The Junior Ranger Program is a great opportunity for your kids–and even you–to get a free souvenir and learn something too! Here is some information about the program and tips on how to make the most of it on your next multi-park trip!
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What is the Junior Ranger Program?
The Junior Ranger Program is run by the National Park Service in nearly every NPS site across the country (i.e. not limited to those sites actually classified as “National Parks”). It is an opportunity for kids to participate in activities while simultaneously learning about the park. Once they have finished their workbook, a park ranger reviews it with them before they take the Junior Ranger Oath and receive their badge and certificate. Many state and local parks run similar programs.
There are parks that offer different booklets targeted at different age groups, while other parks require different activities within the same booklet. The program is generally geared towards kids ages 5-13, but anyone can participate.
103-year-old Becomes Grand Canyon Ranger
Besides the regular Junior Ranger program offered in most parks, there are several other programs to suit all types of interests: Railroad Explorer, Sound Explorer, SpaceTech Explorer, Spaceflight Explorer, Junior Ranger Angler, Junior Cave Scientist, Night Skies Explorer, Junior Archeologist, Underwater Explorer, and Junior Paleontologist. Many of these special interest programs can now be completed virtually in addition to the new Junior Ranger Online program.
Although the standard Junior Ranger oath recited is about protecting the parks, many park rangers will adlib their own additions. They often include eating vegetables, getting along with siblings, and listening to parents.
Most Junior Ranger programs are free, but there are a few parks that charge a few dollars. Still definitely worth it.
How Can You Make the Most of Your Time?
The best way to make the most of your time in the park, and still have your kids complete the booklet, is to get it ahead of time. Most of the parks have their booklets available for download. However, if your park doesn’t, or you can’t print it, call the park and they’ll mail it to you. Granted, you have to allow SUFFICIENT time for this option. My kids prefer the actual workbook in hand rather than the printable version–and I save on ink!
There are several benefits to having the booklets ahead of time. Many of the activities can be completed in advance, which is especially great if you will have limited time in the park. If you will have a considerable amount of travel time, the workbooks will keep your kids busy and you won’t have to plan your initial park time around visitor center hours to pick up the booklet. Furthermore, your kids will be more “in the moment” while in the park rather than “in the book”. Your kids will learn about the park ahead of time and may even be able to play “tour guide” when you are there. A great opportunity for real world learning.
Most booklets have requirements that must be completed while at the park. So, you don’t have to worry; your kids will still want to explore the park and not just be “signed off”. But, if they are like my kids, they will want to make sure to make it during visitor center hours to ensure that they get their badge to add to their collection. Like I said: Best free souvenir, especially since they earned it!
How Can Your Organize All This?
This is actually a three-part question: before, during, and after. If your trip only includes one or two parks, and you don’t really plan to go to any more parks in the near future, then no big deal. Do whatever you would with any other trip planning paperwork or souvenirs. However, if you plan to visit multiple parks on the same trip or over multiple trips, then you need a better strategy.
Before:
As you gather all the booklets, prepare a three-ring binder for each child (grown up participants too). Admittedly, this isn’t a perfect system since not all booklets will fit, so if your binders don’t come with pockets you can add pocket dividers. Bonus points if you include a pencil case or tie a pencil to the rings so your child always has access to one.
Now you need to actually organize the binder. You have two main options. The trip you have planned will play a big role in determining the option you choose in organizing your booklets.
Option One: Organize the booklets chronologically based on your itinerary. This way your kids can just go through the binder front to back and will get a sense of your route. You can even include a map in the front cover for them to follow along. This method works especially well if your route winds back and forth through several states repeatedly.
click here for tips on route planning
Option Two: Organize the booklets alphabetically. This can be alphabetically by park or by state. If you organize by state, then you can organize alphabetically within each state or chronologically within each state. If you go with this method, consider including a chronological list in front so your kids know what comes next.
During:
During your trip, keep the binders on hand, but have your kids pull out each booklet as needed. There is no reason they need to go on a hike or into a visitor center shlepping a three-ring binder with them. Once they have completed the workbook and have it signed off, they should put it in the binder.
The badges can simply be kept in a bag while still on the road, unless they bring their display banners with them (see “after” below).
After:
At the end of the trip your kids can save their binder as a memento of the trip (“Summer 2021”) or keep their booklets from all trips in one place–chronological, alphabetical, trip by trip, etc.
Several different storage and display formats are available for badges they earn. You can buy something from Amazon or Etsy ahead of time or pick something up at one of the visitor centers along the way.
Whatever method of organization you choose, the Junior Ranger Program is a great opportunity to learn and earn a trip keepsake collection along the way.
A few other National Park resources for kids:
Every Kid Outdoors: get a free National Parks pass if you have a 4th grader
Scout Ranger Program: BSA and GSA members are eligible to participate and earn a certificate and/or patch with a special certificate for Eagle Scouts
Parks Canada Xplorers: similar to the Junior Ranger Program in Canada’s National Parks