Junior Ranger Program
Junior Ranger Program
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Learn. Protect. Explore.
Becoming a Junior Ranger gives kids the opportunity to learn about and explore North Carolina's beautiful state parks with their families or scout, school and homeschool groups through self-led educational activities and programs. Junior Rangers may also have the opportunity to help park rangers protect the health of the park through short community service projects.
Quick links:
Become a Junior Ranger
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Step 1Visit any North Carolina state park office or visitor center to pick up a copy of the NEW activity guide. The NEW activity guide is available for free at state park offices and visitor center. |
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You can also download and print the NEW guide at home:
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Step 2Using the activity guide, you will earn (or "cache") acorn points. If you are visiting the park for a day, you can cache 20 acorn points to earn the park patch. |
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Cache acorn points by...
Mix and match the above options however you'd like to cache your acorn points!
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Expert patchesIf you have more than one day and want to really get to know the park, try to cache at least 40 acorn points to receive a second Expert patch to pair with your park Junior Ranger patch!
Pocket ActivitiesThere is also a pocket in the back of the Activity Book that will be updated with new activities and freebies.
Click below to download the pocket activity for that park
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Step 3Once you have cached enough acorn points, take your activity guide to a park ranger or park office and recite the Junior Ranger Pledge with our staff. They will sign the certificate in the back of the activity guide and give you your patch(es). |
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That's it! You're now a Junior Ranger! |
Collect all 40 Junior Ranger badges
Visit each state park to collect all 40 of the unique Junior Ranger badges. Can you collect them all?
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Stay up to date with the Junior Ranger newsletter
Don't forget to subscribe to the Junior Ranger mailing list, where you will receive the quarterly newsletter packed full of fun facts, games, lighthearted interviews with rangers, and so much more!
You will also get updates on events open exclusively to Junior Rangers and their families, like the annual Junior Ranger Jamboree!
Mark your calendars for the Junior Ranger Jamboree
Join us for a free weekend camping experience with fellow junior rangers and their families! The Junior Ranger Jamboree is hosted by a different state park each year. It is held on the first weekend in October.
The 2020 Junior Ranger Jamboree will be held at Jones Lake State Park. Registration will start in September.
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2019 Junior Ranger Jamboree
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2017 Junior Ranger Jamboree
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2018 Junior Ranger Jamboree
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