Did you know you can become a Junior Ranger at almost any National Park? No matter your age! And it’s FREE! My little sister has become a Junior Ranger for SBD four times, needless to say I needed to also become one too.
Starting out
To begin the journey of becoming a junior ranger your first stop should be to the visitors center. Here you’ll pick up a booklet which contains all the information on how to become a junior ranger (receiving a junior ranger pin) and how to get the junior ranger patch.
If you’re over the age of 10, you have to complete 11 activities in the book in order to become a junior ranger. Then to receive the patch you’ll need to complete a ranger-led activity or your own adventure as well as a service project.
What we did
COMPLETING the booklet
In the booklet, the activities are fairly simple (and fun), especially to do together as a group. Things like crossword puzzles, word searches, drawing, I Spy along Pierce Stocking Drive, an indoor nature walk at the visitor center, and much more. There’s over 20 activities to do in the book so you have your choice of things you want to do and things you would rather skip.
COMPLETING the patch
To complete the patch there are two activities to complete:
-
Ranger-led activity or your own adventure
For this you can attend a ranger-led activity like a walk, talk, bike tour, movie, snowshoe hike, demonstration or evening program.
Or you can complete your own adventure like taking a hike, camping, paddle or bike with family and friends.
-
Service Project
For the service project they list five possible service projects for you to do and you only need to do one (though doing more is always encouraged!)
The five projects are: pretending to be a ranger and leading a program to your family/friends, collect recyclables, re-use something in a different way, pick up five pieces of trash, create your own service project idea.
Overall, this was incredibly fun! It’s a great way to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes, and a great way to do something different if you’ve already been here a few times! Let me know if you are or plan to become a Junior Ranger at Sleeping Bear Dunes or other National Parks!
