Kids who love exploring can earn Junior Ranger badges as they discover nature’s treasures in U.S. national parks. The parks love their youngest visitors and want to foster their natural curiosity by offering a free educational program for kids. The National Park Service’s Junior Ranger Program is a great opportunity to have fun while learning about nature and wildlife. And some of the badges can be completed at home.
My kids and I enjoy spending summers exploring the national parks. Between hiking and climbing over rocks, my kids earn Junior Ranger badges. So many, my kids put their summer’s haul on a special Junior Ranger hat. When they walk into a visitor center, parents notice and the park rangers smile. When school starts back up in the fall, my kids remember information they learned over the summer about biology, natural history and geography. Here’s what you need to know for your kids to earn Junior Ranger badges.
Who Are Junior Rangers?
They are Junior Park Rangers. And the National Park Service loves them. Walk up to the information desk at a visitor center and the park ranger on duty will spend extra time with kids. The NPS offers a free booklet for kids to guide them as they explore the park. After visiting more than 100 national park service sites, I’m here to tell you: Junior Ranger badges are fun and easy – for adults as well as kids.
Kids from 5 to 13 can join the ranks as they explore, learn and protect our national treasures, though if your kiddo can hold a pencil then they can earn a Junior Ranger badge. And it’s not just for kids. Some national park sites, including Acadia National Park in Maine and Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas, offer special Senior Ranger booklets and badges. Additionally, Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State offers a Citizen Ranger booklet and badge. Other parks give badges to adults who complete the entire Junior Ranger booklet. So, brush up on those mazes and word finds!
More than 300 National Park Service sites hand out free booklets specially designed for that park (a few parks, including Yellowstone National Park, charge $3 for the booklet).
Read More: The Ultimate Guide to US National Parks
How to Earn a Junior Ranger Badge
To earn a Junior Ranger in person at a park, the first step is to pick up a booklet at the park’s visitor center. The visitor center is always my first stop after entering the park and it usually offers restrooms and water fountains. Most visitor centers are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Junior Ranger requirements vary from park to park, so look over the booklet. Some require kids to take a short hike or watch a short introductory film found in the visitor center. Others require recycling or picking up trash in the park. Most Junior Ranger badges require attending a ranger program. These educational programs are presented by a park ranger during the day and open to all.
Some parks offer special Junior Ranger programs, just for kids. Each vary in length but are usually 20 or 30 minutes long. I usually drop my kids off for a few minutes while I explore nearby. It seems I never get a minute to explore on my own!
Read More: What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Yosemite?
Then I talk with a park ranger for recommendations. If a hike is required, I ask the park ranger which trails are best for kids. I find the family-friendly hikes and circle them on the park map I picked up for free at the visitor center or entrance station.
Finally, we explore the national park site as a family and the Junior Ranger booklet points out the unique features of the park. I’ve learned just as much as my three kids by earning Junior Ranger badges over the years.
Getting the Reward
After completing the required activities, the kids turn in their booklets to the park ranger on duty at the visitor center. Park rangers will go over each booklet and discuss important features of the park with each child.
After discussing the booklets and what they learned, kids raise their hands and recite the Junior Ranger Pledge:
As a Junior Ranger, I promise to teach others about what I learned today, explore other parks and historic sites, and help preserve and protect these places so future generations can enjoy them.
Each kid gets a collectible badge or patch, depending on the park, and a signed certificate.
Earn National Junior Ranger Badges at Home
An online version of the Junior Ranger Program features national Junior Ranger booklets that can be downloaded, printed and completed at home, all for free. In some cases, you can even send the booklet in to a park to get a badge. The download page will tell you how to get your reward, which may be an online “high five.”
Obviously, you can’t hike a national park from home, but the kids can still learn. Here are some of the badges they can earn at home:
Note: Delays might incur on the mailing of Junior Ranger Badges.
Read More: When’s the Best Time of Year to Visit the Grand Canyon?
World Heritage Junior Ranger
Learn about the UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the National Parks. Get more information here.
Junior Ranger Railroad Explorer
Learn how the east and west coasts were connected back in the 1800s via the transcontinental railroad. Download the booklet here.
Junior Ranger Sounds Explorer
Learn about sound and how scientists study sound. Download the booklet here.
Junior Ranger Space Flight Explorer
In a partnership with NASA, kids learn about space and how humans explore it. Download the booklet here.
Read More: When’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Glacier National Park?
Let’s Go Fishing Junior Ranger
This badge is issued in a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Learn about fishing, aquatic habitats and fishing safety. Download the booklet here.
Junior Cave Scientist Program
The National Park Service preserves 150 areas that protect caves or karsts (landscapes created by weak acids that dissolve rocks), like Wind Cave National Park. To learn about speleology, the study of caves, complete at a park with a cave. Or complete at home and mail the completed booklet to the National Park Service Geologic Resources. Download the booklet here.
Junior Ranger Night Explorer
Kids can learn about the night sky. Best completed in an international dark sky park, like Death Valley National Park that hosts telescope or astronomy programs. Download the booklet here.
Junior Ranger Archeology Program
Kids learn about the lives of people from the past. This booklet includes a parent guide. Download the booklet here.
Underwater Explorer
Learn about life below the surface of the water. Earn at home or visit Olympic National Park for a special patch. Download here. the booklet
Junior Paleontologist Program
Introduce your dinosaur-loving kids to the science behind uncovering hidden bones. The National Park Service features 259 parks that preserve fossils, including Badlands National Park. Complete the booklet at a participating park or at home. Download the booklet here.
Other Special Junior Ranger Programs
The National Park Service partnered with the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts to offer a certificate or patch for registered scouts. So scouts who complete 10 hours of organized learning, like the Junior Ranger badges, or perform service projects are eligible for a patch.
How to Score Free Parks Admission for a Year
If you have a fourth grader, you can get a year’s worth of free parks admission! Every year, beginning September 1, all kids in the fourth grade can get an Every Kid Outdoors pass. Fill out the form at www.everykidoutdoors.gov. This pass provides free access to national parks across the country for the entire family for a full year.
Where to Find U.S. National Parks
There are 61 U.S. national parks spread across 29 states and two U.S. territories. California has the most with nine, followed by Alaska with eight, Utah with five, and Colorado with four. Additionally, find national parks in urban areas, like San Francisco and Boston.
Some national park sites span several states, like the national historic trails. Find several sprinkled across the U.S., like the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail that retraces the exploration of the west. Though kids with special interests, like dinosaurs or volcanoes, can find national parks to learn more.
Another way to visit a national park is on a cruise to Alaska or the Caribbean with ports-of-call in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Jessica Wade says
We were just able to complete the Oregon National Historic Trail from home too if you’d like to add another to that list. Thanks for the information you’ve given!
Jennifer Kuhlman-Brown says
My first badge was at Stones River Battlefield in TN. It’s metal and it was start to my Jr/Sr Ranger rabbit hole. Haha
Jennifer Kuhlman-Brown says
Did you know that the US Forest Dept also has a Junior Ranger program? I didn’t until last month. Already been to two and have three more this month. Wahoo!!
Dorothy Mladenka says
Hi, Love your site! Thank you for the great info. I have completed the Junior Railroad Explorer booklet but don’t know where to send it for the wood badge. It doesn’t say in the booklet either. Do you know where I can send it? Thank you.
Cindy Richards says
Thanks for letting us know. It turns out that only some of the booklets can be sent in to get a badge. I edited the post to reflect that. Each booklet download page has information on how to get a reward for completing that booklet. Unfortunately, the railroad booklet doesn’t seem to have a reward — beyond filling out the pledge in the back of the booklet.
Jennifer Kuhlman-Brown says
That sucks! All about the badge swag!
jennifer says
Where can i download the junior ranger books? I don’t see a link to click on the site here to access the books
Cindy Richards says
Here’s the link to the online NPS site for Junior Ranger books: https://www.nps.gov/kids/junior-rangers.htm
lej says
Thank you THANK YOU. Especially the info on the Nightsky Jr. Ranger program..can’t wait to share with my daughter, friends and family…might have try to challenge them.
Catherine Parker says
Enjoy!
Jodi says
Do you by chance have photos of each badge/patch/whatever you earn at each park? I’d really love to see that!
Steve says
You can add collecting Junior Ranger Cancellations to your list now. While nearly all national park sites with Junior Ranger programs were sent a Junior Ranger cancellation, participation is voluntary. There may also be some parks with Junior Ranger cancellations that are not on this list.
https://www.eparks.com/documents/cancellations_jr.pdf
Sumee says
Hi Catherine
I am new to US. But I really love my two girls to learn more about nature. I think Junior Ranger would be the best way they can explore and learn about nature. You explain well on all the activities need to be done by the juniors, thank you. I just wanna know how can I register my girls as junior Ranger? Where do I start from?
I am from Southern California.
Catherine Parker, National Parks SheBuysTravel says
Hi Sumee,
Just plan a trip to your first park and head to the visitor center. Ask the Park Ranger for a Junior Ranger booklet then explore the park as a family. Have your kids complete the booklet then turn it back in to the Visitor Center to get a badge or patch. That’s it. No need to register ahead of time. For ideas for National Parks near LA, I recommend https://shebuystravel.com/national-park/california-national-park-road-trip-away-la/
Emily Mitton says
Thank you so much for the information. So far we’ve only taken my 2 boys to most of the parks in Kansas, but every vacation we take I try to get to a national park or two! We’re getting ready to go to the Oklahoma City National Memorial later this week. For anyone interested, there is also a special Oklahoma Outdoor Ranger badge available if you visit all 3 parks in the state (Oklahoma City National Memorial, Washita Battlefield NHS, and Chickasaw NRA). Thanks for the reminder to print the booklets ahead of time!
Catherine Parker, National Parks SheBuysTravel says
Hi Emily,
Chickasaw National Recreation Area is actually the former Platt National Park and lovely area to discover. I wrote about it, https://shebuystravel.com/family-vacation-destinations/midwest-destinations/cannonball-natural-pool-chickasaw/. And Oklahoma City offers some serious family fun along with the Memorial, check out this post, https://shebuystravel.com/family-vacation-destinations/southwest-us-destinations/9-places-to-tame-a-teen-in-oklahoma-city/.
Adam Blevins says
Is it possible to download booklets from parks you’ve visited previously? For example, I took a group of Scouts to Mammoth Cave this Spring. We spent time with Rangers, camped, hiked, etc… Can they complete the booklets and mail them in?
Catherine Parker, National Parks SheBuysTravel says
Hi Adam,
Absolutely, go to the park’s webpage and under the tab “learn about the park” stroll down to the “kids and youth” tab. That’s where the link to the Junior Ranger booklet will be, usually a downloadable PDF. If not then head to the main Junior Ranger page, https://www.nps.gov/kids/jrrangers.cfm
Have fun!
Carrie says
Does each booklet need to be mailed to a different address? I can’t seem to find an answer. Thank you
Catherine Parker, National Parks SheBuysTravel says
Hi Carrie,
Here’s the main address for the Junior Ranger Program:
National Park Service
Junior Ranger Program
1849 C Street NW RM 1448
Washington, DC 20240
Have Fun!
Frey Family says
Hi Our daughter Aida Frey is the most decorated Jr. Ranger in the National Park Service! Your website is very interesting. We have visited 299 National Parks in 45 states in 7 years. Keep up the great work with your kids!!
Natalie says
Wow. Are there any parks that do not offer badges that you have encountered. We want to make the most of our visits to areas, but don’t want to go out of our way to visit a park that doesn’t have badges.
Catherine Parker, National Parks SheBuysTravel says
Hi Natalie, Every park I’ve visited always had a junior ranger program. We explore parks that appeal to families with lots of natural features. The National Park Service sites that are don’t have Park Rangers or Visitor Centers will probably not have Junior Ranger programming. I always research about the park I’m visiting at the NPS.gov. For Junior Ranger programming head to the “learn about the park” tab then scroll down to the “kids and youth” tab. That’s where the link for the Junior Ranger program will be. Sometimes the park has the booklet available for download too. Have fun!
Suzanne says
Thank you for the information. I will be homeschooling my daughter in the fall. We covered 5 National Parks in June and completed the Junior Ranger activity booklets as well. It’s a fantastic program. We will be covering US history and it offers hands on experience visiting th parks as well as answering the questions. We have 4 parks lined up in the next couple of weeks as well as Astronomy night at Assateague Island.
Catherine Parker, National Parks SheBuysTravel says
Hi Suzanne! I recommend printing out the booklets at home in the summer. We stopped by a park that ran of booklets but still had patches. And it’s always a good idea to take some pencils too. The Junior Ranger Program has been an enriching experience for my three kids.