Drop on by BBP’s Education Station — at the entrance to Pier 1, directly across from the Pier 1 Pavilion — to get hands-on with the Park’s spectacular nature and make a nature-inspired art project. Join us every week from August 5 to September 10, Tuesdays from 10 AM-12 PM and Wednesdays from 2-4 PM. All ages are welcome to this free drop-in program.

August 5 and 6: All About Algae
Get hands-on in our algae touch tank as you learn all about algae, a photosynthesizing aquatic organism group. Handle the different types of algae that we have in the river. Learn what an algae bladder is! You will be able to make your own algae press artwork to take with you.

August 12 and 13: Getting Salty
Brooklyn Bridge Park is surrounded by brackish water, which is a mix of fresh and salt water. Learn how to measure the saltiness (or salinity) of the East River’s water with a handheld refractometer; learn what happens when fresh and salt water mix; and be inspired to create your own saltwater watercolor landscape with watercolors, salt, and brackish water from our shores.

August 19 and 20: Framing Nature
Make your own quadrat, which is a simple, square measuring tool that is used by scientists to visually estimate and sample the plants and life under it. Learn about how Brooklyn Bridge Park uses our quadrats to collect data in our different habitats, and then put your own quadrat to use to help guide your own exploration of the park.

August 26 and 27: Plankton Party
Learn all about the plankton in our waters as you look at both plantlike (phytoplankton) and animal-like (zooplankton) plankton under a microscope. Then go big and make giant plankton wire sculpture mobiles inspired by these tiny, drifting aquatic organisms.

September 2 and 3rd: What’s in Bloom
Did you know that Brooklyn Bridge Park is post-industrial park, meaning that all of the beautiful plants and nature that you see has been planted over the past 15 years? See what the park looked like before it was a park through historical photos. Get up close to the stunning flowers that can be found on Pier 1: Count their petals and make your symmetrical floral bouquet with paint.

September 9 and 10: Species Spotlight: Crab
Get up close and meet some of the crabs found in the East River through our touch tank. Learn about these crustaceans and the types of crabs that can be found on our shores. Look through a microscope at crab eggs and larvae (zoea), then make your own crab claw and test its ability to pick up objects.