Opportunities for Students (October 2025)

Published October 6, 2025

It's time to add a little "pumpkin spice" to your extracurricular activities.

This October, over a dozen City agencies, nonprofits, and cultural institutions like NYC Parks, the Jewish Museum, the Guggenheim, and the New York Hall of Science are seeking NYCPS students of all ages for free classes and workshops, college fairs, and even paid jobs that take place this month and beyond. From participating in our City's official tree census to creating their own comic books, NYC students have plenty of outstanding options to choose from this month!

So don't get spooked into sitting this one out; check out the following list of opportunities available for City students this October!

Throughout October and November, NYC Parks' Urban Park Rangers will be surveying the City's trees for Trees Count 2025, the City's decennial census of its street and park tree populations. NYC Parks is seeking volunteers of all ages, so check out the official Trees Count 2025 webpage and sign up to do your part at a City park near you! (Photo by cottonbro studio; original can be found on Pexels.)

Opportunities for Students in October 2025

The opportunities listed below are ordered by their submission/registration deadline dates, with the most urgent deadlines listed first. For more information about any of these listings, please click through the corresponding links embedded in each entry.

Get to Know the Natural Side of NYC this Fall through the Urban Park Rangers

Since 1979, NYC Parks' Urban Park Rangers have helped New Yorkers and visitors of all ages discover and explore the City's natural world through environmental education, outdoor recreation, wildlife management, and active conservation.

Check out the Urban Park Rangers' Events webpage to learn about events happening at City parks near you, including events taking place throughout October and November in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Indigenous Peoples' Day, and Trees Count 2025—sign up directly for your desired events through NYC Parks' Urban Park Rangers webpage.

Develop Your Writing or Drawing Skills through Uptown Stories' Hands-On Workshops

Register for Uptown Stories Workshops
Cost: Pay-What-You-Can; no proof of income required
Contact: Dorkys Ramos <dorkys@uptownstories.org>

Registration Deadline: ASAP

Expand your writing capabilities with Uptown Stories, an Uptown Manhattan-based nonprofit organization dedicated to offering afterschool, weekend, and summer creative writing and illustration workshops for children aged 8–18 years old. Available workshops include: "Spoken Word," a workshop dedicated to helping young poets learn how to breathe life into their works through rhythm, rhyme, and improvisation; "The Elements of Fiction," where young writers between the ages of 8–12 can learn what it takes to develop great stories; and " Poetry Outside" a poetry workshop where students are asked to put on their walking shoes and seek creative inspiration from nature and our surrounding urban environments.

Uptown Stories' tuition is "Pay-What-You-Can;" visit Uptown Stories' webpage to learn more about the workshops, and register for a class today, as seats are limited.

Level Up Your Arts Skills at the Guggenheim During Teen Tuesdays

Make a Reservation for Teen Tuesdays at the Guggenheim
Reservations Recommended. Next Events on October 21 and November 4, 2025.
Cost: Free (includes museum admission, snacks, MetroCards and learning materials)
Contact: teenprograms@guggenheim.org

Teen Tuesdays are free programs held at the iconic Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan that provide teenagers with the space and opportunity to expand their art-making skills while taking inspiration from the museum's current exhibitions. Participating teens will also get the chance to watch live performances and connect with other teen artists. No experience is needed to participate in Teen Tuesdays; just bring in your curiosity and imagination!

Teen Tuesdays are part of the Guggenheim's free Teen Circle Membership. Learn more about the next Teen Tuesdays event by visiting the Guggenheim's official webpage and reserving your spot for one or more sessions.

Thinking about Applying to College for Architecture? Attend the Architecture and Design College Fair

Register for the Architecture and Design College Fair 2025
Cost: Free
Contact: Mary Lib Schmidt <k12education@centerforarchitecture.org>

The Center for Architecture is hosting its annual free Architecture and Design College Fair for high school students who are interested in learning about applying to architecture and design schools. Representatives from over 30 colleges, universities, and design programs will be available at this event to meet with students and answer questions.

Learn more about the Fair, including which colleges and universities will be present, and register for the event directly at the Center for Architecture’s official Architecture and Design College Fair webpage by October 18.

The Jewish Museum is hosting a number of teen-focused events throughout the fall for aspiring creatives. Visit the Jewish Museum's Events webpage or check out the opportunities listed below to learn more! (Photo by Ajay Suresh; original can be found on Wikimedia Commons)

Discover Your Future in STEM at the New York Hall of Science’s STEM College Fair

Get tickets for the New York Hall of Science's STEM College Fair
Cost: Free
Contact: Laura Velasquez <stemnights@nysci.org>

The New York Hall of Science will be hosting its annual STEM College Fair where local colleges will showcase their diverse programs and opportunities to City students. The event will also feature workshops aimed at preparing interested attendees for the college application process.

Whether you're just starting to think about college or are already planning your next steps, the STEM College Fair provides current high school students with the perfect opportunity to learn how to align your personal interests with tomorrow's careers. Visit the NY Hall of Science's official College Fair Eventbrite page to learn more, and register for tickets before Thursday, October 23.

Design and Create Your Own Social Justice-Inspired Comic Book at the Jewish Museum

Get Tickets for the Social Justice Comics Workshop
Register ASAP; slots are limited
Cost: Free access with museum admission; admission free for children 18 and under; lunch will not be provided
Contact: teenprograms@thejm.org or (212) 423-3254

In this free workshop at the Jewish Museum, students ages 11 to 14 will be able to consider how artists use the language of cartoons and comics to approach challenging topics. Attendees will be asked to draw inspiration from the exhibition, Ben Shahn, On Noncomformity, and design and create their own comic book that addresses the social issues that matter to them.

Please note that registration is limited for this event; please email teenprograms@thejm.org to register your place and visit the Jewish Museum's Social Justice Comics Workshop event page for more information.

Earn Grant Money to Design an Environmental Project in Your Community

Apply for Project Petals Youth Builders Environmental Fellowship
Cost: Free to apply; five recipients will earn a $500 grant
Contact: projectpetals@upspringpr.com

The inaugural Project Petals Youth Builders Environmental Fellowship is seeking young City leaders, ages 18–27, who are passionate about addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental inequity in their communities. Through the fellowship, five recipients will receive a monetary seed grant of $500 to fund a project they are leading.

The ideal applicants are young people who are eager to design community-driven environmental solutions, strengthen their leadership skills, and take an active role in building a more just, equitable, and sustainable future. Applicants to the Project Petals Youth Builders Environmental Fellowship should demonstrate a strong commitment to climate justice, environmental conservation, community engagement, and a clear vision for creating tangible impact on the ground.

Visit Project Petals official application page to learn more and to submit your application by October 31.

Stop By the Morgan Library for Family First Saturdays

Get Tickets for Museum Admission at the Morgan Library
Cost: Free access with museum admission; admission free for children 12 and under
Contact: Talia BarNoy <familyprograms@themorgan.org>

Explore the historic Morgan Library for an outstanding hourlong family program geared towards children! Family First Saturdays provide City families with inspired picture book read-alouds and related tours of the Morgan's impressive collections.

The next scheduled Family First Saturday will take place on November 1, 2025; visit the Morgan's related event webpage to learn more.

The NY Hall of Science will be hosting its free annual STEM College Fair for NYC high school students on Thursday, October 23. Stop by to learn more about the college and universities preparing students for STEM-based careers and opportunities! (Photo of NY Hall of Science by Ajay Suresh. Original photo can be found on Flickr.)

Explore Stop Motion Animation in a One-Day Workshop at the Jewish Museum

Get Tickets for the Free Stop Motion Animation Workshop
Cost: Free access with museum admission; admission free for children 18 and under; lunch will not be provided
Contact: teenprograms@thejm.org or (212) 423-3254

The Jewish Museum is welcoming students ages 11 to 15 to explore the world of stop motion animation in a free one-day workshop with artist Maya Erdelyi. The workshop will focus on utilizing various techniques, experimenting with materials, and having fun with the animation process. Attendees will use objects, paint, sand, cut-paper puppets, and the human body to learn about the basics of animation while getting plenty of time to make creations of their own. This workshop is perfect for beginners or anyone curious about animation—no experience needed!

Please note that registration is limited for this event; please email teenprograms@thejm.org to register your place and visit the Jewish Museum's Free Stop Motion Animation Workshop page for more information.

Drop In for Songs and Stories at the Morgan

Get Tickets for Museum Admission at the Morgan Library
Cost: Free access to the event with museum admissions; admission free for children 12 and under
Contact: Talia BarNoy <familyprograms@themorgan.org>

On Sunday, November 9, the Morgan Library is hosting "Songs and Stories," an afternoon of medieval music and art for City families! Stop by the Morgan for artmaking, storytelling, gallery exploration, and live performances inspired by the Morgan's current exhibition, "Sing a New Song: The Psalms in Medieval Art and Life."

Learn more about the Morgan's Songs and Stories event by visiting the museum's official event webpage, and mark your calendar for Sunday, November 9!

Learn How to Become a Leader through the UN's Global Youth Excellence and Leadership Program

Apply for the United Nations' Global Youth Excellence and Leadership Program
Cost: $0–$5,500, depending on need
Contact: Robert L. Sventova <rob@un.gyel.org>

The United Nations' Global Youth Excellence and Leadership Program (GYEL) provides talented and aspirational middle and high school students of all backgrounds with high quality leadership training and mentorship designed to bring out their very best for college and beyond. GYEL seeks to inspire and support future medical researchers, mathematicians, computer scientists, and Nobel Peace Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and Academy Award winners whose breakthroughs can uplift entire communities and completely redefine what is truly possible for future generations.

Learn more about GYEL, including its Needs-Based Assistance program, by visiting its official website.

Receive a Free "Discoverer" Membership to the American Museum of Natural History

Enroll anytime at AMNH's Member Desk between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM
Contact: membership@members.amnh.org or (212) 769-5606

Are you currently enrolled in New York State's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)?

If so, you're eligible to receive a free one-year Discoverer Membership from the world-class American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)! To enroll, simply stop by the museum's Member Desk between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM and speak with a representative about enrolling—you'll then receive a digital membership card that you'll be able to begin using right away.

In addition to free general admission to AMNH, you'll also be able to gain free entry to one ticketed exhibition on every visit, and you'll be able to take advantage of the museum's extended operating hours for members, among other benefits.

Visit AMNH's official "Discoverer" membership page to learn more about these free memberships!

For more opportunities like these, check out The Morning Bell every month during the school year—and don't forget to share this post with your friends, family, and colleagues!

On behalf of NYC Public Schools, we wish all of our students and families an outstanding October!

Banner/teaser photos by Charles Parker. Original Parker photo can be found on Pexels.

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