Is it that time during the summer when you’re starting to hear, “Mom, I’m bored! There’s absolutely nothing to do!” Your children have finished with the library summer reading program prize sheets and you’ve signed up and attended every Vacation bible School and summer camp your child was interested in. Now, you still have too much summer left before you’re ready to get back in the routine of school to be listening to a repeated mantra of “Mom, I’m bored! Mom, I’m bored! Mom, I’m bored” over and over till you’re ready to shorten summer immediately. If this describes your household, you’ll be happy to know that many state parks across the nation have got your tool to lift the boredom from your children’s summer. It’s the perfect time to explore the Junior Ranger program, usually recommended for children ages 6-12, but some states start as young as 5 or sometimes even younger and go up to age 14.
If you’re not familiar with the National State Parks Junior Ranger Program, you’ll be delighted to discover the fun learning that can take place as your children learn historic facts while earning a patch. In fact, if you are still planning a family vacation, you may want to look into the city and state you are visiting to find out if they offer a Junior Ranger Program. It’s fun to collect patches from as many states as possible.
This is probably not something you can accomplish in an hour or two or even in an afternoon. But, there is plenty of summertime left to accomplish this program. Each state has slightly different rules and regulations for completion of the program. But, in general, here’s how it works: You visit state parks. Sometimes you will be asked to listen to a park ranger speak on the history of the park, or you will watch a demonstration. Sometimes all that is required is a self-tour, scavenger hunt style activity where you answer fun questions and turn them in for review. Once you complete the requirements, you will receive a patch. The patches are nice, like a scouting patch that can be sewn on clothing, a hat or a vest or just saved for scrapbooking and memories.
Regardless, the Junior Ranger program is a fun activity to enjoy with your children during the rest of this summer. The things you learn from this experience will carry well into the school year once it begins again.
