National Junior Ranger Day 2012

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News Release Date: April 12, 2012
Contact: Dave Kronk, 906-387-2607, ext. 206

Hey past, present and wanna-be Junior Rangers (ages eight and older) join us on Saturday, April 21, to "Explore, Learn About, and Protect" your National Lakeshore! Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore will celebrate "National Junior Ranger Day" from 1 pm to 4 pm with outdoor exploration and games at Sand Point located on Sand Point Road in Munising.  Follow the road past Munising Memorial Hospital until it ends at the park headquarters. Please wear old shoes and clothes that could get wet and muddy! 

Research findings documented in the book "Last Child in the Woods - Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder" by Richard Louv explains that children today are spending less time playing outside than any other time in our history. This is an alarming statistic because outdoor play is beneficial for children in so many ways. Outdoor play in programs like "Junior Rangers" not only strengthens young bodies but may reduce the level of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while increasing children's observation and critical thinking skills, creativity and teamwork abilities.

At most national park areas around the country, National Junior Ranger Day celebrates Junior Rangers past and present. Junior Rangers are young people who have fulfilled the requirements to earn a Junior Ranger Badge or Patch in at least one of the 397 national park units across the nation that have a Junior Ranger Program. The motto of this youth program is, "Explore, Learn, and Protect".

The National Park Service's Junior Ranger program began in the 1960s and was designed to help kids and their families explore and learn about their national parks while cultivating future generations of park stewards. Today, hundreds of thousands of Junior Rangers are sworn in each year, and there is even a Web Ranger program for those who are unable to visit a national park. Every day at National Parks across the country, Rangers make the National Park Experience special!

So join us for some fun on April 21! To register for this event or learn more about Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore's celebration of National Junior Ranger Day, email Ranger Dave at [e-mail]. To learn more about becoming a Junior Ranger, or about the National Park Service's Web Ranger program, please visit the Ranger Zone at www.nps.gov/webrangers. Happy trails!

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