Be A Junior Ranger

Haleakalā National Park Junior Ranger Badge

Become a Junior Ranger at Haleakalā National Park by completing the What is a National Park activity plus any other activity of your choice. Have fun as you explore, learn, and protect from home!

Haleakalā protects the last or only home to plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. The stories, sights, and traditions of Haleakalā are sacred to Native Hawaiians. You will discover these natural and cultural treasures as you complete these activities online!

Once completed, print the Haleakalā National Park Junior Ranger badge and online certificate, say the pledge out loud to your parents, and sign your online certificate. Congratulations! You, are now an official Junior Ranger of Haleakalā National Park.

Learn more about Junior Rangers and the five tips to plan a safe visit to any National Park, find activities, and more information about Haleakalā.

 

 

Junior Ranger logo with motto: explore, learn, protect

Join us Today and Become an Official Junior Ranger of Haleakalā National Park!

Complete activities and build your Junior Ranger skills from home! Tag us on social media @haleakalanps in your photos and use these hashtags:

#haleakalanps #juniorranger #findyourpark #hooloaaikoupāka #virtualexperience #findyourvirtualpark

Continue on your Junior Ranger journey in the Pacific Islands at these National Park Service sites:

Hawai'i Island

• Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
• Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
• Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
• Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park
• Pu'ukoholā Heiau National Historal Site

Moloka'i

• Kalaupapa National Historical Park

O'ahu

• Pearl Harbor National Memorial

Guam

• War in the Pacific National Historic Park

American Samoa

• National Park of American Samoa

 

National Park Service arrowhead

Dress Like A Ranger (All Ages)

Design and craft your own Ranger hat out of material you have around the house. Use your imagination and put on your best Junior Ranger outfit, whatever you think that may be!

• Why did you design the hat the way you did?
• Why did you pick the clothes you did?
• Why do you think rangers dress the way they do?

Arrowhead Activity-Required
(All Ages)

Discover what the arrowhead stands for? Now it’s your turn! Fill in the blank arrowhead with symbols that are unique to Haleakalā or color the National Park Service arrowhead. In your arrowhead, include things that are important to Haleakalā and things you want to preserve and protect. Why did you pick those things? You may use your own arrowhead design to put on your ranger outfit.

 

Nēnē family with gosling

NPS Photo

Draw a Nēnē (Ages 4 and up)

Meet the nēnē, the Hawaiian Goose and Hawai'i's state bird. Nēnē are from Hawai‘i and no where else on earth. They are relatives of the Canada Goose. Nēnē are a threatened species and protected at Haleakalā National Park. Follow the steps to draw your own nēnē. Color it in and give it a name!

 

Haleakalā Species Ranger Talk (Ages 5 and up)

Become an expert and prepare a ranger talk for your family! Explore our website to find information on plants and animals found at Haleakalā National Park. Here are some questions and activities to consider to become an expert:

• Can you see a Haleakalā species in your backyard? Why or why not?
• Have you seen a Haleakalā species in person before?
• Draw or paint a picture of your species.
• Write down 3 fun facts about the species on the back of your picture.
• Bonus questions for Junior Rangers ages 8 and older:
  • What does endemic mean?
  • Is this species endangered? Why or why not? How can you protect it
• Dress like a ranger and give your family a ranger talk on your chosen Haleakalā species. Show them your drawing, tell them the fun facts you learned, and how they can protect it. Make sure to answer any questions they may have, you are the expert now!

 

Backyard Scavenger Hunt (Ages 5-8)

In your backyard (balcony or porch):

• Hunt for colors. Find something green, then yellow, then red, then blue.
• Look closely at a plant. Describe its leaves. How do these leaves help the plant to live?
• Find something you have never noticed before.
• What does the bark of a tree feel like?
• Can you find any flowers? Does it smell? If so, what does it smell like? How many petals does it have?

Review the plants and animals found at Haleakalā National Park. Did you see any of these in your backyard? Why or why not?

Backyard Scientist (Ages 8 and up)

In your backyard (balcony or porch), sit still outside for 10 minutes and observe what you see and hear. If the weather does not allow you to go outside, sit by a window and look out.

• Take notes of all animals you hear or see and notice what kind of plants you see.
• Write down some observations.
• After 10 minutes, walk around and see if you can identify any of the plants or animals you’ve seen. Make sure to use caution, some plants may be thorny to touch.

Review the plants and animals found at Haleakalā National Park. Did you see any of these in your backyard? Why or why not?

 

Website Scavenger Hunt (Ages 8 and up)

Preservation

• When visiting Haleakalā National Park, is stacking rocks an activity that is safe for the plants, animals, and habitats?

History and Culture

• Prior to European contact, Native Hawaiian rulers divided the Hawaiian Islands into distinct political regions. On each island, lands were divided into wedge-shaped districts called moku.The island of Maui is divided into twelve moku, how many intersect within Haleakalā National Park? Which moku do you live in or visited?

People

• What is the Civilian Conservation Corps? What did they do for Haleakalā? Do you have relatives that served in the Civilian Conservation Corps?
• What year did Polynesians reach the Hawaiian Islands? (hint look at the timeline). How and why did they journey to Hawai'i?

Exhibits

• What is Makahiki and was it important? Why or why not?
• What kind of ho‘okupu (offerings) are given during Makahiki?
• Are there other cultures with similar events?

Collections

• Look through some Haleakalā art. What does the art depict? (Hint: people, places or stories?)
• Make your own art about Haleakalā. It can focus on a landscape or something you learned during the scavenger hunt. Send us a picture when you are done if you would like to share what you made!