Junior Ranger

Line of 8 Junior Ranger badges, some made of shiny plastic and some tan wood

What is a Junior Ranger?

You can become a Junior Ranger at many of the over 400 National Park Sites around the nation. A Junior Ranger learns about the parks and promises to protect these great places for everyone. To become a Junior Ranger, just complete the activities in a Junior Ranger booklet and a park ranger will sign your book and give you a Junior Ranger badge! Most physical copies of junior ranger books are available at the Zane Grey Museum when the museum is open.

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River has its own Junior Ranger booklet, as well as several national junior ranger programs.

 
Young girl stands next to park ranger holding a Junior Ranger certificate
Special Junior Ranger programs are sometimes offered during special events, such as the Eclipse Junior Ranger during the eclipse event on April 8, 2024.

Courtesy of visitor

Can I Participate in the Junior Ranger Program even if I'm not at the Park?

If you are unable to pick up or complete a physical copy of a junior ranger book in-person at the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, a digital versions of several of the junior ranger books are available. Alternatively, you can send us an email and we will mail you a physical copy of the book. After you complete the Junior Ranger book, you can mail it back to us, bring the completed book to the park, or email us a scanned copy/photo of your completed book with your preferred mailing address to receive your badge. Junior Rangers are welcome to complete their book before their visit to the park.

Mail completed books* to:

Upper Delaware S&RR
Attn: Division of Interpretation
274 River Road
Beach Lake, PA 18405

*Please note: The Underwater Explorer Junior Ranger should be mailed to a different address. This address is provided in the Underwater Explorer Junior Ranger section.

 
Booklet cover: Blue and green abstract watercolor painting with white text "Junior Ranger Activity Book. It's a river, it's a valley, it's history, it's nature, it's living. Dig in and EXPLORE!"
Upper Delaware Junior Ranger Activity Booklet

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Junior Ranger

Learn about the natural and cultural world in and around the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River as an Upper Delaware Junior Ranger. Topics include Leave No Trace, Roebling’s Delaware Aqueduct, Western author Zane Grey, and various wildlife that can be found soaring or swimming in and along the river ecosystem.

The booklet is recommended for ages 5-12 but is fun for all ages.

 
Cover of booklet: photo of a green canoe with "Park Ranger" printed on side. In background are hills with "Junior Ranger River Safety" text in the blue sky. In upper corner is the circular Junior Ranger logo with a green outline and park ranger hat.
Junior Ranger River Safety Booklet

River Safety Junior Ranger

Water safety is one of the most important things to learn if you want to enjoy all the amazing aquatic opportunities Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River has to offer. Learn how to be safe while on the water as a River Safety Junior Ranger!

The Junior Ranger River Safety booklet is recommended for ages 8-12, but parents are encouraged to work with younger kids on the activities.

 

 

National Theme Junior Ranger Programs at Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River

In addition to the junior ranger books specific to Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, the park also offers junior ranger books and badges related to several national junior ranger programs. These junior ranger programs are offered by different national park sites all over the country whose parks relate to a particular junior ranger theme. 

Fishing is one of the most popular activities on the Upper Delaware. As a Junior Ranger Angler, prepare for your next fishing adventure by learning about parts and types of fish, different fishing environments, what gear to bring, and how to be safe on the water while following proper fishing regulations. After completing the Junior Ranger Angler book, walk away with not only a junior ranger badge, but also a plan and the preparation to cast a line and catch your next fish! 

A digital copy of the Junior Ranger Angler book is available.

Experience the wonder of the night sky, no matter where you are or what time of day as a Junior Ranger Night Explorer! Developed by the National Park Service Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division, this junior ranger book will introduce you to a broad range of topics related to stars, skies, and space including about the sun and stars, phases of the moon, our solar system, and constellations. Closer to earth, Junior Ranger Night Explorers will also learn about nocturnal creatures, light pollution, and the use of constellations for navigation. 

A digital copy of the Junior Ranger Night Explorer book is available. 

All aboard the Junior Ranger train! Open up the Railroad Explorer Junior Ranger book to learn all about the history of the transcontinental railroad and the importance of trains in the development of the United States. Railroad Explorer Junior Rangers will learn about who built the railroads, what tools they used, who benefited from the development of the railroad, and who were negatively impacted, as well as do activities that may help you on your next train trip, including activities around trip planning, time zone calculations, and train safety. 

This junior ranger book was developed by the National Park Service in partnership with the Union Pacific Railroad and the National Park Foundation. 

A digital copy of the Railroad Explorer Junior Ranger book is available. 

Dive into the underwater world as an Underwater Explorer Junior Ranger! Water is everywhere around us and plays a very important role in our daily lives. Bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and oceans are found throughout national parks. The National Park Service manages its water resources to protect the environment and promote recreation. Explore the depths of knowledge about our planet’s water resources and aquatic environments, including learning about different aquatic ecosystems, underwater creatures, how scientists conduct underwater research, and what you can do to protect aquatic environments and ecosystems as a Junior Ranger Underwater Explorer. 

A digital copy of the Junior Ranger Underwater Explorer book is available. 

Please note that if you wish to mail your book in to receive your badge, please mail completed books to this address instead of to Upper Delaware: 

National Park Service 
Submerged Resources Center: Junior Ranger 
12795 West Alameda Parkway 
Lakewood, CO 80228 

As the number of wildfires grow more and more frequent in the United States, they are becoming an increasing concern for both communities and many national parks. Developed by the National Park Service Division of Fire and Aviation, the Wildland Fire Junior Ranger program introduces you to the science of wildfires and how wildfires are managed, controlled, and studied by firefighters and scientists. 

A digital copy of the Wildland Fire Junior Ranger book is available. 

 

 

Open Transcript  Open Descriptive Transcript

Transcript

We are pleased to announce the redesign of the Junior Ranger's activity book. A partnership project between ENGN's Civic Creative Center and the National Park Service of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. The redesign is the work of 15 year old Nathaniel Pereira-Mendoza and we are very proud of his efforts. The books will be available at all Upper Delaware Park locations and online by request. Thank you.

Descriptive Transcript

Small folded paper booklet, oriented portrait, approximately 4 inches long by 3 inches wide. Booklet cover features abstract green and blue design reminiscent of a riverbank. Text reads: Upper Delaware. Junior Ranger Activity Book. It's a river, it's a valley, it's history, it's nature, it's living. Dig in and EXPLORE!"

Narrator: "We are pleased to announce the redesign of the Junior Ranger's activity book."

Hands hold up booklet with a pebbly riverbank in the background. They unfold the booklet slowly, like a map, so the booklet gets larger and larger. As the booklet is unfolded, more information and images of the booklet are revealed.

Narrator: "A partnership project between ENGN's Civic Creative Center and the National Park Service of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. The redesign is the work of 15 year old Nathaniel Pereira-Mendoza and we are very proud of his efforts."

Activities visible in the booklet include finding and identifying creatures, reflection and free response, drawing, fill-in-the-balnk, and crosswords.

Narrator: "The books will be available at all Upper Delaware Park locations and online by request. Thank you."

Text on screen reads "A partnership project between the National Park Service & ENGN Civic Creative Center. Graphic design layour and art work by NAthaniel Pereira-Mendoza." NPS logo and ENGN logo visible. NPS logo is a arrowhead shape with a mountain, tree, bison, and lake inside. ENGN logo is made of colorful lines and trapezoid shapes touching each other.

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Duration:
38.372 seconds

The video demonstrates how Upper Delaware's new Junior Ranger book unfolds to reveal the content.

Last updated: May 3, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

274 River Road
Beach Lake, PA 18405

Phone:

570 685-4871

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