Discover Classes. Earn Rewards.

"Wildman" Steve Brill

"Wildman" Steve Brill is an expert forager who has been sharing his wisdom through books, an app, and various presentations since 1982. His hands-on program aims to educate people about the environment, reconnect with nature, and enjoy the abundance of edible and medicinal wild plants and mushrooms.

Upcoming Classes at "Wildman" Steve Brill

  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Discover the hidden culinary treasures of Prospect Park as you learn to identify and harvest edible and medicinal plants, mushrooms, and berries. Join us for a unique foraging experience led by an expert guide. Don't miss out on this opportunity to explore the park's natural wonders and enhance your knowledge of wild foods.

    Next start date: Saturday, Mar 30th, 11am–3pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Prospect Park (Kids 12 & Under)

    Discover the wild flavors of Prospect Park as you forage for spicy hedge mustard, corn-flavored chickweed, and spinach-flavored lamb quarters. Join us for a unique culinary adventure in the heart of Brooklyn's natural oasis.

    Next start date: Saturday, Mar 30th, 11am–3pm Eastern Time
    Price: $10
    View full details
  • Forest Park (Kids 12 & Under)

    Join Violet Brill, America's go-to gal for foraging, as she leads a fascinating tour through Forest Park. Discover an abundance of gourmet plants and learn how to identify, harvest, and use them ecologically. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the park's natural wonders and expand your knowledge of wild plants.

    Next start date: Sunday, Mar 31st, 11am–3pm Eastern Time
    Price: $10
    View full details
  • Forest Park (Teens/Adults)

    Unearth the hidden treasures of Forest Park with a renowned forager, discovering a diverse array of wild herbs, greens, roots, nuts, and mushrooms, providing a one-of-a-kind culinary adventure. Venture deep into the park's forests and cultivated habitats, uncovering a bounty of edible delights that will excite the taste buds.

    Next start date: Sunday, Mar 31st, 11am–3pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Central Park (Kids 12 & Under)

    Discover the delicious flavors of the wild in early spring, as you embark on a culinary adventure in Central Park. Join us for a unique experience where you'll learn to forage for wild foods and create mouthwatering dishes using nature's bounty. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to explore the world of wild foods with us!

    Next start date: Sunday, Apr 21st, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time
    Price: $10
    View full details
  • Central Park (Teens/Adults)

    Embark on a culinary adventure through the abundant wilderness of mid-spring, where you'll discover a treasure trove of vibrant flavors and textures. From spicy mustard greens to tender cattail shoots, create an unforgettable salad experience using wild ingredients found in Central Park. Unleash your inner gourmet as you explore the hidden gems of nature's pantry.

    Next start date: Sunday, Apr 21st, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Inwood Hill Park (Teens/Adults)

    Join us for an immersive foraging experience where you'll discover the diverse flavors of Inwood Hill Park. Learn about roots, shoots, and greens with unique tastes like root beer and wintergreen. Dress for the weather and be prepared for a day of exploration in this city oasis.

    Next start date: Saturday, Apr 27th, 11am–3pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Sunken Meadow State Park (Teens/Adults)

    Join us for a unique foraging experience at Sunken Meadow State Park, where we'll discover a variety of wild foods including blackberries, black cherries, elderberries, edible seaweeds, and more. Explore the park's cultivated areas, seashore, and woods as you learn about the culinary potential of these natural treasures.

    Next start date: Sunday, Apr 7th, 1–4pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Inwood Hill Park (Kids 12 & Under)

    Discover the hidden treasures of Inwood Hill Park as you learn to forage for wild roots, herbs, and vegetables in this immersive outdoor experience. Uncover the secrets of natural remedies and culinary delights in the city's hilliest park, guided by expert "Wildman" Steve Brill.

    Next start date: Saturday, Apr 27th, 11:45am–3:45pm Eastern Time
    Price: $10
    View full details
  • Hempstead Lake State Park (Teens/Adults)

    Discover the bountiful and edible wonders of Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead, NY. Join us for a unique foraging experience amidst diverse habitats, as we explore the abundance of nutritious and delicious plants like sassafras, chickweed, hairy bittercress, and field garlic. Uncover the flavors of nature and unleash your inner wildman/wildwoman.

    Next start date: Saturday, Mar 23rd, 11am–2pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Hempstead Lake State Park (Kids 12 & Under)

    Explore the abundant and edible plants of Hempstead Lake State Park in this unique course. Discover the delicious flavors and medicinal properties of various shoots, greens, and flowers found in the park's diverse habitats. Expand your culinary repertoire with sassafras, chickweed, hairy bittercress, and more.

    Next start date: Saturday, Mar 23rd, 11am–2pm Eastern Time
    Price: $10
    View full details
  • Alley Pond Park (Teens/Adults)

    Unlock the hidden flavors of nature in this immersive foraging experience. Discover the wild edible treasures of a large wetland park, from garlic-scented greens to savory roots and even gourmet mushrooms. Join us on this unique adventure and experience the bounty of nature firsthand.

    Next start date: Sunday, Nov 24th, 11am–3pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Vanderbilt Museum

    Discover a wild food bonanza in "Wildman" Steve Brill's course. Uncover a variety of cold-tolerant greens, flavorful roots, and even delicious seaweeds. Don't miss this opportunity to delve into the culinary and medicinal wonders of nature.

    Next start date: Sunday, Apr 7th, 9am–12pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Sunken Meadow State Park (Kids 12 & Under)

    Join us for a unique foraging experience at Sunken Meadow State Park, where we'll discover a variety of wild foods including blackberries, black cherries, elderberries, edible seaweeds, and more. Explore the park's cultivated areas, seashore, and woods as you learn about the culinary potential of these natural treasures.

    Next start date: Sunday, Apr 7th, 1–4pm Eastern Time
    Price: $10
    View full details
  • Belmont Lake State Park (Teens/Adults)

    Discover the hidden treasures of nature in late fall at a scenic location near North Babylon, NY. Uncover the delicious autumn olive berries, lemon-flavored sorrel, and seafood-flavored oyster mushrooms. Join us for a unique foraging experience that will awaken your taste buds and connect you with the bounties of the wild.

    Next start date: Sunday, Aug 25th, 11am–2:30pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Saxon Woods (Teens/Adults)

    Discover the hidden flavors of nature in Saxon Woods with an expert forager. Unearth the delectable tastes of wild herbs and greens, from tangy sheep sorrel to peppery mustard. Join us on this flavorful adventure and expand your culinary horizons.

    Next start date: Saturday, Oct 19th, 10am–12:30pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Far Rockaway (Teens/Adults)

    Uncover the secrets of the urban jungle with a unique course that explores the edible and medicinal plants found in unexpected places. Learn to forage and discover the natural treasures hiding in plain sight.

    Next start date: Sunday, May 12th, 10am–12pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Massapequa Preserve (Teens/Adults)

    Here's a suburban park with many varied habitats that's going to be loaded with mid-spring shoots and greens. We'll be looking for those wild foods that thrive once the growing season has been developing for several months. This is "Wildman's" second exploration of this park, so there should still be some surprises, with one exception: Last year, one of the experienced participants continued exploring when the rest of the group turned back, and...

    Next start date: Saturday, May 11th, 12–3pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Marine Park Coastline (Teens/Adults)

    Discover the hidden treasures of a vastly underappreciated park filled with wild foods from the seashore habitat. Join us for a unique exploration of a sandy soil coastline, where you'll learn about the flavorful and nutritious plants that thrive in this environment. Uncover a world of wild parsnips, peppery roots, and delicious berries, and immerse yourself in the wonders of nature.

    Next start date: Friday, Nov 29th, 11am–3pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
  • Croton Aqueduct (Teens/Adults)

    Discover the best edible wild plants of early spring on this unique tour led by Violet Brill. Learn about, collect, and enjoy some of our most common and tasty renewable species in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Dress for the weather and bring bags for your finds, as well as water and lunch.

    Next start date: Sunday, Jun 23rd, 12–3pm Eastern Time
    Price: $20
    View full details
Central Park W & W 103rd St, New York, NY 10025
"Wildman" Steve Brill
Central Park, Manhattan
Central Park W & W 103rd St
At Central Park W
New York, New York 10025

Directions:
Just inside the park at Central Park West and West 103rd St.

See all upcoming classes at "Wildman" Steve Brill

See all Life Skills classes in NYC

Purchase a Gift Card

Description

Foraging expert Steve Brill has shared his foraging wisdom at schools, museums, parks departments, environmental organizations, and with scout troops since 1982. He’s written three books and an app, stars in a DVD and maintains a website.

His History with Foraging

As part of his exercise regime, he was bicycling past a local park in Queens, New York City, where he lived, when he saw some ethnic Greek women, dressed in traditional black garb, collecting something. He stopped and asked what they were doing but couldn't understand a word of what they were saying. It was all Greek to him. He came home with a bag of wild grape leaves, which he readily stuffed. They were delicious. When he returned to the same park in the fall, the trees were festooned with fox grapes, the wild forerunner of Concord grapes, and they're scrumptious too. He got books on the subject and began learning all the wild food he could find. He had so much fun foraging, he thought other people might enjoy it too, and that led to his foraging tours.

The purpose of his hands-on program is to learn about the environment and get back in touch with nature. By studying foraging and nature, we enjoy our renewable resources and reaffirm our commitment to preserving and rebuilding our ecological riches. All the tours and presentations feature a great diversity and abundance of common, renewable, seasonal edible and medicinal wild plants or mushrooms.

All tours are open to people of all ages, plus well-behaved dogs.


Notes:
If you can't attend the class you signed up for, please call or email "Wildman" Steve Brill a day before the start of the class. No-call/no-show creates an inconvenience to all participants since we can’t tell if absentees are having transportation issues, and this delays the start of the tour/class.

Kindly note that price posted is our suggested donation only.

Reviews of "Wildman" Steve Brill

(4.4-star rating across 176 reviews)
  • Inwood Hill Park (Teens/Adults)

    Reviewed by Anthony A. on 11/8/2023
    The beginning of the event was great. Wildman Drill pointed out some leaves in the playground that was fascinating to learn about. Everyone was able to crowd around him and hear his informative talk. But as the event progressed, we got into narrow areas where everyone was not able to crowd around him. And though he is a very informative person, and I really enjoyed learning from him, I was unable to appreciate the second half of the event because I was unable to hear anything he said. I think I would have enjoyed this event a lot more if instead of having 30+ people and 3 dogs, the group was smaller, like 10-12 people. And if he had a megaphone or some kind of loudspeaker, it would have made it easier to hear him. My wife and I went on a tour up by Fort Tyron Garden. The tour Guide had a megaphone, and we were able to hear every word she said. The tour was very enjoyable, and I recommended it to several friends and family members. Unfortunately, I will not be recommending this event.
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Anonymous review on 10/31/2023
    Wildman Steve is a quite the character, but a devoted and invaluable resource for learning about the world around us! Highly recommend this insightful and surprisingly affordable experience.
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Anonymous review on 10/8/2023
    It was great class and teacher! However please check hus website for the actual info of the class! Meeting location is the same but the time is probably different! Definitely worth it, he was very knowledgeable and funny!
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Anonymous review on 5/29/2023
    Steve and Violet were immensely knowledgeable and I recommend this walk to anyone curious about connecting with the plants in their path. As an amateur forager, I left with several new plant allies to name and work with as food and medicine. Disclaimer: brace yourself for some seriously corny jokes :-)
  • Inwood Hill Park (Teens/Adults)

    Anonymous review on 3/20/2023
    Great experience, would go again a different time of year to learn more!
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Anonymous review on 3/19/2023
    wildman steve brill is an incredible teacher & entertainer! we had a blast learning about edible (& inedible) plants right here in nyc
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Anonymous review on 3/19/2023
    Comprehensive and informative, really cool practical knowledge and fun guidance!
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Anonymous review on 11/14/2022
    The instructor is very knowledgeable but the group was to large. I rather pay more for a smaller group. It was hard to hear him.
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Anonymous review on 10/25/2022
    I had reached out to reschedule my class but was unable to get a response.
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Anonymous review on 10/4/2022
    This could not have been any better. Mr. Wildman is about as entertaining and informative as any instructor ever. Bring a friend and take a walk around the park eating the edible plants you walk past un-knowingly every day. Make sure to bring water and a lunch unless you want to subsist on gout weed alone! Bring a plastic or paper bag if you want to keep some plants for recipes. We made a great pesto from the greens we collected.
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Reviewed by cathy b. on 9/9/2022
    Wildman Steve is a wonderful naturalist and guide. He shared so much with us, lore, botany, stories, herbalism. I learned a lot. I have been very eager to learn about foraging and he set me up.
  • Central Park (Teens/Adults)

    Reviewed by ellen b. on 8/29/2022
    Loved it. But I think there were too many people. Walks should be smaller
  • Central Park (Teens/Adults)

    Reviewed by sabina H. on 8/29/2022
    this was so much fun! recommend to everyone who loves nature
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Reviewed by Jen C. on 8/8/2022
    Truly an amazing experience! Steve and Violent were so fun an informative, it was honestly one of the best things I’ve done in Brooklyn since living here!
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Reviewed by elizabeth m. on 7/14/2022
    It was a fantastic class! I cannot believe all these edible plants we consider weed grow wild all over the park! Thank you!!
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Anonymous review on 7/12/2022
    Steve and Violet were excellent guides for our Prospect Park excursion. I wasn't expecting such a good turnout of people from diverse backgrounds, and I was so happy with the wealth of information that was generously provided by the guides and shared by everyone. It was fun and I want to do another tour with this father-daughter duo soon.
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Reviewed by Josh S. on 5/16/2022
    Very family friendly and warm, educational
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Reviewed by Elia T. on 5/2/2022
    Steve is a real treat! His knowledge and way to teach are exemplar
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Reviewed by cathy b. on 5/2/2022
    This was a glorious experience! Steve is so knowledgable, patient, nice, all around great. I cant imagine there is a person on earth who wouldn’t be happy spending a few hours foraging and learning with him.
  • Prospect Park (Teens/Adults)

    Anonymous review on 4/17/2022
    Wildman Steve is great. Super informative class and fun way to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I'll be returning to this class and the Central Park offering. The only negative mark was the size of the class. Too big for full engagement with the material and instructor. I would limit the number to 20 max. 10 would be even better.
Show More Reviews

Review Summary by CourseHorse

Students say the classes at "Wildman" Steve Brill are informative and provide opportunities to learn about fascinating plants. Most students appreciate the knowledge and humor of Wildman Steve Brill, as well as the practical information they gained about foraging, plant identification, and using edible plants in recipes. The class is described as comprehensive, informative, and fun. The most insightful quotes that describe what students learned are: 1. "As an amateur forager, I left with several new plant allies to name and work with as food and medicine." 2. "We made a great pesto from the greens we collected." 3. "I learned a lot and am surprised there is so much food to eat in Prospect Park!"

Teachers at "Wildman" Steve Brill

CourseHorse Gift Cards

  • Creative & unique gift for any occasion
  • Thousands of classes & experiences
  • No expiration date
  • Instant e-delivery (or choose a date)
  • Add a personalized message
  • Lock in a price with the Inflation Buster Gift Card Price Adjuster™
Buy a Gift Card
gift card with the CourseHorse logo gift card with the CourseHorse logo
Loading...