Kids ages 8 - 12 may earn either a patch or badge upon completion of the Fire Island National Seashore basic Junior Ranger program.

Junior Ranger Program

Fire Island National Seashore has a vibrant and growing Junior Ranger program, with booklets to complete on your own, and ranger-guided programs to help you learn more.

Some Fire Island National Seashore Junior Ranger activity booklets can be completed in a single day, while other booklets may require multiple visits or more research. Whatever the level of commitment, participating in the National Park Service Junior Ranger Program is sure to enhance your visit! 

Pick up a copy of Fire Island National Seashore's basic 16-page Junior Ranger Activity Booklet: Learning All About Fire Island National Seashore at any of the park visitor centers.

A 24-page Advanced Junior Ranger Activity Booklet has been created for ages 13 and up (or for anyone who has already completed the basic Junior Ranger booklet). Upon completion of this booklet, participants will earn a special bar.

One of the requirements of Learning All About Fire Island National Seashore: Advanced is to attend a ranger-led program.

Fire Island National Seashore offers a balance of recreational and educational programs for individuals, families, and groups. Most programs are free, but program fees are charged by some of the park's partners or for special events.

Fire Island National Seashore
Summer Interpretive Programs

Additional booklets are also available to help young people and their families learn more about the National Park Service and Fire Island National Seashore.

Mark Your Calendar!

As a part of National Park Week, Fire Island National Seashore has planned for a full afternoon of National Junior Ranger Day activities on Saturday, April 23, 2011, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Fire Island Lighthouse.

Get outdoors, join the fun, and earn this year's National Junior Ranger Day patch and other Fire Island National Seashore Junior Ranger patches and badges.

A National Park Service partner—the National Park Foundation—has provided support for Junior Ranger programs around the country.  

• Explore National Park Week
• First Bloom
• First Bloom Edition Kid Power Eco-Activity Book

RangerZONE: Be a Junior Ranger!

Junior Ranger Gazette - This journal includes fun facts, activities, and stories about the national parks across the country.

• Check out page 9!

Summer Junior Ranger Program Series: Path to Discovery  

During the summer, Fire Island National Seashore also conducts a weekly 1½-hour Junior Ranger: Path to Discovery program. The activities are held at Sailors Haven, Watch Hill, and at the Wilderness Visitor Center. Each week, a different topic is covered. The ranger and volunteers conducting the programs also help participants complete their booklets.

The Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society offers a six-week Junior Lighthouse Keeper Program on Wednesdays from mid-July until late August. There is a program fee and pre-registration is required (631-661-4876).

If you're able to visit the William Floyd Estate on three consecutive Fridays in July or August, you can participate in the Floyd Junior Ranger Program. Programs are free, but registration is required (631-399-2030).

Watch Hill and Sailors Haven are open from mid-May to mid-October. Hours vary by season. Both are accessible by ferry or private boat. The Wilderness Visitor Center is open weekends during the spring, then Wednesday through Sunday from late June through December 31. The William Floyd Estate is open Friday through Sunday, Memorial Day weekend through October. The Fire Island Lighthouse is open year-round.

Logistics on Fire Island can be quite complicated, so be sure to review ferry schedules in advance. Ferries run regularly to the island in the summer months but are limited in the off-season. A water taxi provides service between island communities and park locations. See "Directions" for park access information.

Learn More:

• Fire Island National Seashore's Junior Ranger Booklets and Awards
  
• Let's Move Outside! Junior Ranger Program
  
• Fire Island Programs for Scouts