Kids & Youth

 

Exploration Themes

What fascinates you about Yellowstone National Park? Is it geysers? ... animals? ... rocks? or maybe a little of everything?

Personalize your Yellowstone adventure! Investigate the themes that interest you the most. As you explore, keep your eye out for the theme symbols and colors for similar topics.

 
Icons of the five major kids topics: geology, hydrothermal, wildlife, history, and preservation
Select a topic to explore available resources and activities.
Green circle icon with black ranger hat silhouette Orange circle icon with black arrowhead silhouette Yellow circle icon with black bison silhouette Blue circle icon with white geyser eruption silhouette Purple circle icon with black mountain silhouette
 
A circular logo with a bison in the center. It reads: Yellowstone National Park 150th Anniversary 1872–2022
Virtual visitor stamp for 2022.
Click for a full-sized version.

NPS

Virtual Visitor Stamp

For those of you who collect national park passport stamps, we now have you covered. Explore the different wonders Yellowstone has to offer on this website, then print off this virtual stamp and add it to your passport book.

As always, thank you for your interest in and support of Yellowstone National Park and the National Park Service.

 

Ask a Ranger

Yellowstone National Park is home to Old Faithful Geyser, bison, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone Lake, and a massive supervolcano. Yet, there is so much more to the park. Check out our Ask a Ranger section of commonly asked questions to learn more about this amazing place.

 
 

Plan Your Adventure

Do you want to learn about hot springs, mudpots, and geysers? Looking to learn more about Yellowstone wildlife? Explore this interactive map to learn more about just what can be found within the park.

 
Map of Yellowstone with various animal silhouettes and location illustrations decorating the map
Select an illustration or word on the map to learn more.
Sign with a brown silhouette of an entrance sign Sign with a brown silhouette of an entrance station Sign with a brown silhouette of an entrance station Sign with a brown silhouette of an entrance station Sign with a brown silhouette of a stone arch Silhouette of a ranger Silhouette of a beaver Silhouette of a moose Silhouette of a Yellowstone cutthroat trout Silhouette of a bison Silhouette of a swan Silhouette of an eagle Silhouette of a bear Silhouette of a river otter Silhouette of a sandhill crane Silhouette of a wolf Silhouette of a bighorn sheep Silhouette of a pronghorn Silhouette of an osprey Silhouette of an elk Words Word Words Words Words Words Words Words Illustration of a geyser cone, the shore of a lake, and the words Illustration of a river running through a deep canyon and the words Illustration of terraces with a mountain in the background Illustration of steam erupting from the ground, a rainbow pool, and the words Illustration of a rainbow-colored pool and forested hillside. Illustration of steam erupting from the ground and the words Green badge with a silhouette ranger hat and the word Orange badge with a silhouette arrowhead and the word Blue badge with a white silhouette of an erupting geyser and the word Yellow badge with a silhouette bison and the word Purple badge with a silhouette mountain and the word
 
 

Park Highlights

Investigate Yellowstone's ecology, history, and preservation efforts.

 
A deep, blue and green hot spring.

Hydrothermal Features

Learn about hot springs, geysers, mudpots, and fumaroles.

A red fox and kits stand on a rock and lap up some water.

Wildlife

Animals of every stripe, or spot, inhabit Yellowstone. Wildlife is all around us and sometimes in unexpected places!

Prismatic colors in a hot spring.

Extreme Environments

Learn all about the organisms who like to live in extreme conditions.

Volcanic cliff face rising out of a conifer forest.

Explosive Past

Explore why Yellowstone has a supervolcano with an explosive past.

A park ranger stands on a boardwalk along a lakeshore and talks with visitors.

Park Rangers

Meet the people charged with preserving this special place.

Black and white photograph of the log cabin structure of the Old Faithful Inn.

Stepping Back in Time

Discover Yellowstone's historic places.

 

Resources

Looking for a hands-on activity to enhance your Yellowstone knowledge, some pictures for a class project, or posters to decorate your room? This is the place!

 
Silhouette of the western US with different caldera ash flows.

Make Your Own Caldera

Create your own caldera (safely).

Silhouette of a geyser erupting and the underlying plumbing system.

Predict Old Faithful

Calculate your own prediction for Old Faithful's next eruption.

Silhouette of petrified trees on a hillside.

Create a Cool Petrification Station

Create your own petrified log and learn how trees can be turned into stone.

Silhouette of two kids standing and watching Riverside Geyser erupt water and steam up over a river.

Picture Yourself in Yellowstone

Enjoy some classic scenes and resources of Yellowstone National Park.

 
 

Exploring in the Park

There is so much to do in Yellowstone. Two popular ways to enhance your understanding of the park's resources while exploring the park is to participate in the Junior Ranger and Young Scientist programs.

 
Every Kid Outside Pass

Annual "Every Kid Outdoors" 4th Grade Pass

Every Kid Outdoors connects fourth graders and their families to public lands. Complete a fun activity and get your voucher for free admission today.

 
Become a junior ranger of Yellowstone National Park.

Become a Junior Ranger

This is a great way to experience Yellowstone National Park for you and your family.

A young visitor learns about hot springs from a ranger.

Explore as a Young Scientist

Solve science mysteries by combining investigation in both visitor center and field settings.

 
 

Careers

It is never too early to start thinking about what you want to be when you grow up. Explore some of the different duties National Park Service employees get to perform to protect the park and ensure an enjoyable visit for all.

 
Interpretive ranger talks with a visitor while pointing out a hydrothermal feature.

Interpretive Ranger

Interpretive rangers provide visitors with opportunities to connect with their parks.

A fish biologist holds a large lake trout in her hands.

Resource Management Ranger

Biologists, geologists, historians, and archeologists are all resource management rangers.

A ranger uses a tool to safely remove trash from a hot spring.

Facilities Management Ranger

Rangers are also handy at building boardwalks, fixing damage, and keeping the park clean.

A female ranger sits on a horse and salutes.

Resource and Visitor Protection Ranger

Rangers uphold the law and give a helping hand when an emergency occurs.

Last updated: April 25, 2022

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168

Phone:

307-344-7381

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