Two festival weekends and a special symposium celebrate the dedication of the remarkable Thain Family Forest and its ongoing program of restoration as well as the United Nations International Year of Forests. Tours, tree climbing, canoe trips, and film screenings make for an unforgettable autumn experience.

Festival Weekends

Saturdays & Sundays, November 5 - 6 & 12 - 13, 12-5 p.m.

- Take an expert-led nature walk.
- Watch a tree-climbing demonstration by an arborist.
- Canoe the Bronx River and learn about its wildlife.
- Stop by the Forest Fair.
- Enjoy live music.
- Participate in poetry readings.
- Watch a special film as part of the International Forest Film Festival.
- Go behind the scenes of the Garden's Science campus November 12 - November 13.

A Forest in the City: Centuries of Sylvan Beauty

November 5 - January 16 - On view during regular Garden hours

Explore the history and significance of the Garden’s 50-acre Forest through beautifully printed rare books and folios. In the LuEsther T. Mertz Library’s Rondina Gallery, this exhibition brings to life the history of the Forest, examines its role as a place of discovery and habitat, and describes the ways in which the Garden practices responsible stewardship of this rare, old-growth woodland.

Exhibitions in the Mertz Library are made possible by the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.

Symposium: The Future of Forests: Global, Regional, Local

Saturday, November 5, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

In this symposium, presentations from internationally recognized scientists and policymakers will address the essential role that forests play in preserving biodiversity, mitigating human-caused environmental change, promoting research, and connecting people with nature.
Non-Member $20/Member $18
Advance registration recommended at nybg.org/AdultEd

The Forest as Laboratory

November 5 - January 16 - On view during regular Garden hours

The Garden's Forest has been a living laboratory for researchers in many disciplines. This panel and poster display in the Ross Gallery will feature findings of the research that has been conducted at the Garden as well as describe the education, science, and ecological restoration programs at the Garden.

Exhibitions in the Arthur and Janet Ross Gallery are made possible by the Arthur and Janet Ross Fund

The Future of Forests: A Teen Symposium

November 4, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

This symposium brings together passionate educators and students from local school for tours of the Forest, an award-winning short film selected from the United Nations International Forest Film Festival, and an interactive hands-on challenge that will engage teens in a problem-solving session on forest ecology.

Please call Sarah Paulson at 718.817.8079 if you are a teacher interested in bringing a group of 12-15 high school students.