Kids & Youth

Two brothers from Cub Scout Troop 65, New Jersey learn about stewardship through their hard work at the Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse.

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Resource Stewardship Programs for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts

Are you a scout or troop leader looking for a way to protect and preserve our national parks while you visit? The Scout Ranger program might be just what you're looking for! Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts may earn a certificate and patch in national parks.

Kids can make a difference in their national parks by participating in educational programs, park approved volunteer programs or service projects. A certificate requires a five hour commitment at one or more national parks. A patch requires ten hours total. Scouts who participate become Resource Stewardship Scout Rangers.

Girl Scout Ranger Program

Boy Scout Ranger Program

 

Kids earn their Junior Ranger badges and certificates

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Junior Rangers at the Preserve

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is looking for special Junior Rangers. To earn a Junior Ranger badge, you must complete five of the activities found in the activity book. Come to the park and receive a booklet or download a copy. Return to the Visitor Center or mail the booklet to the preserve. The rangers will check your work and mail the booklet back to you, along with an official Junior Ranger badge.

Visit the preserve in person or virtually to become an official Junior Ranger today!

More Junior Ranger subjects Found Here

More Park Fun Found Here

 

Activity Booklet for Junior Paleontologist

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Become a Junior Paleontologist

EXPLORE the ways that paleontologists work, and the methods and tools they use to understand ancient life.

LEARN about Earth's history, ancient plants and animals, and changes to past climate and environments.

PROTECT our national parks, including fossils and the rocks in which they are found.

Visit the Junior Paleontologist website to download your booklet today.

 

Leave No Trace Patch

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Leave No Trace Scavenger Hunt

Practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace as you search for natural and cultural resources. Pick up a Scavenger Hunt page at the Visitor Center. Write down where you find the items, leaving them in place for future visitors to enjoy. Bring back your completed page to the rangers and they will award you with a great Leave No Trace patch. Leave No Trace has more activities for Scouts.

The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace

• Plan Ahead and Prepare

• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

• Dispose of Waste Properly

• Leave What You Find

• Minimize Campfire Impacts

• Respect Wildlife

• Be Considerate of Other Visitors

 

Download one of these coloring pages for more prairie fun

Linda Brown, with permissions

Kid's Coloring Pages to Download

Each link below opens in a new page with the image ready to print full size 8 1/2 by 11 inches.

Deer Mouse and Pocket Gopher

Badger and White-tailed Deer

Rattlesnake and Coyote

Cottontail Rabbit and Fox

Spiderwort and Sunflower

Wild Rose and Lead Plant

Wild Bergamont and Purple Coneflower

Yellow Coneflower and Black-eyed Susan

 

Large box in a park area.

Photo by Paige Altevogt & Layney Lunsway

Kids Making a Difference in their World

Students at Amanda Arnold Elementary School are raising awareness for a cleaner community. They put together a website showing the differences in their communities, rural and college town. Visit their website to learn more about their project.

http://paigeandlayney.wixsite.com/cityandfarm