Want to make learning fun, explore the great outdoors and history, and check out all our nation’s parks? Join the National Junior Ranger Program. This unique program gives kids a chance to learn about the nation’s wildlife, history, geology, and conservation through fun activities like scavenger hunts, attending a ranger program, doing a hands-on activity like fishing, and spotting animals. What’s more, you can explore NJ area national parks alongside your kids, while they earn badges for each Ranger program they complete. Ready to find out what it takes to be a Junior Ranger? Read on to learn more about the program and the NJ parks where you can find it. (featured photo credit: istock/Image Source)

Become A Junior Ranger

Junior Ranger Program Paterson Great Falls nj mom — *Paterson Great Falls is one of the locations in New Jersey that you can visit for the National Junior Ranger Program. Photo Credit: istock/Elisank79*

What is the National Junior Ranger Program

For families that love nature and want to help kids connect to it and see national parks, the Junior Ranger Program is a fun way for kids to explore and learn how important it is to be stewards of the land. For each park, you’ll get a booklet at the Visitor Center. Each park has its own activities in the booklet, like scavenger hunts, spotting wildlife, hands-on activities, answering questions about the park, drawing what you see, or attending a ranger talk. When you’re finished, bring the booklet back to a ranger who will look it over, chat with your kids about what they learned, and then have your kids take the Junior Ranger pledge and receive an official park badge—a great souvenir to collect at every National Park in NJ and beyond that you visit.

How To Become A National Junior Ranger

The best part about this program is how easy it is to become a Junior Ranger. There are three steps to complete, and it’s simple: start by visiting a National Park Service site that participates in the program. Before you go, check the park’s website to find out the guidelines for that park. Once you complete the steps provided by the park, you will be inducted as a Junior Ranger. Note: Each spot is different, so talk to the park itself to find out how you will receive your badge.

Celebrate National Junior Ranger Day

Whether you’re new to the Junior Ranger program or have earned badges, everyone can celebrate National Junior Ranger Day on August 30, 2026. There are a few ways to join in this celebration, including visiting a park near you or participating in an online program such as Junior Paleontologist or Night Explorers, or visiting the kids portal, where you can plan a park visit and listen to Junior Ranger Radio.

Junior National Ranger nj mom — *Sandy Hook is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. Photo Credit: NJ MOM*

New Jersey National Parks Where You Can Participate

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
School-age kids can join the Junior Ranger Program, where they can pick up a booklet for the Delaware Water Gap to work on a series of activities, learning the history and ecology during their time in the park. Once they’re finished and report back, kids can claim an official Junior Ranger badge to keep and remember the day.
Seasonal Visitor Center; River Road, Columbia, NJ 07832

Gateway National Recreation Area
Sandy Hook has the largest holly forest in the northeastern United States. And as you explore, you’ll come across salt marshes and rare plants like the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus. Kids will want to pick up a Sandy Hook Junior Ranger Booklet at the Visitor Center, where they can get a map, answer questions, or draw themselves as a Junior Ranger and collect a badge as a keepsake.
Gateway National Recreation Area, Highlands, NJ 07732

Morristown National Historical Park
At this spot, the Continental Army camped from 1779-1780 in the wintertime under General George Washington, and it represents the individual and collective sacrifice that these brave soldiers stood for. The Junior Ranger program focuses on the Winter Encampment and the Ford Mansion museum, which served as George Washington’s headquarters.
30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ 07960

Paterson Great Falls Historical Park
Did you know NJ has a 77-foot-high waterfall? Yes, you read that right, and it’s one of the largest in the United States, rivaling Niagara Falls to the North. This waterfall played an essential role in New Jersey’s early industrial development and is a beautiful oasis in the city. As a junior ranger for the park, kids will learn about the park’s history, understand its importance, and receive a fun badge recognizing their contributions.
72 McBride Avenue Extension, Paterson, NJ 07501

Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Thomas Edison National Historical Park features America’s greatest inventor’s home and laboratory in its original condition. Junior Rangers get creative by drawing their own invention or pretending they are a representative of Thomas Edison National Historical Park to create an advertisement for the park. You can also hunt for Edison’s Logo, complete the timeline, and even watch some early Edison movies.
211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ 07052

For more information on the National Junior Ranger Program, check out their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

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