Hello Junior Rangers! So a week ago I posted about the package I received from Shenandoah National Park for completing all of their Junior Ranger programs and detailing its contents. Well, today I decided to post about Shenandoah's Junior Ranger Program so that you all can get more information about what it takes to become a Junior Ranger at Shenandoah National Park! :)
So first, I'll start with a (very) brief overview of Shenandoah's features... and then get to the good stuff... :)
About Shenandoah National Park
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| Junior Ranger Explorer at Shenandoah National Park. Photo courtesy nps.gov |
The
Junior Ranger Program at Shenandoah National Park
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| In addition to the Basic Junior Ranger Program, Shenandoah National Park offers three Ranger Explorer programs for kids ages 13+. Image courtesy nps.gov |
There
are four different Junior Ranger programs available at Shenandoah National
Park: Shenandoah National Park Junior Ranger, The Wild Side of Shenandoah
Ranger Explorer (Shenandoah's Wilderness Explorer program), Rock On, Stony Man!
Ranger Explorer, and Shenandoah's Appalachian Trail Ranger Explorer. These activities
require hiking trails and answering questions about your observations. And a
detailed list of each program and its requirements is outlined below.
Shenandoah
National Park Junior Ranger
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| Shenandoah National Park Junior Ranger book and Junior Ranger Patch |
The
Junior Ranger Explorer Notebook contains activities to complete during your
visit to the park. There are no specific areas you need to visit in order to
complete this book. Hiking at least one trail is required so that you are able
to record your observations. A full list of the activities listed in the
Notebook and their descriptions follows:
- Introductory Page: The notebook begins by asking you basic questions about yourself and your visit to the park.
- Where Are You? Using the provided map, answer questions about the park.
- Trail Explorer: Hike a trail and use the provided checklist to record your observations. Draw a picture of your favorite discovery and answer questions about your hike.
- Traces of the Past: Draw a picture of and answer questions about the house you would have built if you lived in the mountains before Shenandoah became a park. Recalling that many families lived in this area before it was turned into a national park and were forced to leave, record your reflections about this topic.
- Habitat for Deer: Study a deer and answer questions about what you observe. Record ways that you can protect deer and their habitat in the Park and answer related questions to this topic.
- Amazing Adaptations: Study an animal and answer questions about adaptations and behavioral adaptations. Using your imagination, create and explain a drawing of a plant or animal that has an adaptation to help the environment.
- Not an Eagle: Answer questions about the two kinds of Vultures (Turkey and Black) that live in the park using the information provided.
- News of the Weird: Record observations of any strange or new things you see during your visit.
- What’s in the Water? Explore a stream and answer the questions provided.
- Trees are Everywhere: During your hike, find and study a species of tree from the list provided. Record your observations.
- Logs of Life: Explore a log and record your observations.
- What’s on the Rocks and Trees? While on a trail, look for lichens and answer questions about your observations.
- The Air up There: Answer questions about the air quality you observe. Learn about ozone and answer questions using the information and graph provided.
- Monarchs and Milkweeds: Learn about the monarch butterflies that migrate from Mexico and answer questions about them using the information provided.
- They’re Back! Learn about the Peregrine Falcon and answer questions about them using the information provided.
- Shenandoah Words: A crossword puzzle that uses all the words you have learned as you completed the Notebook..
....and that's it!
How to Become a Shenandoah National Park Junior Ranger:
- To get a Sticker: Complete 5 of 15 activities. Show your work to a ranger and receive a “Shenandoah Explorer” sticker.
- To get a Badge or a Patch:
- Attend two ranger-led programs and have the ranger sign your book.
- Complete 7 additional activities (total of 12).
- Return your book to a ranger at Dickey Ridge VC or Byrd VC. If the visitor centers are closed, you can also mail in your book like I did to: Shenandoah NP, Attn: Junior Ranger Program, 3655 Highway 211 East, Luray, Virginia 22835
The
Wild Side of Shenandoah Ranger Explorer
(Shenandoah’s Wilderness Explorer Program)
(Shenandoah’s Wilderness Explorer Program)
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| Wild Side of Shenandoah Ranger Explorer Activity Guideand Shenandoah Wilderness Ranger Explorer Patch |
The
Wild Side of Shenandoah Ranger Explorer Activity Guide contains activities to
complete during your visit to the park. In order to complete this book, you
must hike one of the wilderness trails, visit one of the specified overlooks on
Skyline Drive, and make a stop at either Dickey Ridge (MP 4.6) or Byrd (MP 51)
Visitor Center.
According
to the Activity Guide, this book will take 4-6 hours to complete (including the
hike). Luckily when I was visiting the park, I stumbled into one of the
wilderness trails listed (Rose River Loop) on my way to view Black Rock Falls
so I was able to get the information I needed to complete the book. Yay, two
birds! ;)
Here’s
a list of the “Trails that Enter Wilderness”:
- Overall Run Trail (MP 22)
- Thornton River Trail (MP 25.5)
- Appalachian Trail to Pass Mountain (MP 28.5)
- Hazel Mountain to White Rocks Trail (MP 33.5)
- Cedar Run Trail (MP 45.5)
- Rose River Loop (MP 49.2)
- Old Rag Ridge Trail (Park Boundary)
- Big Run Loop Trail (MP 81.2)
- Riprap Trail to Chimney Rock (MP 90)
- Turk Mountain Trail (MP 94.1)
And
now a list of “Overlooks with Views of Wilderness”:
- Hogback Overlook (MP 21)
- Jeremy’s Run Overlook (MP26.5)
- Tunnel Parking Overlook (MP 32.3)
- Hazel Mountain Overlook (MP 33)
- Pinnacles Overlook (MP 35)
- Thorofare Mountain Overlook (MP 40.5)
- Old Rag View (MP 46.5)
- Brown Mountain Overlook (MP 77)
- Big Run Overlook (MP 81)
- Riprap Overlook (MP 91.5)
Okay so now that you know the areas you need
to explore, you can choose one in each category and then get started on
completing the book. A full list of the activities listed in the Activity Guide
and their descriptions follow:
- What is Wilderness? – Wilderness means different things to different people. In this activity, you will learn and answer questions about what “wilderness” is and what it means to you.
- Where is Wilderness? – Using the National Wilderness Preservation System map, answer the questions listed. (You may have to do this at home; I didn’t know where to get that map at the park, so I did this when I returned.) Also, observing the Shenandoah map on the back of the Activity Guide, answer questions and record your reflections about the Shenandoah wilderness.
- Get Set to Explore – Visit either the Dickey Ridge (MP 4.6) or Byrd (MP 51) Visitor Centers and find the interactive Wilderness computer exhibit called “The Spirit of Wilderness.” Read the “Trailblazers” section and answer a question about it.
- Do You See What I See? – Here you will be visiting your chosen overlook. Record your observations by answering the questions in your book.
- Where the Wild Things Are – Here you will be hiking your chosen
trail. It is important to note that you do not have to hike the entire trail! You just have to go far enough
that you are in the wilderness area.
- Record your observations by answering the questions at the specified points during your hike (trailhead, on the trail, in the wilderness area, etc.). Draw a postcard from the wilderness. Record your thoughts on why it is important to protect the wilderness. Compare that to what you wrote in the first activity.
- What Would You Do? – Here, you are asked to read about the role of a Wilderness Ranger, the Wilderness Act of 1964 and other policies. Then, you become the Wilderness Ranger. Based on a scenario presented, decide what you would do if you were the Wilderness Ranger. See if your answer lines up with what was actually done.
- What Did They Say? – Answer questions about your thoughts on wilderness and people’s opinion about wilderness. Ask a person about wilderness and record their answers, and at the same time record what you shared with the person about wilderness.
How to Become a Wild Side of Shenandoah Ranger Explorer
(Shenandoah Wilderness Ranger):
To get your Shenandoah Wilderness Explorer patch, complete the
entire book and turn it in to a ranger at Dickey Ridge VC or Byrd VC. If the
visitor centers are closed, you can also mail in your book like I did to: Shenandoah NP, Attn: Junior Ranger Program,
3655 Highway 211 East, Luray, Virginia 22835
Rock
On, Stony Man! Ranger Explorer Program
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| Rock On, Stony Man! Ranger Explorer Activity Guide and Ranger Explorer Patch |
The
Rock On, Stony Man! Ranger Explorer Activity Guide contains activities to
complete during your visit to the park. In order to complete this book, you must
hike the Stony Man Trail (MP 41.7; this trail is worth hiking anyway even if
you don’t want to do the book; it’s a pretty easy hike and has great views).
You will also need the Nature Notes sheets about Amphibians, Lichen, and the
Peregrine Falcon (all PDFs). They are supposedly included with your Activity Guide when
you pick it up from the visitor center, but again, the likelihood that they
have this program available at the visitor center is slim, so it’s better to
just download them print them yourself when you go to download the Activity
Guide.
Notes:
Stony Man Trail is part of the Appalachian Trail for some time before it splits
off to the summit. Take advantage and complete the Shenandoah Appalachian Trail Ranger Explorer Activity Guide while you’re at it! :) Also, at the trailhead
you’ll see a box with the Stony Man Trail Guide. Totally worth the $1.00! It
has a lot of interesting information you can read about at each marked stop on
the way up to the summit, and you’ll be helping out the park at the same time.
:)
A
full list of the activities listed in the Activity Guide and their descriptions
follows:
- Small but Mighty – On your way up to the summit, stop at Post #11. Read the Nature Notes article about Lichen. Investigate them and record your observations.
- On Top of the World – Once you reach the summit, complete these activities. You will be observing the view, air quality and continuing your investigation of lichen.
- Life “On the Rocks” – Complete these activities at the summit. Read the Nature Notes article about the Peregrine Falcon and answer questions about these threatened birds. You will also read the Nature Notes article about Amphibians and answering questions about them. Now that you have learned about these animals, you will investigate this area’s potential as a habitat and record your observations.
- Express Yourself – In this activity, you will write or draw about the area. Complete 2 of the 3 activities listed.
- What Does it All Mean? – In this activity, you will analyze the rock outcrop “community” and think about why they are important and how they are all connected by answering questions. You will also be asked to apply these same ideas to your own community and record your thoughts.
- The Future of Shenandoah’s Rock Outcrops – In this activity, you will think about how the park works to preserve and protect the rock outcrop communities. As a “Park Manager,” you will think about and make decisions about how to preserve these communities and record your thoughts.
How to Become a Rock On, Stony Man! Ranger Explorer:
To get your patch, complete the entire book and turn it in to a
ranger at Dickey Ridge VC or Byrd VC. If the visitor centers are closed, you
can also mail in your book like I did to: Shenandoah
NP, Attn: Junior Ranger Program, 3655 Highway 211 East, Luray, Virginia 22835
The
Appalachian Trail Ranger Explorer Program
at Shenandoah National Park
at Shenandoah National Park
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| Shenandoah's Appalachian Trail Ranger Explorer Activity Guide and Appalachian Trail Ranger Explorer Patch |
The
Appalachian Trail Ranger Explorer Activity Guide, according to Shenandoah's NPS website, is supposed to be available for free at the
visitor center; however it does say “for a limited time.” I wouldn’t take a chance
that it’s not at the visitor center when you get there. So better to be sure
and just download it online (PDF) and print it out to take with you to the park.
That’s what I did! :)
The
Appalachian Trail Ranger Explorer Activity Guide contains activities to
complete during your visit to the park. In order to complete this book, you
must hike the Spitler Knoll Overlook to Rock Spring Shelter Trail (MP 48.06;
1.6mi roundtrip). According to the Activity Guide, it will take 3-4 hours to
complete (including the hikes).
A
full list of the activities listed in the Activity Guide and their descriptions
follows:
- Getting Started – Learn about the history and management of the Appalachian Trail (AT) from the AT map/ brochure. (I didn’t have that brochure so I did this part at home.)
- One Man’s Journal – Read about Paul’s journey on the Appalachian Trail and answer questions about his experiences and how you would fare on your own journey through the AT.
- Hike the AT! – Record your observations as you hike to Rock Spring Cabin.
- A Living Legacy – This activity is done at the Rock Spring Cabin at the end of the trail. You will learn about cabin, the Civilian Conservation Corps who built it and answer questions about what you learned.
- Express Yourself – In this activity, you will write your own AT journal entry. You will also either write about or draw a picture of the cabin you visited.
- Impacts on the AT – Here you will reflect on the growth of people, roads, and commercial development and the importance of protecting the environment.
How to Become a Shenandoah Appalachian Trail Ranger Explorer:
To get your patch, pin or medallion, complete the entire book
and turn it in to a ranger at Dickey Ridge VC or Byrd VC. If the visitor
centers are closed, you can also mail in your book like I did to: Shenandoah NP, Attn: Junior Ranger Program,
3655 Highway 211 East, Luray, Virginia 22835
