Gulf Islands National Seashore - For Kids

Gulf Islands National Seashore by National Parks Service

The Seashore has a variety of programs for children including Junior Rangers (ages 6-11) and Sea Stars (ages 3-5). Children can complete Junior Ranger, Sea Star, and Seashore Patch booklets while they are visiting Gulf Islands National Seashore. If a group of 11 or more children completes the Seashore Patch Handbook, the group receives a 20% discount on the purchase of a Gulf Islands patch or pin for each participant. School groups are welcome. Curriculum based programs are available October-November, March-April. In Florida call 850-934-2600 for more information. The Mississippi District has a self-guided educational programs for students going to the Davis Bayou Unit called Motion, Adaptation, Resources, Similarities and Habitat or "M.A.R.S.H." For information for the Mississippi programs call 228-875-0823.

Junior Ranger Program

This program is offered to children ages 6-11. To meet the Junior Ranger requirements, children need to attend a ranger led program, walk a nature trail, visit a park museum or visitor center and pick up a bag of trash or put recyclable materials in the recycle containers in the park. During off-season when the park does not offer as many ranger-led programs, an extra activity in the handbook will count as a ranger-led program. There are different requirements for each age group. Once the requirements are completed, the child will receive a Junior Ranger certificate of completion and a badge. A Gulf Islands Junior Ranger patch is available for purchase at the visitor centers.

Ask a ranger about our Sea Stars program! This program is offered to younger children ages 3 - 5. Parents help children complete the Sea Stars handbook. Children will receive a Sea Star sticker decal.