MOOSE, Wyo. — Young enthusiasts felt the accomplishment of earning their junior ranger badge during Junior Ranger Day at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) on Saturday, May 4.
At the visitor center entry, children of all ages were given a booklet of activities to complete for their junior ranger training. After completing six of the many interactive stations, a child could then be inducted in as a official junior ranger.
Hundreds of children showed up to test their skills, learn and acquire the coveted GTNP park badge.
It ended up being a warm and sunny day, and families explored the many inside and outside activity stations.
Park rangers and the many volunteers were excited to assist the young rangers in training.
Activities included casting a fly fishing rod, exploring park vehicles, learning how to put picnic food in a bear box, looking for invasive aquatic species on a fishing boat, drawing a ranger crown, learning about grizzly relocation, playing in a sensory bin to manipulate stream water flow, completing an osprey water obstacle course and various other learning stations.
Upon the completion of an activity, a park ranger would then stamp the child’s booklet.
Once all the needed stamps were acquired, a child could hold up their hand, repeating the junior ranger induction, and be given their junior ranger badge.
The valley can now feel even more capable in the backcountry with all the new junior rangers walking around.
