Junior Ranger Program

One of the ways that we have gotten Jackson excited about visiting National Parks is by utilizing the Junior Ranger Program at several parks...and even from the comfort of our own living room!

How it works in the Parks.  Almost all units of the National Park system have a Junior Ranger program; some even have different "levels" of Junior Ranger programs geared toward different age groups.  Typically, completing the Junior Ranger program consists of going to a Visitor's Center and requesting an activity book.  Junior Rangers-to-be complete several age-appropriate activities (like attending a ranger program or talk, hiking on a park trail, picking up trash, completing a word search, and so on) that focus on environmental, historical or wildlife topics. Some parks, like Yellowstone, even offer "Junior Ranger Packs" including binoculars or a magnifying glass that a child or family can check out to help complete the activities. After completing the activities, children take the book back to a Visitor's Center where a ranger will review it and reward the child with a badge, certificate or button.  At one park we visited, Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve, Jackson even got to raise his hand and take an "oath of office" (he thought that was pretty cool).  Back at home, we have a cork board in Jackson's room where all his pins and certificates are displayed.  In addition, we have made it a habit to record his efforts and his thoughts about each park in his Kid's Passport Companion (along with his stamps).  Just to make it a little more "official," we even bought him a kid's version of a ranger hat.

Jackson hard at work at his "Ranger desk"

How it works on the web.  The National Park Service also operates a nifty WebRanger program, which allows kids and families to learn about the parks and park-related topics right from their living rooms.  Kids (with a parent's help) can create an account, print an id badge, do activities at all different difficulty levels, customize their ranger desk, post photos they've taken in the parks and so on.  Jackson loves going online with me to do "park ranger stuff."  If a kid completes all the activities, he or she will receive a patch.

We have found the WebRanger and Junior Ranger programs to be a great way to keep Jackson engaged in learning about the units of the National Park system.  He has really internalized it, and will now go out of his way to pick up and throw away trash he sees outside because, as he says, "I'm a Park Ranger, mama!"  I'm one proud parent.