Park Ranger Patch Program KIT

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Park Ranger Trainee Patch (3 inch tall patch)

• FULL COLOR postcard with images of National Parks


• FULL COLOR postcard unique facts about National Parks

Park Ranger Trainee Patch Program
Complete 3 requirements to earn this patch.

Imagine you worked for a National Park as a Park Ranger. There are over sixty national parks all over the United States. You could help track movements of wild animals, help plant trees, help scientists make discoveries, present guided tours, protect the historic sites and monuments. Depending on where you live you could be working in the mountains, desert, caves, near the seashore or volcano.

1. There are over sixty National Parks in the United States and many more around the world. Choose a national park to learn more about. It could be in your state or one that you always wanted to visit. What state is it located in? What type of trees, monuments, animals, and terrain does it have? Are any of the plants or animals protected or endangered? For extra, learn more about the surrounding state like the capital, where it is located in the USA and its state flower or tree.
2. Some national parks have caves that are beautiful to look at and explore such as the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Learn about caves and what type of fossils, minerals, and rock formations are inside. What animals live there and how have they adapted to the extreme conditions within caves? For extra, create a cave by using chairs to lay blankets over to climb through.
3. There are several national parks that have unique sites to view. What terrain, sites, or monuments are there? Choose one of the well-known parks to learn more by watching a documentary, movie, viewing books, internet, or brochures. Examples are: Yellowstone; Grand Canyon; Joshua Tree; Great Smoky Mountains; Zion; Redwood; and Rocky Mountains.
4. Some parks feature an area where you can learn about paleontology–the study of fossils of animals and plants. Look at pictures, use the internet, or visit a park or museum that has fossils you can view. Try to sketch out or color a fossil. Label it and determine what it is a fossil of?
5. In order to protect the animals in the area a park ranger works, you need to make sure the people visiting the park don’t feed them, get too close, or disturb their habitat. Make sure signs are posted for “No Littering” and to “Respect the Animals” . Give an example of what not to do at a park with animals OR create a sign on a piece of paper for people that would be visiting the park.
6. Did you know you could go sand sledding at the Great Dunes National Park? Find out more about the park. What is the weather like, what kind of plants and animals live there? How is this park different from parks in your area?
7. There are a variety of water sources in parks. Learn more about one of the water areas in a park: what type of animals live in the water?; does the water have any unique properties?; are you able to go in the water or is it a protected area?; are you able to fish in the water? Choose a park near you or a national park in another state such as: Crater Lake National Park; Yellowstone National Park; or Glacier Bay National Park.
8. Some parks have areas where archaeologists are observing and digging for artifacts from the past. This includes pieces of pottery, jewelry, toys, and glass items. Learn more about archeology, participate in a related activity, view items archaeologists have found, OR draw what you think an ancient item may look like according to the pieces on display.
9. In 1916, President Wilson signed the Organic Act giving the National Park Service (NPS) authority to care for and maintain many monuments and memorials. Choose one to learn more about such as: Statue of Liberty National Monument; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Washington Monument; or Pearl Harbor. More information can be on the NPS website here
10. Choose a park nearby and research its history and why it is important to preserve it. Contact the park to coordinate a service project you would like to complete. Some examples include: pick up litter; assist in a day camp; remove invasive plants; clearing branches off trails; build animal habitats; host an educational workshop about the park’s history.
11. Learn how to use a compass through the science of orienteering. With an adult, turn your compass until the needle is vertical and pointing at the “N”. Holding your map, turn until the “North” indicator on the map (usually on the bottom) is pointing the same direction that your compass is pointing. Now that you are facing North, you can find the other directions. South is behind you, East is to your right, and West is to your left. Try to find a simple location on the map such as a mountain, body of water, or campsite. Learn to measure out distance and write down locations of places using the scale that is included with the map (For example: 1 grid square = 1 mile). A sample map is included in the downloadable kit.
12. Plan an adventure to a park. Some activities include: camping; picnicking; hiking; letterboxing; scavenger hunting; fishing; biking; bird watching; swimming; or sailing. Many parks also have visitor centers where you can learn about the history of the park and local wildlife.