Archtober celebrates the diverse horticulture and many green spaces of New York, as well as the communities that steward them. Many Archtober partners work alongside these spaces and are hosting programs this month that prompt connection with and participation in our local landscapes. We’ve selected a few exciting events all over the city where you can learn more about the natural environments that surround us!

City of Forest Day: A History of Brooklyn’s Last Remaining Forest with Prospect Park Alliance

Prospect Park is home to Brooklyn’s largest and oldest forest, an important hotspot of biodiversity with over 30,000 trees of 200+ species. On this guided walking tour with Prospect Park Alliance's touring partner, Turnstile Tours, you will explore the history of the stewardship of this forest over the past 150 years, looking at some of the park’s oldest trees, exploring the management practices developed by park co-designer Frederick Law Olmsted, the work of the Alliance to restore these urban woodlands over the past 30 years, and contemporary challenges to forests due to climate change and invasive pests.

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Birding with an Indigenous Perspective with Wavehill

Join Bronx-based, BIPOC birder Haley Scott from the Feminist Bird Club on a birding walk with an Indigenous lens. Hear about the effects of colonialism on bird populations and how common bird names evolved from the Algonquin language to reflect the language of European settlers. It’s peak fall migration, so expect to spot a wide variety of birds in the garden and skies above Wave Hill during this special excursion. A limited number of binoculars, monoculars, and walking sticks are available to borrow at the Perkins Visitor Center.

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Biophilic Design Walking Tour, Connecting Space & 1Hotel Brooklyn Bridge with NanaWall

Join NanaWall for an exciting in-person event to immerse yourself in the world of biophilic design and discover how architecture and nature come together harmoniously. Led by experts from NanaWall Systems and the 1 Hotel team consisting of Doni DiGiovanni, Alessandra DeNardo and Chief of Engineering, this walking tour will take you on a journey through the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge property, exploring stunning architectural marvels that seamlessly integrate with the surrounding natural environment. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and be inspired by the beauty of biophilic design. Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable experience!

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Into the Wild: Foraging and Discovering at the Lott House with Lott house

Lott House has organized a children’s workshop about identifying and foraging wild edible plants growing in Brooklyn! The workshop will include a wildcrafting activity using the plants harvested. Leading the tour is Aly Stoffo, a wild-foods forager, outdoor and sustainability educator, herbal product maker, and owner of Glam Gardener NYC, a business offering healing herbal products, art, and eco-education. She’s taught thousands of kids and adults through Glam Gardener NYC about foraging, the outdoors, and wildcrafting.

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Nature’s Classroom | Native Plants for Every Season with Grace Farms

Explore the fall landscape with Grace Farms and its Director of Horticulture, Kimberly Kelly, and learn how and when to collect native seeds. Kelly will discuss proper seed storage and everything you’ll need to know to foster germination in the seasons ahead. Nature’s Classroom is a monthly program series inviting hands-on and seasonal explorations of the Grace Farms nature preserve to deepen learning, appreciation, and connection to the natural world. This series is for teens and adults.

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