Ongoing Saturday Cleanup at Habirshaw Park

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About Beczak Environmental Education Center

Location:

35 Alexander St., Yonkers, NY 10701, US

Mission Statement

Beczak's mission is to provide hands-on educational experiences about the ecological, cultural and historic aspects of the unique Hudson River estuary.

Description

The Beczak Environmental Education Center is the only environmental center in all of Westchester County with its own beach right on the edge of the river. This safe waterfront area, with its sandy beach and view of the impressive Palisades, is an ideal spot for the experiential, Hudson River-based learning.

The Beczak Center was named after Joe Beczak, a Yonkers native and Hudson River enthusiast, and is located in downtown Yonkers, just steps away from Yonkers Metro North train station.

Our aquarium is a state-of-the-art ecological system, complete with living animals and plants. It demonstrates the tidal movement of the Hudson River estuary. It is the only tank of its kind in the country that is available for the public to view (by appointment or during our programs).

Our evening programs for adults include lectures which emphasize history, science, and environmental issues of the Hudson River, workshops on outdoor skills, arts and crafts, and nature education, and coffeehouses which highlight culturally-diverse, local musical talent.

Our weekend programs for families include crafts projects such as boat-building and animal mask-making, hikes to local natural areas, and storytelling. Whenever possible,we head out to the beach!

The Beczak Environmental Education Center is a major organizer of the Yonkers Hudson Riverfest, an annual environmental and multicultural festival.