Junior Ranger Programs

 

Great Basin National Park Foundation Photo

Junior Ranger Day, Saturday August 29^th

Great Basin National Park will celebrate National Junior Ranger Day in 2026 on Saturday, August 29. Explore, learn, and help protect Great Basin’s cultural and natural heritage through hands-on activities and ranger programs all day long. There will be many opportunities to earn and wear your newest Junior Ranger badges, too!

Most events are free but note that the Junior Cave Ranger Experience requires advance registration. The program schedule is subject to changes and additions, so check back here frequently for updates.

Junior Ranger Day Program Schedule

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Junior Cave Ranger Experience ($4-8 per person; register on Recreation.gov)
10:30 AM – Ranger Patio Talk at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center
11:30 AM – Stream & Macroinvertebrate Survey at Upper Lehman Campground
12:00 PM – Junior Ranger Swearing-In Ceremony at the Wheeler Peak Bristlecone Grove
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Junior Cave Ranger Experience ($4-8 per person; register day-of at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center)
2:00 PM – Storytime with Stellaluna in the Rhodes Cabin
2:30 PM – Ranger Patio Talk at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center
3:00 PM – Herpetology (Snakes!) Program at the Great Basin Visitor Center
4:00 PM – Junior Ranger Swearing-In Ceremony at the Great Basin Visitor Center

 

Great Basin National Park Dark-Sky Junior Ranger Patch

NPS

Junior Ranger Activity Booklets

At this time, rangers are not able to mail any junior ranger materials, including books, badges, or patches. Activity booklets can be downloaded from this page and printed out at home in advance of your visit.

Great Basin National Park Junior Ranger

Learn about the Great Basin using this booklet. Explore the life of a bristlecone, deep caves, and other fun subjects with the help of Baby Raven. Follow the instructions inside the booklet, then when finished you can turn it into a ranger at a visitor center to earn your badge.

Junior Ranger Night Explorer

Learn about the stars and night time environments using this booklet. Explore fun and interesting subjects like the night-sky, light pollution, the sun and constellations! Follow the instructions inside the booklet, then when finished you can turn it in to a ranger at a visitor center to earn your patch.

 

Join a park ranger for fun, hands-on activities with the whole family.

NPS Photo

Junior Cave Ranger Experience

This 3-hour ranger-led program takes kids and their families on an interactive adventure through the wonderful world of caves and karst through hands-on classroom activities, a wild cave simulator, and a tour of the famous Lehman Caves. The Junior Cave Ranger Experience happens most Saturday mornings between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. This program is limited to 20 total participants – kids and adults – and requires advanced registration.

For full program information and schedule, visit the Junior Cave Ranger Experience page.