National Junior Ranger Day

What are you kids interested in? Art and science? What about history and nature? Well thanks to the Junior Ranger Program, kids get to learn about animals, plants, the earth, and even things like dinosaurs and trains. The knowledge passed on helps children learn about the national parks that belong to them and how they can help to protect these special places.

While parks offer plenty of scheduled programs that are interactive and educational, the beauty of the Junior Ranger Program is is flexibility. Children get to explore and interact with parks at their own pace and on their own time.

Many national parks offer visitors a special opportunity to become Junior Rangers. Interested students get to complete a series of activities while visiting a park, then share their answers and experience with a park ranger. With each activity completed, kids receive an official Junior Ranger badge or patch and Junior Ranger certificate. Consider it a badge of honor! You will see the excitement and pride on your child's face when they show you the special badge they earned.

There are currently over 290 Junior Ranger Programs in the National Park Service (NPS). As they explore each of these parks, kids receive a booklet filled with fun, hands-on activities to explore with their families. Kids have the opportunity to interview park rangers, complete games, and answer questions about the park and the NPS. The activity booklet not only engages the youth in stories of the national parks, they also instill a sense of purpose and need for conservation and preservation. It's a great way for kids to become involved with the environment and learn how to protect it.

There are 5 simple steps to becoming a Junior Park Ranger:

1. Get your parents permission - The program is designed to engage children and families. Having parents who are involved and excited is the first step for safe and fun visits to the park.
2. Find a park - You can find hundreds of parks online that offer the Junior Ranger Program.
3. Stop by your selected park's Visitor Center and ask for a Junior Ranger booklet and curriculum guide. The booklet will give you specific instructions to complete the program.
4. Kids will explore specific areas in the park as detailed in the booklet and complete certain activities.
5. Once the activities are completed, return to the Visitor Center to receive your badge/aware!

“I, (fill in name), am proud to be a National Park Service Junior Ranger. I promise to appreciate, respect, and protect all national parks. I also promise to continue learning about the landscape, plants, animals and history of these special places. I will share what I learn with my friends and family.”