Be a Junior Ranger

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!   Become a special 50th Junior Ranger! Download the 50th Birthday Junior Ranger pages and complete the required number of activities. When you're finished, email us at [e-mail] and let us know your name(s) for a certificate what you've done your mailing address We'll send you a special Sleeping Bear Dunes 50th Junior Ranger badge in the postal mail. It's wooden and really special! We will also send you a certificate. Please keep in mind that it could take over a month to receive your mail. When you get your badge, head over to our video on Facebook to take the pledge. Share what you’ve done on social media using #SleepingBear50 and #ShareSLBE.   x   How do I become a Sleeping Bear Dunes Junior Ranger? 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 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! Contact us to have a copy of the Junior Ranger Book sent to you via email or snail mail.