NYCHA in Nature
NYCHA in Nature participants bird at the Beach 41st Street NYCHA housing complex
NYCHA in Nature is a collaboration with New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) communities and local organizations to provide opportunities for residents to engage with nature through birding.
Our programs strengthen connections with local green space and biodiversity, helping us develop a model to inspire the City’s half-million public housing residents to be active stewards of their environment. We envision every campus will have a set of nature and bird-focused programs, with residents taking the lead on programming and promotion.
Upcoming NYCHA In Nature Events
About the Program
Through direct outreach and conversations with residents, we tailor programs to community interests and needs. From bilingual outings to activities adapted for varying mobility levels, programming is designed to meet each campus’s needs. NYC Bird Alliance provides expert guides, loaner binoculars, and free resources such as our Spanish-English guide to NYC birds.
NYCHA in Nature programs include:
- Guided bird outings
- Collaborative outings with community groups (e.g. photography clubs, walking groups, and resident field trips)
- Recruiting and training of residents to lead outings and projects
- Volunteer and community science programs such as collision monitoring and Harbor Herons surveys
The success of this program is made possible by NYCHA residents, local organizations, elected officials, and other partners who help organize and publicize these events. If you or your organization would like to participate or become involved with NYCHA in Nature, please email Public Programs Manager Tasha Naula at tnaula@nycbirdalliance.org.
Program Goals:
- Bring NYCHA residents together through nature, building stronger communities while protecting the wildlife and biodiversity right outside their doors.
- Increase education and equity in access to urban nature and its many benefits.
- Engage a broader cross-section of New Yorkers in nature, birds, and inspire conservation action.
WHY THIS PROGRAM IS NEEDED
For health and well-being
Research shows that experiences in nature improve mental and physical health, social cohesion, and children’s ability to learn. Yet too many urban residents, especially in communities of color, lack that connection.
For a greener and more resilient NYC
Getting people outdoors to enjoy wildlife and involving them in environmental stewardship is the best way to inspire a conservation ethic and motivate people to take action. The 6% of City residents who live in NYCHA housing can be powerful stewards of biodiversity in their communities.
To connect residents to nature where they live
NYCHA's 335 campuses collectively contain over 1,000 acres of tree canopy coverage, making them a significant and often overlooked part of the City's green infrastructure. This program builds on that green space, bringing nature programming directly to residents who often live outside of walking distance from the City's largest parks.
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NYCHA in Nature outing participants walk along Canarsie Pier towards the Bay View Houses
New York City Housing Authority
The New York City Housing Authority's (NYCHA) 335 developments provide housing to 600,000 people, predominantly Black and Latinx. Many NYCHA complexes are in park-like settings – collectively, all NYCHA complexes have robust, democratically elected resident associations that take ownership in their communities. The housing authority has a sustainability agenda that includes resident-led projects in community climate action and sustainability through its nonprofit partner, the Public Housing Community Fund.
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Far Rockaway residents from Beach 41st Street Houses and the surrounding community look for shorebirds at a NYCHA in Nature outing
Program Partner
The Public Housing Community Fund, NYCHA's nonprofit partner, forges partnerships to invest in public housing communities. It aims to build a stronger, more equitable New York City through transformative programs that enhance the lives of NYCHA residents.
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
NYCHA in Nature is made possible by the generous support of National Audubon and The Ferriday Fund Charitable Trust and in partnership with the Public Housing Community Fund. Critical support is also provided by the generous contributions of our members and donors.
