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.

This program takes place OUTDOORS. Please dress appropriately and drink water. Program departs 10 minutes after start time. RSVP required. 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.

FREE*

Adults, Families (All Ages) | Hike

April 27th is a day to explore your local trails--visit the Center and journey through the dunes down to the Atlantic Ocean with us.

Get a taste of Jones Beach with a beautiful hike. 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 hike a 1 mile there-and-back trail across sand.

Since 2013, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has teamed up with hundreds of partners—trail groups, agencies, nonprofits, businesses, brands, clubs and every other type of organization in between—to inspire tens of thousands of people to get outside and celebrate their local trails.

* $8 Jones Beach State Park vehicle use fees apply, NYS Empire Pass honored

Adults, Families (Ages 6 and up) | Volunteer Event

Ages 6 and up—all children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Help beautify our beachfronts by lending a hand on our beach cleanup. We will provide all the materials, and you will join a staff member to the parts of our environment that need the most assistance!

For this morning at the beach, we will provide:

• PPE (gloves)

• Garbage bags

However, we ask that you please bring:

• Water bottle

• Sun protection

• Weather appropriate clothing

• Closed toed shoes

• A light snack

ALL AGES

RSVP TO: lousab@aol.com

Free admission to the Center (Jones Beach State Park vehicle use fees apply, NYS Empire Pass honored)

Topic: 2023 Was the Hottest Year on Record: What are the Consequences? Possible Solutions?

ALL AGES

RSVP NOT REQUIRED

Free admission to the Center (Jones Beach State Park vehicle use fees apply, NYS Empire Pass honored)

Join us as we bring Brookhaven National Laboratory science to the Long Island community with family-friendly activities relating to nature, solar, and climate change.

FREE

Adults and Children, Ages 8 and up | Citizen Science

Help us catch ants, beetles, and mosquitos to help researchers unlock the secrets of their DNA.

Join other citizen scientists to collect Long Island insects for DNA sequencing!

In this event, participants will familiarize themselves with the biodiversity of Jones Beach, with a focus on local ant, beetle, and mosquito groups.

We will be catching insects with bug nets, and then attempting to identify them and label them for a database.

Attendees will be introduced to how DNA barcoding can be used to identify species, and will obtain, document, and preserve specimens for DNA isolation at future events. Collection and identification of these insects helps improve their range maps and can show how species are responding to environmental pressures such as global climate change.

Our Event Coordinator:

Olivia Trinkus - Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center Intern

Olivia Trinkus is a current high school senior interning at Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center. She plans to study molecular biology in college and is thinking of pursuing a career in research. She has always had a love for all living things but found her enthusiasm for biology through her AP Biology class in school. She wants to continue expanding her knowledge of science, from molecules to ecosystems, through everything she does. She hopes this experience in DNA barcoding through the Center will be another step towards her goal.

Families (All Ages) | Activity

$4 fee per program participant

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.

This is an OUTDOOR program.

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

Families (All Ages) | Activity

$4 fee per program participant

Spring is on its way! What better way to prepare for the season than to get started on some outdoor decor. Come paint rocks at this month’s weekend craft Boulder Bash!

This is an INDOOR program.

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

Families (All Ages) | Activity

$4 fee per program participant

Calling all young photographers! Join us as we discuss the history, logistics, and importance of photography.

This is an INDOOR program.

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

Free Event Admission (NO RSVP REQUIRED)

Scouts (All Ages) | Walk

Do you and your troop want to see seals? Meet us at Field 10 to learn all about the seals that visit Long Island. Walk along the beach and watch out for swimming seals--our educators will be ready with a scope to point out these magnificent marine mammals!

This walk is on sand, and is unfortunately not accessible to wheelchairs or strollers. However, we will have educators stationed at the accessible docks which are by the water and also have a chance of seeing seals. Stop by at any point between 10:00am – 12:00pm. Wear layers, gloves, hats, and scarves because wind conditions along the bay can make the walk extra chilly. Bring binoculars if you have. There are no open bathrooms at this site, but the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center is a short drive down the road and will have open bathrooms.

CANCELLED: Free Event Admission (NO RSVP REQUIRED)

SATURDAY 3/23 SCOUT SEE SEALS IS CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

Scouts (All Ages) | Walk

Do you and your troop want to see seals? Meet us at Field 10 to learn all about the seals that visit Long Island. Walk along the beach and watch out for swimming seals--our educators will be ready with a scope to point out these magnificent marine mammals!

This walk is on sand, and is unfortunately not accessible to wheelchairs or strollers. However, we will have educators stationed at the accessible docks which are by the water and also have a chance of seeing seals. Stop by at any point between 10:00am – 12:00pm. Wear layers, gloves, hats, and scarves because wind conditions along the bay can make the walk extra chilly. Bring binoculars if you have. There are no open bathrooms at this site, but the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center is a short drive down the road and will have open bathrooms.

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

Plan to arrive by 9:00 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.

In case of rain, this event will be rescheduled to March 22nd.

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:

9:00-9:15: Welcome, Sign-in and registration (waivers and photo release) at Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center

9:15-9:30: Introduction to staff, project, and research protocols

9:30-10:00: Walk to beach

10:00: 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 hayden.uresk@parks.ny.gov.

Children (Ages 7-12) | Activity

$4 fee per program participant

It’s time to start thinking about blooming gardens and our favorite pollinator pals- bees! Learn about the important world of bees before making a bee inspired craft.

This is an INDOOR program.

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

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

Families (All Ages) | Activity

$4 fee per program participant

Come build your own eclipse viewer out of objects you can find in your own home. Learn what eclipses are, and what makes our upcoming April 8th eclipse in New York State so exciting.

This is an INDOOR program.

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

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

Families (All Ages) | Activity

$4 fee per program participant

Spring is on its way! What better way to prepare for the season than to get started on some outdoor decor. Come paint rocks at this month’s weekend craft Boulder Bash!

This is an INDOOR program.

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

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

Children (Ages 7-12) | Activity

$4 fee per program participant

Did you know that parts of Long Island are younger than the Pyramids of Giza? It’s true! Long Island formed from glaciers and has been changing ever since! Swing by the center to learn more about the power of glaciers!

This is an INDOOR program.

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

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

Families (All Ages) | Activity

$4 fee per program participant

Did you know that no two snowflakes are exactly the same? Come to the center to find out why each and every snowflake is so unique, and make some of your own at the craft Snowflake Spectacular!

This is an INDOOR program.

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

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.

Families (All Ages) | Walk

RSVP REQUIRED

$4 fee per program participant

In the winter, Jones Beach welcomes back its winter seal population. Learn about these incredible marine mammals and their migration to Jones Beach, and go for a walk to spot Harbor and Gray Seals feeding in our bay.

We start at the Center, with a talk about seals, and then participants follow our educators in their personal vehicles over to the seal-watching spot for a guided 1.5 mile walk on the sandy beach.

This program has portions both INDOORS and OUTDOORS. Dress appropriately.

Please wear:

• Warm coat

• Gloves, Scarf, Hat

• Boots or other warm closed-toe footwear

If you need to cancel your reservation, please call 516-809-8222 or email jbenc@parks.ny.gov so your spot may be made available to others.