Sun Day | A Family Festival to Support the Clean Energy Movement in NYC
2025-09-21 13:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | 15th Street Friends Meeting House & Stuyvesant Square Park
On September 21st, Solar One is supporting the global Sun Day movement, organized by the environmental author Bill McKibben in collaboration with his organization Third Act. This will take place at the Friend’s Meeting House and spill into Stuyvesant Square Park where we will offer panel discussions, family friendly activities, and immediate ways we can take action to ensure that green energy is still our future, all while celebrating the power of the sun and sustainable energy. Space is limited for the panel, so get free tickets here.
Sun Day is a global day of action on September 21, 2025, celebrating the rise of clean energy. We’ll come together to showcase the power of the sun and wind, the energy sources that can power our world without pollution.
Our event will feature information booths and tables, kids’ activities, a performance by Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir, and a panel discussion with Bill McKibben and others, moderated by WNYC radio/podcast host Kai Wright. For more details check out our page
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This event is FREE. If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation.

Fishing Clinic at Stuy Cove Park | October
2025-10-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Stuy Cove Park, 24-20 FDR Drive Service Road East, New York, NY, 10010, United States
Come get up close & personal with the finned friends of the East River Estuary!
Thanks to our ongoing collaboration with Lower East Side Ecology Center, we are once again offering barb-free fishing clinics this fall!

Thursday October 2nd, with 1 hour slots
5PM – 6PM and 6PM – 7PM

Please arrive at your designated time slot as fishing supplies are limited!

PLEASE NOTE: Each child under 16 will need to share a rod with an adult guardian. Limit 1 rod per adult, ensuring each child is safely supervised.
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October Fishing Clinic at Stuy Cove
This event is FREE. If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation.

City of (Food) Forest Day at Stuy Cove Park!
2025-10-04 10:00 - 13:00 | Stuy Cove Park, 24-20 FDR Drive Service Road East, New York, NY, 10010, United States
Our new Environmental Education Center is finally open, and we are ready to start making moves on our new food forest education garden!
Join Stuy Cove Park staff for a morning of stewardship as we talk, think, build, and welcome some new edible species into the space. We’ll get our hands in the soil and enjoy some snacks made from native species we wish to cultivate- a tasty promise of what’s to come!
PLEASE NOTE: Consuming wild/novel foods can be risky for people with allergies or other potential health issues. All food offered is consumed at the attendees’ own risk.
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Get Your Tickets HERE
This event is FREE. If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation.

Solar One Gala: Learning & Growing Together
2025-10-16 18:30 - 22:30 | Stuy Cove Park, 24-20 FDR Drive Service Road East, New York, NY, 10010, United States
The Solar One Gala: Learning & Growing Together, on Thursday, October 16th, 2025, will be an evening soirée by the East River, celebrating the supporters, partners, and visionaries who helped turn the decades-long dream of the Environmental Education Center into reality. The Center is a thriving hub for climate education, community action, and green space stewardship—made possible by the generosity and dedication of people like you. This special event honors the deep roots we’ve planted in Stuy Cove Park and the bright, sustainable future we’re building together.
The Gala is the second half of our 2-part celebration, following September’s People-Power for the Planet Social, and will feature cocktails, connections, and a heartfelt tribute to those who’ve helped Solar One grow from the ground up.

Join us on October 16th @ 6:30PM, and become a sponsor/get your ticket for the Solar One Gala (Community Social ticket included): https://givebutter.com/c/s1-gala
More details about our Solar One Gala + September Community Social (2-Part Event Sponsorship Opportunity/Tickets) please check out the page below: https://solar1.org/2025-special-events-partnership-opportunities/

About Solar One: Our mission is to support underserved communities through innovative K-12 STEM education, green workforce training and job placement, solar technical assistance, and land stewardship that fosters sustainability and resiliency across NYC and beyond.
About the S1 Environmental Education Center (S1EEC): Join us for an inspiring celebration marking the grand opening of the Solar One Environmental Education Center—a visionary project more than 20 years in the making. From the opening of Stuy Cove Park in 2000 to overcoming the devastating setbacks of Superstorm Sandy, our community voiced a powerful support for a space dedicated to sustainability, native plants, and environmental education for students and residents to engage in bettering our ecosystem. Solar One was formed as the organization that would achieve these goals. Now integrated into the newly redesigned flood-resilient landscape, the Environmental Education Center stands as a beacon of resilience and community. Come celebrate this incredible milestone with the fellow donors, stakeholders, staff, friends, and neighbors who made this possible at a spirited soirée by the East River honoring our shared commitment to a greener future.

GDL PL Climate & Energy Education Intensive 25-26 School Year
2025-11-07 09:00 - 2025-11-14 14:00 | Solar One’s NEW Environmental Education Center (Manhattan), 800 FDR Dr., Service Rd East, 23rd St and the East River, NYC, NY, 10010
The NYC Public Schools Office of Energy and Sustainability and Solar One’s Green Design Lab (GDL) team have been partnering for more than 9 years to provide energy and solar professional learning opportunities, called Climate and Energy Education Intensives (CEEI) for NYCPS teachers. This program is FREE for interested teachers; all costs are covered through support from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).

The S1 GDL curriculum explored during the training includes a combination of hands-on activities that give context for why solar is important – such as an introduction to power plants, fossil fuels, and climate change – and explores the science and applications of solar energy through building mini-solar systems, field studies, and experiments.
CEEI PL Dates are:

Fri. November 7, 2025
Mon. November 10, 2025
Wed. November 12, 2025
Thu. November 13, 2025
Fri. November 14, 2025

Program Benefits:

Virtual and in-person professional learning program for 3-12th grade teachers

Access to full GDL curriculum including lesson plans that align with the NYSSLS and NYS Science Regents

Place-based and hands-on activities that can compliment Amplify curriculum and support students to investigate local phenomena

Strategies for incorporating climate change and renewable energy content into curriculum

Free classroom materials including multimeters, mini solar panels, and circuit supplies

Opportunities to apply for free classroom visits and 1-on-1 lesson planning with a Solar One educator (limited availability)

Best practices from a community of teachers leading sustainability education in NYC schools!

Apply HERE, and learn more details on our website HERE.
Read an in-depth case study on the NYC Solar Schools Education Program written by the Building Energy Exchange HERE. Can’t wait to see you at one of our PLs!

Community Ecology Reading Group
2025-11-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Solar One’s NEW Environmental Education Center (Manhattan), 800 FDR Dr., Service Rd East, 23rd St and the East River, NYC, NY, 10010
Join us for the Fall 2025 Community Ecology Reading Group, in partnership with NYC Parks GreenThumb!
This media meetup is a non-traditional book club with an open-ended, collaborative twist. Here’s how it works: Bring a book, article, podcast, film, or any media related to this season’s theme—Death—along with a brief quote or snippet you’d like to share. We’ll gather to share reflections, wander through tangents, snack together, and contribute to our evolving, crowd-sourced Ecological Reading List. Come with curiosity, and leave with new ideas and connections!

Get Your Tickets HERE
This event is FREE. If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation.

Gardening with Vets - Women & Families
2025-11-14 11:00 - 14:00 | Stuy Cove Park, 24-20 FDR Drive Service Road East, New York, NY, 10010, United States
oin us for a morning of connecting to land and one another at Stuyvesant Cove, a waterside native plant park just a few blocks down the street from the Manhattan VA.
This event is for Women Veterans and their families– regardless of discharge status. As the growing season winds down we’ll come together to learn about the ancient practice of seedkeeping. Go home with your own packets of native seeds that can help enliven your block, backyard, treebed, or flowerpot. Refreshments will be served.
For access: a group will meet outside the Manhattan VA at 10:30 and walk over to Stuy Cove, or guests can arrive on their own. Shuttle service is available at the following times. Please note: Veterans must bring the event flyer with them as proof of a VA activity for shuttle access.

Get Your Tickets HERE
This event is FREE. If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation.

Solar Cart Showcase | S1 x NY Boys & Girls Club x NY Climate Exchange
2025-11-20 16:30 - 18:30 | 21-12 30th Rd, Astoria, NY 11102, 21-12 30th Rd, Astoria, NY, 11102
Join us this Thursday, November 20th, in Astoria to experience the solar-powered carts built by and for students!
In partnership with Variety Boys & Girls Club Queens and New York Climate Exchange , we’re proud to co-host this showcase of renewable energy education that our young students were able to learn, master, build, and then pass on to other students!

The Big Fall-Time Transplant! 🍂
2025-11-22 10:00 - 14:00 | Stuy Cove Park, 24-20 FDR Drive Service Road East, New York, NY, 10010, United States
The plants are going to dormant for winter, so now we can make our moves – literally!
Help Stuy Cove staff as we thin out and relocate certain species across the park, making and filling space in preparation for a healthy and verdant 2026.
We’ll plant our next batch of spring ephemerals, that with any luck will greet us next spring, and ensure the whole park is properly tucked in for a longer winter’s nap.
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Get Your Tickets HERE
This event is FREE. If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation.

DIY Mushroom Cultivation at Solar One
2026-01-31 13:00 - 15:00 | Solar One’s NEW Environmental Education Center (Manhattan), 800 FDR Dr., Service Rd East, 23rd St and the East River, NYC, NY, 10010
Learn how to grow oyster mushrooms at home!
Join us as at the Solar One Environmental Education Center as we host the NYC Mushroom Network for a DIY cultivation workshop. Bring a big, clean reclaimed plastic/glass bottle with a lid (2 liter soda, gallon milk, anything food grade), and we’ll provide everything else you need to grow edible oyster mushrooms at right home!
This event is best for adults and kids ages 12+.
Sliding scale tickets will cover materials and directly fund the NYC Mushroom Network’s mission to upcycle organic waste from NYC to grow mushrooms in the community.
Please pay what you can. Learn more @nyc_mushroom_network
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Save your spot HERE
If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation here.

Spring Chop & Drop | March 28
2026-03-28 09:00 - 12:00 | Stuy Cove Park, 24-20 FDR Drive Service Road East, New York, NY, 10010, United States
Spring Chop & Drop
Time to cut back all that grass! Sign up HERE.

Help us get Stuy Cove Park ready for the growing season! Join fellow volunteers for Spring Chop & Drop as we cut back tall grasses and spent plant material to make way for fresh spring growth. This essential seasonal work helps return nutrients to the soil, supports healthy plants, and keeps our waterfront park thriving.
This is a great opportunity to learn about “chop and drop” land-care techniques, enjoy time outdoors by the river, and give back to your local park alongside a great community.
Please dress comfortably in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty—closed-toed shoes are required. Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated. Tools, guidance, and good company will be provided.
We will meet at Stuy Cove Park near the Environmental Education Center at 800 FDR Service Road East.
Come lend a hand and help Stuy Cove Park spring back to life!

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If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation here.

Earth Day at Union Square | April 19
2026-04-19 12:00 - 18:00 | Union Square, East 17th Street and Park Avenue South
Save the date! Solar One will join NYC’s Earth Day 2026 celebrations at Union Square again!

Solar One, Earth Day Initiative, and various organizations are coming together to go green and call for climate action. Join the climate conversation at a pivotal time.

We’ll hold our annual in-person festival featuring:

Exhibits by dozens of environmental non-profits, climate campaigns, green living experts, and sustainable businesses (see line-up below)
Interactive workshops
Live performances from Hila the Earth and other great performers
Climate art
Kids’ activities
Sustainable foods

Save your spot HERE!

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If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation here.

City Nature Challenge NYC on iNaturalist | April 24-27
2026-04-24 - 2026-04-27 | Stuy Cove Park, 24-20 FDR Drive Service Road East, New York, NY, 10010, United States
Join us in our celebration of Earth Day through the City Nature Challenge in NYC! For those who are already part of or would like to join the iNaturalist community, join our Citizen Science Project: collect data on Stuy Cove Park flora and fauna.

Upload what you’ve discovered on iNaturalist so we can identify various species who are a dear part of our park!

Project link to come.
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If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation here.

Spring Herb Planter Roll Out | April 25
2026-04-25 09:00 - 12:00 | Stuy Cove Park, 24-20 FDR Drive Service Road East, New York, NY, 10010, United States
Help us kick off the growing season at Stuy Cove Park by joining our Spring Herb Planter Roll Out and celebrating Earth Month with us! Volunteers will help transplant herb seedlings that have been carefully grown indoors at the Solar One Environmental Education Center into our raised garden beds.
These herbs come from culinary traditions around the world—much like the vibrant communities that make up our city. Together, we’ll continue building our Global Herb Garden, a project we began last year to celebrate cultural connections through plants and food.
Last fall, we planted cover crops in the raised garden beds to help restore soil health. As the season shifts, those crops will be turned back into the soil to help fix nitrogen and create rich conditions for our new seedlings. With your help, we’ll move these young herbs outdoors where they can take root and thrive.
This is a great opportunity to learn about seasonal gardening practices, explore how cover crops support healthy soil, and spend time outdoors by the river with fellow community members.
Please dress comfortably in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty—closed-toed shoes are required. Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated. Tools, guidance, and good company will be provided.
We will meet at Stuy Cove Park near the Environmental Education Center at 800 FDR Service Road East.
Come get your hands in the soil and help our Global Herb Garden grow!
Save your spot HERE!
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If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation here.

Waterside Garden Restoration | May 16
2026-05-16 09:00 - 12:00 | Stuy Cove Park, 24-20 FDR Drive Service Road East, New York, NY, 10010, United States
Boots, Roots, and River Boots!
Join us at Stuy Cove Park for a hands-on volunteer day focused on restoring one of our waterside garden beds. Volunteers will help plant cordgrass, a hardy native grass well adapted to the challenging shoreline conditions along the East River.
This particular bed sits right along the waterfront and is frequently inundated by wake from passing boats. While there was previously a variety of species planted here, many have struggled to survive in these dynamic conditions. Cordgrass, however, naturally thrives in tidal and flood-prone environments, making it an excellent candidate to stabilize the shoreline and bring new life to this space.
With your help, we’ll plant young cordgrass plugs into the bed, giving them a chance to establish strong roots that can better withstand waves and fluctuating water levels. This work supports a more resilient shoreline habitat while helping us learn which plants are best suited to the unique conditions of the East River waterfront.
This is a great opportunity to learn about native coastal plants, shoreline ecology, and the challenges of gardening along an urban tidal river—all while spending time outdoors with fellow community members.
Please dress comfortably in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty—closed-toed shoes are required. Bringing a reusable water bottle is recommended to stay hydrated. Tools, guidance, and good company will be provided.
We will meet at Stuy Cove Park near the Environmental Education Center at 800 FDR Service Road East.
Come lend a hand and help us strengthen this living shoreline!
Save your spot HERE!
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If you would like to support Solar One, our work, and community events at Stuy Cove Park, please consider making a small donation here.

Community Celebration: Powering the Possibilities | July 3rd
2026-07-03 12:00 - 16:00 | Solar One’s NEW Environmental Education Center (Manhattan), 800 FDR Dr., Service Rd East, 23rd St and the East River, NYC, NY, 10010
Join us for a waterfront festival celebration this Independence Weekend!
On July 3rd, Solar One will be hosting the most unique event of the Summer! This year’s independence weekend celebration will be extra special thanks to Sail250, a NYC river parade of Class B tall ships saluting our community for the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. That’s where Stuyvesant Cove Park comes in! As NYC’s first native plant park, managed by our Solar One team, we will offer the most unique front-row view to this celebration and transform our waterfront into an interactive exploration zone focused on science, sustainability, and healthy park spaces.
This is a moment to highlight that true independence now means energy independence (solar-powered, community-rooted, and just). Solar One’s 20+ years of work building green workforce pipelines and environmental education puts us at the forefront of what’s next.
The juxtaposition of historic ships passing on the East River and Solar One’s solar-powered campus will be a once in a lifetime setting to engage with our NYC neighbors through education pop ups, experiential exhibits, guided park tours, and community storytelling covering climate resilience, urban sustainability, and innovation.
Anchored on the Sail250 celebration, Solar One will showcase how our resilient New York community is future-ready thanks to technology and wisdom-guided social, environmental, and financial sustainability practices.
Free for all New Yorkers with registration: https://givebutter.com/sail250?mc_cid=9e678ae88b&mc_eid=2a8d5c4ebb

If you’d like to be a sponsor or supporter find more information HERE.

City of Water Day at Solar One
2026-07-25 10:00 - 16:00 | Solar One’s NEW Environmental Education Center (Manhattan), 800 FDR Dr., Service Rd East, 23rd St and the East River, NYC, NY, 10010
Celebrate City of Water Day with Solar One at Stuy Cove Park along the East River! This free, family-friendly event for all ages invites participants to explore NYC’s urban ecology through hands-on activities in a newly revitalized, ADA-accessible waterfront park. Activities include water quality testing, introductory fishing, cyanotype art using East River seaweed, and “Beak ’n’ Bloom,” a nature activity focused on birds, pollinators, and native plants. Drop-in, accessible.
Reserve your spot here:
https://givebutter.com/city-of-water-day-fish-print-explore-smvfsg

2026 Solar One Gala: Possibilities in Motion
2026-09-30 18:30 - 21:30 | Solar One’s NEW Environmental Education Center (Manhattan), 800 FDR Dr., Service Rd East, 23rd St and the East River, NYC, NY, 10010
Join us on September 30, 2026 beginning at 6:30PM
The Solar One Environmental Education Center at Stuyvesant Cove Park

On September 30, 2026, from 6:30PM to 9:30PM, Solar One will host its annual fall fundraiser, Possibilities in Motion: An Evening to Celebrate Progress, Together. This is an elevated experience designed to bring together supporters, partners, and community leaders for storytelling, connecting, and investing in what comes next.
Building on the momentum of our July 3 community activation and our shared commitment to “Powering the Possibilities,” the gala will spotlight the people and programs powering Solar One’s impact across K–12 environmental education, green workforce development, and renewable energy access. This year’s annual gala invites our community of changemakers to reflect, collaborate, and mobilize for the future!

Get your ticket and check out our sponsorship packages below:
https://givebutter.com/s1gala2026
