As I've mentioned, the details of Junior Ranger programs vary from park to park, because each provides activities related to that park.

At Arcadia National Park in Maine, for instance, there's a Junior Ranger Day each spring for local third-grade students who complete the requirements as part of their school curriculum, including a day of beach cleanup and tree-planting with a park ranger. During last year's, 450 children from 12 schools received badges.

Across the country, young visitors to the Grand Canyon can become Junior Rangers in several ways:

	Kids between ages 4 and 14 can pick up a Junior Ranger activity book at the visitor center. The park offers three separate programs organized by age: Ravens for ages 4 to 7, Coyotes for ages 8 to 10, and Scorpions for ages 11 to 14.
	Kids between 9 and 14 can also become Dynamic Earth Junior Rangers by attending a Dynamic Earth Program. There they join a ranger and hike along the rim of the Grand Canyon from Hermits Rest to Pima Point. At the end of the two-hour program they receive a Junior Ranger badge and certificate. These sessions are only offered in summer, between late May and early September.
	Another program is available for aspiring naturalists between the ages of 9 and 14. After attending a one-hour ranger-led program, they can check out a"Discovery Pack" for the day, which includes binoculars, a hand lens, field guides, and other typical ranger tools. The program is offered only in the summer, and participation is limited, so check with the park for details.

Junior Programs Everywhere

A month or so after Will became a Yellowstone Junior Ranger, we spent a weekend at a backcountry Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) hut in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As soon as we arrived, the hut attendant gave each of the seven young children in our group a Junior Naturalist Activity Book. There were two booklets, one for children ages 5-8 and another for kids 9-12.

To earn this AMC patch, Will and his cronies needed to complete at least six pages of the book. The younger kids completed the same number of pages as their age, while the older group had to complete at least eight pages in their booklets.

As with the National Park program, the AMC activities were simple yet informative, focusing on such topics as wildlife, leaves, weather, astronomy, and mapmaking.

Our children eagerly completed these tasks, which helped pass the time as we waited for dinner. The next morning at breakfast our little hikers were awarded their patches. Next year, during our annual weekend trip, they'll no doubt get more.

Whether you're visiting a national park, a state park, or a local nature center, check whether such activities, books, or naturalist programs are available.

Who knows, maybe your junior ranger will be inspired to become a real ranger.

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