To celebrate the program's 20th summer, Yellowstone National Park's official Junior Ranger Program is free
to visiting children ages 5-12! The goal of the Junior Ranger program is to introduce children to the natural wonders of the park and their own role in preserving these wonders for the future.
To become a Junior Ranger, families may request a free 12-page activity paper at any Yellowstone visitor center. While the activity papers are available for download below, only children visiting the park can complete the requirements necessary to earn the patch. After completing the age appropriate requirements described on the last page of the paper and reviewing their work with a ranger at any visitor center, participants are awarded an official Yellowstone Junior Ranger patch. Modeled after the National Park Service patch, Junior Ranger patches feature a stylized bear track for 8-12 year olds, a wolf track for 5-7 year olds, and a snowflake for all winter junior rangers. Requirements include attending a Ranger-led program, hiking on a park trail, and completing activities on various park resources, issues, and concepts such as geothermal geology, park wildlife, and fire ecology.
Some winter activities require the use of a thermometer and hand lens, so make sure you ask to check out a Junior Ranger Snowpack. Snowpacks are available at both the Mammoth and Old Faithful visitor centers and snowshoes may be checked out in Mammoth.
Both children and adults benefit by learning more about the park and sharing the fun of becoming a Junior Ranger.
Downloading the Junior Ranger Program
While most of the Junior Ranger activities need to be completed within Yellowstone, families may wish to download the activity papers before traveling to the park. A list of program requirements is on the last page. Come to Yellowstone to earn your Junior Ranger patch!
To preview or print the activity paper, click on the appropriate age below.
Formatted for 11x17 paper but can be printed on 8.5 x 11.
Ages 5-7
Ages 8-12
If you are unable to visit Yellowstone, you may be interested in the National Park Service WebRanger Program. Children can earn a patch through the mail by playing games and learning about National Parks online.
