• Looking out at the lake

    Sleeping Bear Dunes

    National Lakeshore Michigan

There are park alerts in effect.
show Alerts »
  • Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive will not open until Memorial Day Weekend

    Changes to visitor service due to Sequestration. Due to mandatory, across-the-board budget cuts, some visitor services in this park have changed. Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive will not open until Memorial Day Weekend and will close after Labor Day. More »

  • Some restrooms and trash cans not available until Memorial Day

    Changes to visitor service due to Sequestration. Other than those at the visitor center and campgrounds, restrooms and trash cans will not be available until Memorial Day Weekend and will close after Labor Day. This includes the Manitou Islands. More »

Be a Junior Ranger

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Sleeping Bear Dunes NL junior rangers show off their completed Junior Ranger books
 

Did you know that sand dunes move? or that sailors sent messages with flags? or how to identify a Pitcher's thistle? Become a Junior Ranger, and through activities, games, and puzzles, you'll learn this and more. Required activities include attending a ranger-led program (or creating your own), doing a service project (picking up trash, recycling, or a project of your own), and completing activities that encourage direct experience and discovery learning in different park environments. You can earn a badge, a patch, and a certificate. It's fun for the whole family!

What is a Junior Ranger?
A junior ranger is someone who, after completing the requirements, promises to take care of Sleeping Bear Dunes and other national parks. The Junior Ranger program is a fun way to learn about Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and about how you can help protect the park; just like our park rangers!

How does it work?
While visiting the park, stop by the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire, the Dune Center Bookstore at the Dune Climb, or the Glen Haven General Store to get your copy of the Junior Ranger Book. The books are FREE! Complete the activities and requirements (outlined in the book), take the book to a ranger station (visitor center, campground, island ranger station), and a ranger will review your book with you.

When your booklet is completed, you will receive

  • A Junior Ranger badge and/or patch
  • An official Junior Ranger Certificate to frame and enjoy

And your name will be added to our list of Junior Rangers for this year on our web site. Best of all, you will have gained valuable knowledge in the stewardship of our national parks and that's what we really want! The more we all share in caring for our environment, the healthier the Earth will be... and the healthier the Earth, the happier all of us will be. Remember, it's all for our children's children's children... and beyond!

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JR patch and badge
 
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Download a copy of the JR book

Be a WebRanger!
As a WebRanger, you’ll learn what park rangers do to help protect our natural resources and our cultural heritage. You’ll also learn how park rangers observe and discover new things about our national parks, things to share with visitors like you.

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WebRanger patch

Did You Know?

Hiking Trails

There are over 100 miles of hiking trails in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Many of these trails can also be used for skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. More...