Date: March 31, 2008
Contact: Linda Friar, 305-242-7714
Everglades National Park is pleased to announce Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April, 5, 2008. Junior Ranger Day is a special event to highlight youth in parks and the Junior Ranger Program. The Junior Ranger program is a national program designed to involve kids and families while they visit National Park Service sites. Three of South Florida’s National Parks – Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, and Big Cypress National Preserve – have a joint Junior Ranger program.
Junior Ranger Activity Guides are available in English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole, and may be obtained at any of the park visitor centers in Everglades or Biscayne National Parks or Big Cypress National Preserve. The program is designed for kids 8-12 years old, but is available to kids of all ages! To earn a Junior Ranger badge, participants need to complete several activities from the guide and at least one activity in the park.
Everglades National Park invites potential Junior Rangers to come out on April 5 to Explore, Learn, and Protect their national park!
Junior Ranger Day activities include:
Shark Valley Visitor Center– located on US Highway 41, 25 miles west of the FL Turnpike
Aspiring Junior Rangers and their families will be treated to a FREE guided tram ride through the Everglades. Seating is limited so reservations must be made in advance by calling 305-242-7753.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by a 2-hour guided tram tour. Participants will then gather for a picnic lunch (bring your own), with time for Junior Rangers to complete their activity guides. At 1:30 p.m. we will have a ceremony to award the new Junior Rangers with their badges. Short ranger talks, a touch table, and exhibits for kids will be available for all from 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Participants will be asked to sign a photo release. Join us for all or part of the day!
Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center – 10 miles west of Homestead
Flamingo Visitor Center – 50 miles southwest of Homestead
Gulf Coast Visitor Center – Everglades City
While there is no formal event at other park locations, this is an ongoing program families can participate in anywhere in Everglades National Park. Stop by and pick up the Junior Ranger workbook at any Visitor Center from the Park Ranger on duty as you head into the park or the download the workbook ahead of time from our website if you'd like to have the candidate Junior Ranger complete the workbook portion of the program before coming to the park at http://www.nps.gov/ever/forkids/index.htm. Once the activities are completed please return the workbook to the visitor center for the new Junior Rangers to receive special recognition and a certificate for participating in the Junior Ranger program during this great family event!
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