Shenandoah National Park - National Junior Ranger Day (U.S. National Park Service)

A ranger and a young visitor dressed up like a ranger at National Junior Ranger Day in Shenandoah.

NPS | John F. Mitchell

“EXPLORING, LEARNING, PROTECTING”

Have you ever put your hand into a bear’s footprint? Have you ever tried on a ranger hat? Here’s your chance!

Shenandoah National Park has some special activities planned for National Junior Ranger Day. The program is designed to help children and families connect with parks in ways that engage them in exploring, learning, and practicing stewardship.

Ranger-led programs enable families to explore together and embrace the 2011 National Park Week theme, “Healthy Parks, Healthy People.”

Most of the programs are open to visitors of all ages. Special “Junior Ranger Day”certificates and patches will be available.

Activities meet at Byrd Visitor Center, Milepost 51 on Skyline Drive, unless otherwise noted. There is no charge for the programs, and there’s no need to register.

2011 Junior Ranger Day Programs and Activities

Time	Description	Location
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.	Dickey Ridge and Byrd Visitor Centers open: Exhibits and information.	Mile 4.6 Milepost 51
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Touch Table Get a feel for nature's diversity.	Dickey Ridge and Byrd Visitor Centers
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Uniform Try-On Station for Kids Suit up and imagine being a national park ranger!	Dickey Ridge and Byrd Visitor Centers
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.	Birds of Prey* Program Here’s your chance to meet live raptors, face to beak!	Big Meadows Amphitheater, in picnic area (mile 51.2).
10:30 - 11:00 a.m.	*Discovery Walk See what's blooming, crawling, singing, or hiding in the woods.	Meet at Skyland Amphitheater (mile 42.5).
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	Bells and Whistles! Meet a law enforcement park ranger.	Byrd Visitor Center
10:30 - 10:50 a.m. --and -- 2:30 - 2:50 p.m.	Wild About Bears Talk Learn about the lifestyle of Shenandoah's largest mammal.	Dickey Ridge Visitor Center
1:00 - 1:20 p.m.	Wild About Bears Talk Learn about the lifestyle of Shenandoah's largest mammal.	Byrd Visitor Center
1:30-3:30 p.m.	More Bell and Whistles! Check out our fire truck!	Byrd Visitor Center
2:30 - 4:00 p.m.	*More Than a Meadow Walk Find out about the plants, animals, and people that are part of the fascinating Big Meadows story.	Meet in front of Byrd Visitor Center.
2:30 - 4:30 p.m.	Stony Man* Hike Hike up to a rocky viewpoint on the park's second-highest peak.	Meet at Stony Man Trailhead (mile 41.7).
3:00 -4:30 p.m.	Junior Ranger* Program Ages 7-12. Explore nature through fun, hands-on activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult.	Meet in front of Byrd Visitor Center.

* Regularly scheduled ranger programs.

National Junior Ranger Day is part of National Park Week, April 16-24. Special programs are being held at national parks around the country. Check out what other parks are doing by going here.

National Junior Ranger Day

Gallery Description: Annual Event at Big Meadows!

National Junior Ranger Day

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