Junior Rangers

Virtual Dual Language State Park Junior Ranger Program

Over the summer of 2020, close to 10,000 kids and parents participated in our Virtual Junior Ranger Programs. With so much success and public support, many staff statewide wanted to see these programs continue. Working together, educators of California State Parks, known as Interpreters, developed a dual language Junior Ranger program. We hope that by providing a program that combines both English and Spanish, it will help children develop language skills and an understanding of the extraordinary resources in their California State Parks, and provide them with fun activities they can do at home. At the same time, we are rewarding them for being future stewards of their parks. 

How to get started with the Dual Language Junior Ranger Program

Kids can click on the link and go through 6 different modules. These are self-paced activities.

https://prezi.com/p/wopesjnockuu/?present=1

As kids watch each of the videos, they will need to look out for the code words! This code words are what they will email to our Statewide Junior Ranger Coordinator. Once they have sent in the code words, the coordinator will reward them as follows: after they have earned three badges they will be eligible for a physical California State Park Junior Ranger badge; completion of all six programs will earn them the Junior Ranger Patch and a Junior Ranger Certificate.

If you have any questions about our Junior Ranger program email them to interpretation.staff@parks.ca.gov. When you have completed all the virtual programs you can also email the code words to this email and we will send you your awards. 

English
 

 

Spanish
 

Virtual Junior Ranger Recordings

During the summer of 2020, many parks developed virtual Junior Ranger programs. Recordings from certain presentations have been uploaded to a Youtube channel that you can view at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaUEcEDSM5VYhcV515Izmag?view_as=subscriber . 

Junior Ranger with reward poster and park interpreter

In-Person Junior Ranger programs in parks

Junior Rangers gather at more than 70 state parks, from the redwood region, to the high Sierra, to the sunny Southern California beaches. 
 
At your first Junior Ranger program you will get a logbook and badge like the ones pictured on this page. Play games, hike trails, create your own animal, discover tracks, observe wildlife, all while making friends your own age in some of the best places in California.  For each activity you will earn a stamp in your logbook. And that's not all, as you go through the program, one activity at a time, you will earn some very cool rewards!

There are 12 different Junior Ranger activity areas.  Geology, ecology, history, safety, plants, and wildlife are some of the activity areas you will be exploring.

You can participate at one park over several days, or you can start at one park, and then do other programs at different parks.  You should plan to spend about an hour at each activity, and you will have so much fun!

The Junior Ranger Program is offered free of charge to visitors who have already paid park entrance or camping fees. Not all of our state parks participate in these programs. To find out which parks offer Junior Ranger activities see the list linked below and call the specific park at the listed number and ask about their program schedule. You can also visit the state parks' Upcoming Events webpage, where dates and times are listed for Junior Ranger programs at many parks. (Not all Junior Ranger programs are listed on the events page.)

View the document List of California State Park Junior Ranger Program locations

Other Junior Ranger Activities

No program at the park you're going to visit? We also offer the Junior Ranger Adventure Guide in English and Spanish. You can print it out before you go to the park and then have fun doing the activities with your whole family. When you've finished all the fun activities in the guide, you win an award!

There are also special Junior Ranger Adventure Guides for each of these parks.  Fill them in and learn more about the park when you visit.  Show your completed booklet to park staff, and you can collect your Junior Ranger badge.

Angel Island State Park (PDF, 5.23 MB)
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve (PDF, 2.47 MB)
Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area (PDF, 270 KB)
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (PDF, 536 KB)
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park (PDF, 2.63 MB)
Saddleback Butte State Park (PDF, 3.33 MB)