Tips for Your Junior Ranger Program

Thank you for hosting Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail’s Junior Ranger program at your site! Please use this guide to help make the program a success with your visitors and staff. If you have questions or comments, email [e-mail] with the subject line “Junior Ranger Program.”

Program Updates

 

Duration:

4 minutes, 48 seconds

In this Lewis and Clark Trail Junior Ranger Partner Toolkit video, we discuss how to provide participants with multiple options for completing the program, including a new coloring book.

 

Duration:

9 minutes, 19 seconds

In this Lewis and Clark Trail Partner Toolkit Video, we'll discuss how to gauge the time and interest of a potential Junior Ranger.

 

Duration:

4 minutes, 40 seconds

In this Lewis and Clark Trail Junior Ranger Program Partner Toolkit video, we'll talk about how to display the Junior Ranger program in a way that increases engagement and cuts down material waste.

 

The Basics

 

Program Logistics

What is this program?

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Junior Ranger program is a free kids’ activity produced by the National Park Service. Sites along the Trail are provided with Junior Ranger activity booklets and Junior Ranger badges. Visiting kids, families, and the young at heart work on the activity booklet to earn a Junior Ranger badge. This Junior Ranger program helps participants understand how the place they’re visiting relates to the other sites and stories of the 4,900 miles long Lewis and Clark Trail. This program’s major themes include: tribal homelands, the value of diversity within the Lewis and Clark Expedition, scientific and indigenous knowledge of nature, and recreation along the Trail. 

This program is part of the National Park Service’s Junior Ranger Program. Kids can find additional National Park Service Junior Ranger programs on the National Park Service Junior Ranger Page .

How does this program work?

Participants can pick up a free Junior Ranger booklet at your site and other participating locations along the Lewis and Clark Trail. Participants work on the activities in the booklet, then turn in their work to the a ranger/docent/ interpreter or other staff member at your site. Lead the junior ranger in reciting the pledge on the back of the booklet. They will promise to respect and protect public lands, and cultural and historic sites. Finally, hand them a Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Junior Ranger Badge. Congratulations! You’ve just inducted a new steward of land, culture, and history! 

Who can participate?

Anyone! While the program is designed for kids, the young at heart are welcome to participate too. The Junior Ranger Activity Journal is targeted for third grade and up. For younger participants or participants that are seeking an easier, more relaxed activity, coloring pages are available for download on the Lewis and Clark Trail's Kids & Youth page. We suggest printing these pages out and keeping them on hand. Additional certificates have been provided to give out to these participants. 

What level/amount of work is required?

When you’re checking a participant’s work, remember, this is meant to be fun! It’s not a quiz or homework. Booklet instructions direct participants to do as much as they can, as best as they can. Participants can pick and work on the activities they like best. They do not have to complete the entire book. Keep in mind that participants may have disabilities or circumstances that are not apparent. Some kids will be excited for you to go over their work question by question. Other participants might be better served if you simply ask them what they liked about their visit. Be flexible and understand that checking a Junior Ranger’s work isn’t about making sure they got the right answers; it’s about making sure they were engaged. The goal is to send participants off with a smile, a badge, and a positive memory of your site. 

Can participants mail in their work?

This is up to you. If your site has the ability to provide this service, feel free to give your address to visitors and invite them to mail in their work.  

How do we get more booklets/badges?

To receive more books and/or badges, email e-mail us with the subject “Trailwide Junior Ranger Books Order.” Include your site name, shipping address, and contact information. 

 

Program details

Project funding

This program was produced by Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail staff who are employed by the National Park Service. Printing was completed through the Government Publishing Office, using funds drawn from the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail’s base funding. 

Program Input and Review

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail office conducted multiple rounds of input and editing in the processing of planning, drafting, testing, and editing of this Junior Ranger Program. Ten locations along the Trail received a draft version of the Junior Ranger Activity Journal and contributed feedback. A small group of National Park Service interpreters and managers with tribal affiliations gave brainstorming input and first draft feedback on the booklet. 

Still, there are many tribes associated with the 4,900 miles of historic trail and surrounding areas and many deeply important points to consider when sharing information about native culture and history. If you believe an aspect of this program was done in error, or if you have other feedback, please contact [e-mail] subject “Trailwide Junior Ranger Book.” 

What are the sources for the Native names of plants and animals?

Salmon: The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Chinuk Wawa Education Program. 

Grouse: Shoshoni Language Project. University of Utah. 

Prairie dog: The Lakota Language Consortium. 

Osage orange: Myaamia Center @ Miami University. 

Cous Root: Nez Perce Language Program. Nez Perce Tribe. 

Butterfly: Arikara dictionary, Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Language Project. 

For audio and links to programs visit Lewis and Clark Trail's Native Names page 

 

Five Tips for making the Junior Ranger Program a success at your site.

NPS/LECL.

 

Five Tips

1. Have fun promoting the program.

When you describe what there is to do at your site, include the Lewis and Clark Trail Junior Ranger program to anyone who you think may be interested. Promotional materials are enclosed in your intro packet to help advertise.

2. Pick and recommend a few activities...

...that are meaningful and easily completed at your site. This is particularly useful for participants who are short on time.

3. Keep books behind your visitor center desk or with a docent.

We don’t recommend leaving a stack of booklets out. Handing it directly to your visitors and walking them through the directions is a great moment of visitor engagement. Keeping the books with you als okeeps costs down by making sure books are only picked up by participants ready to do the program.

4. Be flexible,

Understand that checking a Junior Ranger’s work isn’t about making sure they got the right answers, it’s about making sure they were engaged. This is meant to be fun! It’s not a quiz or homework.

5. Celebrate newly inducted Junior Rangers!

The Junior Ranger induction ceremony can be a memorable event for your visitors. Use the pledge on the back of the booklet. If you have a park stamp, you can even stamp the date. Ask the newly inducted Junior Ranger if it’s OK to make an announcement.

 

NPS. Lewis and Clark Trail.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long will this program run?

A: The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail plans to offer this program for several years after its initial launch in the summer of 2021. We look forward to working with sites to hear how the program works and what additional products or aspects could be developed.

Q: How can I submit feedback?

A: Email e-mail us with the subject line “Trailwide Junior Ranger Program.”

Q: Can we put our site logo on the book?

A: National Park Service and Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail branding and identity standards limit the print reproduction of the NPS arrowhead and Lewis and Clark Trail logo. If you would like to add your site’s branding or provide a custom certificate, we suggest you make a few promotional items in house that you can provide as additional giveaway items.

Q: Can we sell the booklets and materials to visitors?

A: The Trailwide Junior Ranger booklet and badges are funded and produced by the National Park Service via the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail headquarters in Omaha. These materials are provided to sites along the Trail for free. Sites cannot charge a fee for nor sell the materials. It is permissible for a site to develop its own program or workshop centered around the Trailwide Junior Ranger Program and charge a fee for that program only if the public is also given the option to take the materials and do the booklet by themselves, for free. The Junior Ranger Pledge and ceremony is a standard of the Trailwide Junior Ranger Program and should never incur a charge of any kind.

 

Duration:

4 minutes, 24 seconds

Lewis and Clark Trail Partner Toolkit video. Ranger Ashley demonstrates how to induct a junior ranger at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

Duration:

22 minutes, 28 seconds

The Lewis and Clark Trail's Junior Ranger Program kicked off on National Trails Day, June 5, 2021. Watch this video to learn about the program, the basics of serving as a host site, and special online and interactive features.

Check out the Online Partner Toolkit