• Miles of uncrowded white sandy beaches extend to the horizon, separating the clear blue ocean and undulating grass-covered dunes.

    Fire Island

    National Seashore New York

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  • More Park Facilities Reopen During May 2013

    Watch Hill and Sailors Haven marinas open May 10. Limited ferry service from Sayville to Sailors Haven resumes May 13 and ferries from Patchogue to Watch Hill start on May 18. Remaining park facilities to reopen by May 25, 2013. More »

Let's Move Outside! Junior Ranger Program

Lets Move Outside Junior Ranger logo.

Visit the official Let's Move! website to learn more.

Hey kids! Did you know that you should have at least 60 minutes of active and vigorous play each day in order to stay fit and healthy? What better way is there to meet this goal than to "play" outdoors in a National Park?

First Lady Michelle Obama launched Let's Move Outside as a component of her national Let's Move! campaign to battle childhood obesity. Let's Move Outside! gives kids - and parents! - ways to get moving in America's great outdoors.

National parks across the country have joined the Let's Move Outside effort with an added feature of the National Park Service's popular Junior Ranger program called Let's Move Outside Junior Ranger.

Young people who complete at least one physical activity in pursuit of their Junior Ranger badge can receive a special sticker that designates them as a Let's Move Outside Junior Ranger.

 
Climbing Lighthouse metal spiral stairs.

The climb to the top of the Fire Island Lighthouse takes you past five arched windows, good places to catch your breath and enjoy the view. The spiral stairs and ladder-like steps get progressively smaller as you near the top, but the panoramic vista from the tower gallery is worth every step!

At Fire Island National Seashore, the Let's Move Outside Junior Ranger program offers kids and parents the chance to explore the special natural and cultural features of the park while burning a few calories and improving cardiovascular health. These activities are not only great exercise, but also provide incredibly fun ways to see and learn about the park.

To earn a Fire Island National Seashore Let's Move Outside Junior Ranger sticker, attend one of the following activities:

  • Fire Island Lighthouse tower tour:
    192 steps to the top!
    Must be 42" tall to climb the tower: tours available all year, interpretive fee charged.
  • Exploring the Salt Marsh guided canoe tour at Watch Hill:
    2-hour paddle!
    Thursdays - Sundays, July 1 - Labor Day weekend only, weather permitting. Children (ages 6 - 16) must be able to swim and must be accompanied by two adult paddlers in each canoe.
  • Sunken Forest Expedition: 2-hour guided nature hike!

Additional special ranger-guided hikes are offered throughout the year and at National Junior Ranger Day events.

Before heading out, visit Let's Move Outside for more information about activities and other participating parks. This website hub links families to the great outdoors and give tips and ideas on how to best plan and enjoy an active adventure. The National Park Service provides 84 million acres to explore, so there are many places and ways to move outside!

 
National Junior Ranger Day beach walk with children and parents.
Special ranger-guided walks are conducted during National Junior Ranger Day at Fire Island National Seashore.
  • For Kids: Junior Ranger Patch or Badge For Kids: Junior Ranger Patch or Badge

    is the reward for completing Fire Island's Junior Ranger Workbook. Read More

Did You Know?

Close-up view of roots and sand grains beneath golden stems.

Tiny rootlets of the American beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata) and mycorrhyzal fungi hold together the grains of sand that make up sand dunes on Fire Island. You can help protect the dunes by not walking or driving over the beach grass. More...