Courtesy of Kate Ter Haar
The Junior Ranger Program is a great way to explore national parks. You can learn about nature sounds, night skies, or even the Transcontinental Railroad! You'll also learn why national parks matter and how you can be a part of the team that helps keep parks healthy.
This year's National Junior Ranger Day is on Saturday, April 23! We don't care what age you are—just "explore, learn, and protect" your national parks online and become an official Junior Ranger. Look for the virtual badges you can print out and post on your refrigerator.
The NPS Kids Portal is where to start your virtual national park experience and participate in fun activities and special online programs for the whole family. Check out online and printable activities along with virtual tours, videos, and webcams from national parks all across the country.
Kids Portal
Explore resources for kids of all ages to do at home or in a park to learn more about nature, history, and culture in parks.
Junior Ranger Programs
Find in-park and online opportunities to earn Junior Ranger badges while learning about nature, history, and ways to play in parks.
sPark Curiosity!
National Junior Ranger Day is Saturday, April 23, 2022, with the theme of "sPark Curiosity". The National Park Service preserves and protects unique places with fascinating stories and unique landscapes. When thinking about parks, what are you curious about? What fascinating things can you discover? Curiosity drives us to explore new places or topics and encourages us to take on new adventures and learn something new along the way. National Park Service Junior Rangers are encouraged to explore, learn, and protect our national parks.
Here are a couple of ways you can sPark curiosity during National Park Week:
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Look to see if a park near you is hosting any Junior Ranger Day activities.
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Participate in online Junior Ranger programs (paleontology, night explorer, etc.).
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Complete as many activities from one of our Junior Ranger books, during National Park Week.
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Stay curious!
Junior Cave Scientist Program
We are looking for young speleologists to become Junior Rangers by exploring the underground worlds beneath our feet.
Junior Ranger Let's Go Fishing!
Reel in your Junior Ranger Angler status learning about fishing and preserving fish habitats.
Junior Paleontologist
Investigate prehistoric life as a Junior Paleontologist looking at fossils in national parks.
Junior Ranger Night Explorers
Lights out for an adventure exploring the night sky! Learn about constellations, planets, galaxies, and more.
Junior Ranger Sounds Explorer
Listen up to hear the sounds all around in nature. What interesting things will you hear as you explore sounds.
Junior Ranger Underwater Explorer
Take a dive to explore an underwater world and learn what you can do to protect everything that lives there.
Find an Event
Set the calendar to April to find in-person and virtual Junior Ranger programs during National Park Week (April 16-24, 2022) at any of the more than 400 national parks around the country. Remember to check ahead for trip planning information and to recreate responsibly for a safe visit.
Last updated: April 12, 2022