Become a Junior Ranger for the Chesapeake Bay
Captain John Smith was quite an adventurer when he explored the Chesapeake Bay. The routes that he traveled and many of the places that he saw 400 years ago are now part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic
As a Junior Ranger for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake Trail, you will learn about:
- explorer Captain John Smith and his voyages on the Chesapeake Bay
- the American Indians who lived along the Chesapeake Bay
- what the Chesapeake Bay was like 400 years ago and what it is like today
- what you can do as a Junior Ranger to help the Chesapeake Bay.
It's easy and it's fun. Here's how:
- Download the Junior Ranger Activity Book
- Read the instructions in the introduction.
- Take a "virtual tour" of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. You'll find all the information you need on this website to become a Junior Ranger for the trail.
- Complete the activity pages for your age group
- Send the completed pages and your signed Junior Ranger Pledge to:
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
Junior Ranger Program
P.O. Box 374
Yorktown, VA 23690
A park ranger will review your work. If you've done a good job in learning about the trail, the ranger will mail you a badge and certify you as an official Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Junior Ranger.
Find Clues from the Past
Captain John Smith did not "discover" the Chesapeake Bay region. There were already people living here for thousands of years before the European settlers arrived. American Indians didn't leave written descriptions, but they left many other types of clues to tell us who they were and how they lived.
This is the stuff that archeologists study. If you enjoy digging in dirt, solving mysteries, and piecing together puzzles, you should check out the National Park Service website Archeology for Kids.