How to Become a Junior Ranger

The Junior Ranger Program inspires children to engage with the parks they visit. Even more important than offering fun activities and small prizes, the program helps children take ownership of protecting our parks. The motto "Explore, learn, and protect" is recited by children wherever they choose to take part.

The National Park Service Junior Ranger program is an activity-based program available in the majority of parks managed by the National Park Service. Many state parks have Junior Ranger programs too.

If your child is interested in the program, inquire about available activities. You can check in with a park ranger when you arrive at the park and they can point you to booklets, handouts, or other activities that may be available. Common activities might include interviewing a park ranger, learning about bird species in the area, going on a sensory nature walk, matching animals to their footprints, or coloring a picture of how kids can protect the park. Most parks will offer an official Junior Ranger patch or badge and a Junior Ranger certificate once your child finishes the set activities. Junior Rangers are typically between the ages of 5 to 13, although participation is open to people of all ages.

Many parks offer a wood or plastic badge to children that become junior rangers.

Participating in junior ranger activities can be a positive experience in many ways.

1. These programs are designed to get kids interested in the park. They might learn about geology, history, or culture. If you are nervous your child might be bored while visiting a park, the organized activities may help them stay engaged and spark some curiosity.
2. Once complete, kids can each take an oath of their own to protect parks and continue to learn about parks. They will take pride in their learning and take ownership to help protect the park.
3. The jr. ranger activity booklets are a great way to pass the time in the park or near the visitors center. If a sudden turn of weather impacts your family's hiking plans, the junior ranger booklets may be the next best thing to avoid sibling squabbles.

The length of booklets and the number of activities range greatly by the park. Some are only a few activities printed on computer paper while others, like the Saguaro National Park Junior Ranger Book is full color and 24 pages long. If you are spending several days in a national park or your child may be interested in a longer-form activity book, the National Park Activities Series may be a good choice.

The National Parks Activities Series are similar to junior ranger booklets, but these full-length books can keep kids occupied for longer. The Kings Canyon National Park Activity Book can be purchased here.

If your family isn't able to visit Yellowstone, Glacier, or Acadia National Park in person, many national parks have their junior ranger activity books available online. You can print them in advance to get kids excited about going to a park. These activities can also be used by classroom teachers, as a homeschool resource, or used by scout troops. Check on the park website for more information.

Once your child participates in one junior ranger program, they will certainly want to do more! Eventually, you may end up with so many badges that you might want to get a junior ranger vest, hat, or banner to display them proudly!