Most national parks in the United States offer the Junior Ranger Program for children ages 6 to 15. Children earn a Junior Ranger badge or patch and certificate by participating in specific activities. A Junior Ranger booklet for each park lists the program requirements and is filled with activities such as puzzles, fill-in-the-blank questions from the exhibits, or expository writing about specific events or sights. Age-appropriate activities teach children about the history of the site, the land, rocks and important people of the park in a fun way. Some Junior Ranger programs include ranger-led activities like lectures, hikes or scientific research. Others allow children to complete the program on line or at home and mail it in to receive their awards.
Search the National Park Service website (see Resources) for a park near your travel destination. Click on the link "For Kids" on the sidebar on the left. This will take you to a page with activities for children sponsored by the park. Follow the "Be A Junior Ranger" link to find specific program requirements for that park.
Go to the visitors center or the information desk at the park. Tell the park ranger that you would like to participate in the Junior Ranger Program. The ranger will give you a booklet and explain the qualifications. At most parks the program is free but some charge a small fee, around $3 in 2010, to participate.
Complete the booklet requirements and return to the park ranger at the information desk or visitors center. The park ranger will check your child's work, answer any questions and award him with a patch or badge and a certificate.
