National Parks Junior Ranger Program...

Today's post cover a subject I wanted to plug and a space filler since we were not around all weekend. Lets cover the space filler part first, we spent the weekend in the Benezette area of northern Pennsylvania. I say area because we put allot of mileage on the truck driving around in Elk, Clearfield and Cameron Counties looking for wildlife and getting acquainted with the are. I have wanted to view and photograph the Pennsylvania Elk for some time and after following along on Willard's site (Pa Wildlife Photographer) for some time now, he pushed me over the edge. Rest assured it was just the first of what will be many trips to Elk County in the future. Photographs and details to follow starting on Tuesday.

I got these two photographs ready last week, knowing we would be gone all weekend and not have time to get anything ready when we got home. These are of Shane and Linda taking part in a ranger talk at Assateague Island. Ranger talks are for everyone and I highly recommend them. They are given at all National Parks, when arriving just stop at a visitors center and ask for schedule of ranger talks. While there ask if they have a Junior Ranger program. I have never been to a National Park that did not. Most are for children 14 and under. They will give you book with age groups on the front and each group will give a list of requirements.

Normally to complete the requirements certain questions must be answered, some answers are found in the park or at the visitors center and some require speaking to a Ranger. At times they will ask you to collect something in the park or draw a photo, most require you to attend at least one Ranger talk. The children and adults learn more about the park by taking part in the program and it becomes an enjoyable experience for both.

At the completion of the program, you take the finished book back to a Ranger at a visitors center for them to look over and ask questions to ensure you really did learn something. You will then take an oath and receive a certificate and depending on the park a pin or patch. Shane is getting a very large collection of these. The amazing thing is the Junior Ranger program closest to us (Gettysburg) he has not done yet.

If you are going to start going to National Parks don't forget to pick up a passport and have it stamped at the first one you stop at. And remember to take it along on each vacation to have stamped at each eligible stop.