named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Environmental Education
Offers hands-on learning about local ecology, water quality, and climate resilience through programs at the Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center, including aquariums and lab space for school and community groups.
Free Public Programs
Year-round events including outdoor fitness classes, art installations, summer concerts, dance parties, and family-friendly activities in the waterfront parks.
Nature Journaling
Art-focused classes for teens and adults that combine drawing instruction with environmental education and engagement with the natural world.
Nature Walks
Seasonal guided walks highlighting the restored wetland ecosystem, native plants, and local wildlife in Hunters Point South and Gantry Plaza State Parks.
Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center
A hub for environmental programming featuring educational aquariums, lab space, and resilient design features that serve as an open-air classroom for the community.
School Field Trips
Partners with the Newtown Creek Alliance to provide STEM-based field trips focusing on marine ecology, water quality, and environmental justice for K–12 and adult groups.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
- Advocates for green spaces and park fundingAdvocates for the preservation and improvement of green spaces and waterfront areas in Long Island City, Queens, and collaborates with NYC and NYS Parks Departments to secure funding and supportive policies for park development.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Delivers environmental education and nature-based programmingLeads year-round environmental education programs including seasonal nature walks focused on native plants and migratory species, speaker talks, and saltwater aquarium exhibits featuring marine life from Newtown Creek. Also offers self-guided scavenger hunts and a downloadable activity book for children.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Hosts community art and cultural eventsOrganizes and curates art programs such as "Watercolors on the Waterfront" and "Nature Journaling" in collaboration with local artists, alongside family-friendly events like the CinemaLIC movie series, which features five films annually on an inflatable screen and draws hundreds of attendees.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Hosts free children's programs and summer enrichment activitiesSponsors summer programming for children ages 0–10, including the Summer Kids on the Waterfront program with daily sessions at 10 a.m., Art ExplOWLration classes, and educational play using LEGO bricks and K’Nex. These programs have drawn over 3,700 attendees in recent years.
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Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Manages habitat restoration and sustainable park infrastructureConstructed 1.5 acres of tidal marsh to support native species, installed a perimeter bioswale at Hunter’s Point South Park to filter stormwater runoff, and lined shorelines with rip-rap to prevent erosion at both Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunter’s Point South Park.
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Recreational Boating and Sailing Programs 1 activity
- Operates public paddle and boating programsHosts free monthly public paddle sessions from late spring to fall, operating out of the Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center to provide public access to the waterfront.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organizes volunteer gardening and ecological restoration activitiesConducts gardening activities, removes approximately 2,000 bags of invasive weeds annually, and organizes volunteer events such as Bulbfest to plant flower bulbs in Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunter’s Point South Park. Engaged over 180 volunteers in the 2025 Bulbfest event, contributing to a cumulative planting of nearly 100,000 bulbs since 2015.
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Community Wellness Movement Classes 1 activity
- Provides outdoor fitness and wellness programsOffers weekly yoga sessions (Tuesdays at 7 PM and Sundays at 9 AM), Zumba classes, and a children’s fitness program for ages 1.5 and up. Hosts over 50 free annual fitness programs with more than 5,000 attendees per year.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$466K
Contributions & grants$345K74%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$5K1%
Other revenue$116K
expenses
Total expenses$381K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$117K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$358K
Cash$226K
Investments$0
Liabilities$26K
Net assets$332K
Liquid reserves7.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +40.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JESSICA SECHRIST | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $100K |
board members · 15
- ALLIE HAAKE — MEMBER
- ANDRE GALAN — MEMBER
- ANN MARGARET OCONNER — MEMBER
- BARBARA ETZEL — MEMBER
- HOSSEIN ALEYASIN — MEMBER
- IAN CHIN — MEMBER
- KELLY CRAIG — MEMBER
- LEONARD KLIPPER — VICE PRESIDENT
- LINDSAY DELLER — MEMBER
- MATTHEW QUIGLEY — MEMBER
- MICHAEL KOENECKE — TREASURER
- NINA KANTCHEVA TUSHEV — MEMBER
- REBECCA HORNSTEIN — MEMBER
- ROB BASCH — PRESIDENT
- SUMANTRO DAS — SECRETARY
relationships · 33
Who they work with
- Assembly Member Claire Valdez Government — Supported the Bulbfest event.
- City Owlets Partner — Partner organization providing Art ExplOWLration classes for children in collaboration with Hunter's Point Parks Conservancy.
- ConEdison Funder — Supported the Bulbfest event.
- Council Member Julie Won Government — Government sponsor of the Summer Kids program through the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development.
- Council Member Julie Won Government — Government sponsor supporting the Summer Kids program through the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development.
- Council Member Julie Won Government — Supported the Bulbfest event.
- Donna Levinstone Partner — Collaborates with the organization to lead "Watercolors on the Waterfront" art programs for families at Gantry Plaza State Park.
- Gantry Plaza State Park Partner — Implements resilient design features such as rip-rap and bioswales in collaboration with Gantry Plaza State Park.
- Hunter's Point South Living Partner — Sponsor of the Summer Kids on the Waterfront program.
- Hunter's Point South Living Partner — Sponsor of the Summer Kids program at Gantry Plaza State Park.
- Hunters Point Parks Conservancy Network — Board members and staff are affiliated with the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy, which manages programming and operations for waterfront parks including Gantry Plaza State Park.
- Hunters Point Parks Conservancy Partner — Partnership to present a children's fitness program.
- Hunter’s Point South Park Partner — Co-manages and maintains resilient design features in coordination with Hunter’s Point South Park.
- Joy Chen Partner — Instructor leading yoga sessions hosted by the organization.
- Monica Schroeder Partner — Partners with the organization to lead "Nature Journaling" programs that combine art instruction and environmental education for adults and teens.
- NYC Department of Youth and Community Development Government — Government agency through which funding for the Summer Kids program is administered.
- NYC Department of Youth and Community Development Government — Government agency through which funding for the Summer Kids program is provided.
- New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Government — Collaborates to fund park improvements and advocate for policies supporting local parks.
- New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Government — Manages Hunter’s Point South Park, where the organization operates.
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Partners to fund park improvements and advocate for policies supporting local parks.
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Government — Manages Gantry Plaza State Park, where the organization operates.
- New York State Parks Government — Requires volunteers to complete waivers from New York State Parks.
- Newtown Creek Alliance Partner — Partner organization providing STEM-based environmental education programs at Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center.
- North Brooklyn Community Boathouse Partner — Collaborates on member trips and boating safety classes.
- Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center Partner — Hosts joint environmental education, art, and youth programs with the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy.
- SWA/Balsley Partner — Collaborated on the design of both Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunter’s Point South Park.
- Snapology Partner — Partner organization providing educational programming for children using LEGO bricks, K’Nex, and technology at Gantry Plaza State Park.
- State Senator Kristen Gonzalez Government — Supported the Bulbfest event.
- TF Cornerstone Partner — Sponsor of the Summer Kids on the Waterfront program.
- TF Cornerstone Partner — Sponsor of the Summer Kids program at Gantry Plaza State Park.
+ 3 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Stewardship Through Activated Public Partnershipsmethodology: community_stewardshipBy enhancing, activating, and advocating for parks through volunteer engagement and cross-sector partnerships, the organization ensures long-term park vitality and equitable access because sustained community ownership emerges from active participation and shared responsibility between residents, organizations, and public agencies.
- Experiential Environmental Education in Open-Air Classroomsmethodology: experiential-educationBy transforming waterfront parks into open-air classrooms and using hands-on tools like aquariums, water quality sensors, and lab activities, the organization teaches ecological stewardship and local history because experiential, place-based learning increases engagement and understanding of complex environmental systems.
- Resilient Ecological Design for Community Protectionmethodology: resilient_waterfront_designBy designing and maintaining parks with ecologically resilient features such as bioswales and green infrastructure, the organization reduces environmental risks like stormwater runoff and sewer overflows, while simultaneously preserving public green space as a community asset because integrated ecological engineering serves both environmental and social functions in vulnerable urban waterfront areas.
- Therapeutic and Developmental Engagement Through Play and Naturemethodology: play-based_learningBy combining play-based learning, therapeutic gardening, and integrated fitness activities in park settings, the organization supports children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development because nature-based, non-clinical interventions provide accessible, low-barrier opportunities for growth and mental well-being.