to educate and inspire the public.

Adults & Teens (Ages 12+) | Hike

Follow our guide around the West End. Learn about the history of the preserve and how to identify the various species we may find!

Fee: $4 per program participant / Vehicle use fee in effect

Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors

Distance: Up to 2.5 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 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 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: Insect Explorers

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.

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: Insect Explorers

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.

Children (Ages 7-12) | Class 

Slap on those gloves and get your dissection tools ready because we’re diving into the anatomy and survival adaptions of the squid. Join us for a guided squid dissection for a deeper understanding of these magnificent marine animals. 

All kids must be accompanied by an adult. 

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

Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors on tables. 

RSVP: RSVP Required.  

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

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+) | Volunteer

Help beautify our beachfronts by helping us on this cleanup. 

10:00am-10:10am: Volunteer Check-in and Paperwork 

10:10am- 10:15am: Introductions and Safety Talk. 

10:15am- 1:00pm: Beach Cleanup. Distance walked and end time of cleanup dependent on amount of trash present. 

Fee: Free / Please give your name to the West End 2 tollbooth to have your vehicle fee waived.

Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors. Will be cancelled via email in the case of inclement weather. 

Distance: Up to 3 miles walking across sand. 

RSVP: RSVP Required.  

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

Please scroll down for further information.

For this day at the beach, we will provide:

• PPE (gloves)

• Garbage bags

• Other equipment needed for cleanup

However, we ask that you please bring:

• Reusable water bottle

• Sun protection

• Weather appropriate clothing

• Closed toed shoes

Families (All Ages) | Walk

Get a taste of Jones Beach with a beautiful and easy walk. Take a guided walk down to the ocean and back to see what plants, animal tracks, and other features of the landscape there are to be seen on a given day, and learn about what makes Jones Beach unique.

This walk is at least 1 mile on sandy terrain.

Fee: $4 per person

Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors, but we in the case inclement weather we will cancel via email.

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. 

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: Terrariums

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, preferred ages 8 and up | Citizen Science Event

Join an educator to learn all about seine fishing and learn all about the aquatic organisms that call Jones Bay home.

Seine fishing employs a large net (seine) with two poles. Two people stand parallel to the shore, each holding one pole. As it sweeps the water, the net catches aquatic organisms. After surveying these organisms, we will be releasing them to the bay.

We will meet at the Center to check-in and use the restrooms, and then you will get back in your vehicle and follow us to the seining site.

Please arrive on time, program departs 10 minutes after start time. If you have any questions, call 516-809-8222.

We will provide:

• Seine net

You MUST bring:

• Clothes you are comfortable getting wet.

• Closed-toe water shoes. NO SANDALS OR FLIP FLOPS.

• Water

• Sunscreen

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+) | Workshop 

Join us for a creative writing experience to learn different methods of nature writing while experiencing the physical beauty of the dunes. 

Writing utensils and small journals are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. 

Fee: $4 a person / Vehicle use fee may apply 

Outdoors/Indoors?: Outdoors, but we will move indoors in the case of inclement weather. 

Distance: We will be mostly stationary, but may have a 0.25 mile walk or stretch depending on time available. 

RSVP: RSVP required. 

Program departs 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: Clay Magnets

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 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+) | 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.