The Green-Wood Cemetery Presents Green Adventure for Families

(Brooklyn, N.Y.)—This Earth Month, families are invited to embark on a journey into the natural world at an unexpected location: The Green-Wood Cemetery. On Sunday, April 27th, adults and kids can learn together about the rich biodiversity of Brooklyn through Green Adventure for Families, an innovative program co-sponsored by Green-Wood and community bio lab Genspace.

From 10am to 1pm, families can explore the grounds, create art, listen to stories, and observe life in our city from some of its tallest trees to its tiniest microbes. All activities are designed to spark curiosity and foster a deeper connection with the environment.

“You don’t have to leave the city to experience beautiful trees, flowers, and wildlife. Green-Wood’s landscape serves as the ideal setting for families to experience nature up close in an urban environment,” said Rachel Walman, Green-Wood’s Director of Education. “Through Green Adventure for Families, we hope to nurture the next generation of environmentalists by teaching young people about the importance of biodiversity and conservation, right here in the heart of Brooklyn.”

The event coincides with the City Nature Challenge, a global initiative that encourages people to observe and document urban wildlife. Participants of all ages can contribute by joining guided walks led by naturalists, which focus on birds, insects, plants, and fungi.

“By presenting Green Adventure for Families at Green-Wood, we’re showcasing how spaces traditionally viewed as somber can be viewed as vibrant centers of life and learning,” said Derya Mergin, Senior Manager of Public Programs at Green-Wood. “As a nationally accredited arboretum, our grounds are home to thousands of trees and diverse wildlife, offering families a unique opportunity to connect with nature and history, while fostering a sense of wonder and stewardship for our environment.”

Throughout the day, families can join self-guided scavenger hunts and specialized walks, including:

● A bird and bug walk led by naturalist Matthew Wills

● A flora/fauna walk with botanist Molly Nash Rouzie and naturalist Chris Kreussling

● A mushroom hunt guided by Potter Palmer and Victoria Bayevski from the NY Mycological Society

● A Spanish-language nature walk led by Green-Wood educator Dhamar Romo-Chavez

Families will also have the opportunity to:

● Learn to make paper out of leaves and decorate it with mushroom ink, or view natural specimens under microscopes—activities led by scientists from Genspace, a Brooklyn-based community biology lab.

● Enjoy nature-drawing sessions using natural materials found at Green-Wood and mounted skeletons and bird taxidermies from Gotham Taxidermy.

● View bee specimens and go on a “bee hunt” with Sarah Kornbluth of the Museum of Natural History.

● Participate in readings and sing-alongs with Rasha Hamid, the Brooklyn-based author of How to Bird and Hello, Beech Tree!

For more information and to register for the event, visit green-wood.com/event/green-woods-green-adventure-for-families.

Attendees should enter at Green-Wood’s Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street (500 25th Street) and head to the Historic Chapel, the central location for Green Adventure for Families.

About The Green-Wood Cemetery:

Established in 1838, The Green-Wood Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark, is recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries. As the permanent residence of over 570,000 individuals, Green-Wood’s magnificent grounds, grand architecture, and world-class statuary have made it a destination for half a million visitors annually, including national and international tourists, New Yorkers, and Brooklynites. At the same time, Green-Wood is also an outdoor museum, an arboretum, and a repository of history. Throughout the year, it offers innovative programs in arts and culture, nature and the environment, education, workforce development, restoration, and research, as well as bold initiatives in climate resiliency and sustainability. For more information, please visit www.green-wood.com.