Discover the Amazing National Park Service Junior Ranger Program
Explore. Learn. Protect.
One of the first aspects of planning our trips to national parks includes a quick search to see if that national park or monument participates in the amazing and educational National Park Service Junior Ranger program.
History of the Junior Ranger Program
Founded in 1930 by Charles A. Harwell, a park naturalist in Yosemite National Park, the Junior Ranger program has grown to encompass most of the 423 national parks and can also be found at national monuments, historical sites, battlefields, Bureau of Land Management sites, state parks, and state’s Fish, Wildlife, and Parks departments.
This is an amazing educational program that gives individuals an opportunity to learn more about the park’s location, geology, historical and cultural significance, climate, wildlife, ecology, crucial safety tips about exploring the parks, the importance of the National Park Service, and how each Junior Ranger can protect the park for future generations.
Ages & Cost of Junior Ranger Booklets
While the program is geared towards future rangers ages 5 – 13, everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. To participate in the Junior Ranger program, participants need to complete the park specific Junior Ranger booklet. Booklets can be picked up at ranger stations or visitor centers. Some parks offer the opportunity to download the booklets online or some parks offer the opportunity where a ranger will kindly mail you the booklets at your request.
The booklets are usually free; however, there are certain places where you may be required to purchase the book. In Yellowstone National Park, the booklet costs $3.00 and in the Garden of the Gods State Park in Colorado, the booklet costs $2.00.
K and I enjoy participating in this program and when we have the opportunity, we will print the online books in advance so we can begin learning about the park before we arrive. It also allows us to complete more of the book before arriving as some of our trips will be quick stops on a longer journey.
Engaging Activities
The Junior Ranger program is an exciting activity-based program that includes scavenger hunts, crossword puzzles, coloring pages, poetry writing, interactive ranger led programs, hidden puzzles, illustrations, mapping sounds, and many more. Most booklets will break down the number of pages each age group needs to complete in order to earn the Junior Ranger badge or patch with fewer pages for the littles and the whole book for the young at heart.
The Junior Ranger Pledge
Once you have completed your required number of pages or the whole book if you have time, head over to the nearest ranger station or visitor center. We typically head to the information desk and let the ranger know that we are ready to become Junior Rangers. The ranger will review your booklet, ask questions about your experience in the park, and answer any questions you may have. You then raise your right hand and recite the Junior Ranger pledge. While pledges can be very similar, rangers have the latitude to make them rhyme (Glacier National Park) or include instructions to listen to your parents and do well at school (Jean LaFitte National Historical Park).
Once you have recited the Junior Ranger pledge, you will received a signed certificate which is usually the last page of your Junior Ranger booklet and be awarded a Junior Ranger badge, patch, or sticker depending on the location. I am still laughing about the Aztec Ruins National Monument “Not So Junior” Ranger badge.
Congratulations, you are now a Junior Ranger!
Something a Little Extra
Fortunately, the Junior Ranger program is an inexpensive, if not completely, free program, there is always the opportunity to purchase Junior Ranger items.
Fun purchases can include vests, hats, binoculars, and the Junior Ranger Edition: Passport to Your National Parks. K loves adding the cancellation stamps to her own passport.
Junior Ranges merchandise can be found in most visitor center gift shops or online. We bought K’s vest from the Western National Parks Association.
Junior Ranger Adventures Accomplished
Here is a list of the Junior Ranger programs that K and I have completed on our journeys thus far:
Yellowstone National Park (Montana)
Glacier National Park (Montana)
Arches National Park (Utah)
Jean LaFitte National Historical Park & Preserve (Louisiana)
New Orleans Jazz Historical Park (Louisiana)
Aztec Ruins National Monument (New Mexico)
Chaco Culture National Historical Park (New Mexico)
Garden of the Gods National Natural Landmark (Colorado)
Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
Capitol Reef National Park (Colorado)
Zion National Park (Utah)
Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
Kodachrome Basin State Park (Utah)
Goblin Valley State Park (Utah)
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Utah/Arizona)
Rainbow Bridge (Arizona)
We love the Junior Ranger programs and highly encourage you to participate as it is a fantastic opportunity to explore, protect, and learn about our amazing parks system.
