Date: April 14, 2009
Contact: Nancy Gray, (865) 436-1208
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will celebrate the third annual National Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 25, with special activities at the park’s three visitor centers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Children and their families can join in a variety of free, hands-on activities at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN; Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC; and Cades Cove Visitor Center near Townsend, TN. Activities planned will range from searching for salamanders to making dinner bells at a blacksmith shop. Making historic toys, beeswax candles, cornhusk dolls, and competing in the "animal olympics" are a few of the other natural and cultural opportunities that will be available. Information on the specific programs is available at the visitor centers.
Children can "earn" their Junior Ranger badge by completing three of the specially planned activities. A Junior Ranger booklet is also available, for those who would like to explore the Park in more depth. The Junior Ranger booklets, produced in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains Association, can be purchased for $2.50 each at Park visitor centers. The booklets are designed to better serve a variety of age groups targeted at 5 to 6, 7 to 8, 9 to 10, and 11 to 12.
"National Junior Ranger Day provides a great opportunity for children and families to spend time together learning about the Park doing fun activities," said Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. "We hope that our local residents will take advantage of this program to interact with our staff and the resources, and, at the same time, plan a full day in the Park."
National Junior Ranger Day is a special event for National Park Week, celebrated this year between April 18 and 26. Most parks throughout the country will host ceremonies, interactive games, and special events designed to connect children with the resources found in national parks. National Park Week is an annual Presidentially proclaimed week for celebration and recognition of National Parks. National Parks are living examples of the best the Nation has to offer. This year’s theme is "Community Service."
