Yellowstone National Park - For Kids
Junior Ranger Program
Along with family oriented ranger-led programs during the summer season, Yellowstone has an official Junior Ranger Program open to children between 5 and 12 years of age. The goal of the program is to introduce children to the natural wonders of Yellowstone and their role in preserving them for the future. To become a Junior Ranger, families pay $3.00 for each 12-page activity newspaper. The paper, Yellowstone's Nature, is available at any visitor center in two versions, one designed for 5-7 year olds, the other for 8-12 year olds. After completing the requirements described in the newspaper and having it checked at one of the visitor centers, children are awarded an official Junior Ranger patch. Requirements include attending a ranger-led program, hiking on a park trail, and completing activity pages that encourage direct experience and discovery learning in diverse park environments. Both children and adults benefit by sharing the fun of becoming a Junior Ranger. This program operates during the summer or whenever ranger-led programs are offered.
