New Bedford, MA – Children of all ages visiting New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park—in-person or virtually—now have three ways to earn a
junior ranger badge. The
park’s junior ranger activity booklet has been redesigned
and two brand new junior ranger programs are now being offered
at the park, the Art Ranger program, and the Web Ranger
program.
The
Junior Ranger activity booklet helps young people learn
about the park through games, questions, and a scavenger
hunt that takes participants on a voyage through the historic
district and New
Bedford’s working waterfront.
Those completing the program can receive their official
junior ranger badge and sticker.
The new booklets will be available beginning Memorial
Day weekend.
The
Art Ranger program is a fun way to see, learn about, and make
art in and around the national park. It is an interactive program using art banners
created by the Teen Arts Coalition, a summer youth program
for area teens. The
banners depict local contemporary artists chosen by the members
of the Teen Arts Coalition. The accompanying art ranger booklet uses the
nine lamppost banners as a starting point for families and
students to explore the art in the park.
There are two sections in the booklets, one geared
towards children and the other towards parents and teachers.
Each section asks questions about the art on the banners,
gives information on the artists and their practices, and
prompts visitors to participate in art making activities by
going to the “Act Now!” station at ArtWorks!
Booklets are now available.
Visitors interested in the Art Ranger program can pick
them up at the National Park Visitor Center or ArtWorks!, a non-profit gallery located in the park.
For
those children who can’t make it to the park, the Web Ranger
activity is a fun way to learn about the park and some of
its partners without actually setting foot in the park. To earn your downloadable Web Ranger certificate,
visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/nebe
and go to the “for KIDS” section from the home page. The Web Ranger activity is an online scavenger
hunt that takes visitors on a virtual tour of the park and
its partners and allows them to explore different websites
to find answers to questions about the park.
At the end of the scavenger hunt participants are invited
to download and print their official Web Ranger Certificate.
New
Bedford
Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve
and interpret America’s nineteenth century whaling history. The park, which encompasses a 13-block National
Historic Landmark District, is the only NPS area addressing
the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the
economic, social and environmental history of the United States. For more information
contact New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park at (508) 996-4095, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/nebe.
ArtWorks!
is a non-profit contemporary art center in the National Park
dedicated to fostering creative growth in artists of all ages.
The gallery is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and
Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm and Thursday 11:00am – 7:00pm. Admission is free.
For more information contact Artworks! at 508-984-1588
or www.artworksforyou.org
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by
the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
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