Complete your Junior Ranger booklet and hike 1 mile to earn the official Junior Ranger hiking patch!
NPS K. Ricks
Have you ever wanted to be a park ranger? Now is your chance! By participating in Capulin Volcano National Monument's Junior Ranger and Junior Junior Ranger programs, you can help park rangers by learning what makes Capulin Volcano so special and how you can help protect it for future generations. The Junior Ranger books are designed to be completed in the park, but can also be downloaded (See link below), and printed out for completion at home.
Junior Rangers (Ages 6 and up)
What kind of volcano is Capulin? What animals make their homes here? You will find out the answers to these questions and many more while completing the Junior Ranger activity book.
Children ages 6 and older are invited to pick up a Junior Ranger activity book at the visitor center upon arrival to the monument. Don't forget to watch the park film and ask a ranger which programs are being offered while you are there. After completing the activities, bring your book to a park ranger and show them what you have learned. If you think you are ready, the ranger will swear you in with the Junior Ranger Pledge and present you with your very own Junior Ranger badge to take home!
Junior Junior Rangers (Ages 5 and under)
1, 2, 3? How many ladybugs do you see? Children ages 5 and under are invited to participate in the Capulin Volcano Junior Junior Ranger program, with an easier and fun educational activity book. If you come at the right time of year, you might even get to see the famous Capulin Volcano ladybugs! All participants are rewarded with a Junior Ranger badge upon completion.
Junior Rangers at Home
If you can't make it to the monument or you want to do the activity at home or in your classroom we have the accessible downloadable PDF versions below.
If you have done the book at home and e-mail us pictures or scans of your completed book we will mail you a Junior Ranger badge.
If you use the Junior Ranger book for your classroom we can mail you the appropriate number of stickers for your classroom size. (We cannot mail large numbers of badges for classrooms).
If you want a badge and patch without waiting for the mail, please download and print the Virtual Junior Ranger Badge (388KB PDF)
Let's Move Outside!
In addition to the Junior Ranger programs, all children are encouraged to take part in the national Let's Move Outside! program. By hiking at least 1-mile within the park (we suggest the rim trail) in addition to completing the Junior Ranger program, you can earn a special patch in addition to your badge. (Patches only available at the monument).
