We love doing the Junior Ranger programs in every park we visit. They are a great way for kids and adults to learn more about each park. We have put together this ultimate guide to US National Park Junior Ranger Program to hopefully inspire you to check out a few parks you have not visited yet. We have done over 100 Junior Ranger programs as adults and love them.
Our favorite part of the Junior Ranger program is they force you to slow down and truly explore the park. The average park visitor spends maybe 3 to 4 hours in a National Park. Working on the Junior Ranger programs is a great way to learn more about the park.
Junior Ranger Programs
I love that the Junior Ranger Program is being updated and many parks are now giving you the opportunity to learn about their parks and complete the Junior Ranger Badge program online.
A few of these you will still need to print the program and mail it in at the end.
We have sent all of these in via online or postal mail. We will keep you up to date on how long it takes to receive our badges and what is mailed.
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (Virginia)
Aztec Ruins National Monument - (Arizona)
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument (Ohio)
Clara Barton National Historic Site (Maryland)
Eisenhower National Historic Site (Pennsylvania)
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve (Alaska)
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (Ohio)
Independence National Historical Park, (Pennsylvania - You can earn a sticker from completing online activities but not a badge.
Juan Bautista De Anza Historic Trail (California)
Junior Ranger program you can do at home and mail-in
Many of the Junior Ranger programs you can print at home are unfortunately full-color pages. This sadly uses a ton of ink from your printer so we marked which ones are full color versus black and white to help prioritize which parks you want to start with. I just want to make sure you are aware of how much ink these take. We went to print a couple of them and ended up having to make a run to the store for more ink.
Let us know which parks you complete and how it goes! Feel free to post pictures of your Junior Ranger Badges with the hashtag #ParkRangerJohn
Aleutian World War II National Historical Area (Alaska) - print the program (full color)
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site (Pennsylvania) - Print the program (black and white)
Assateague Island National Seashore (Maryland) - Print the Program (Black and white with some color)
Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument Junior Suffragist Booklet
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (Alaska) - Print the program (Full color)
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (Wyoming) - Print the program (Full color)
Boston African American National Historic Site (Massachusetts) Print the program (Black and White)
Buffalo National River (Arkansas) You can email the park to have a copy sent to you.
Cape Krusenstern National Monument (Alaska) Print the program (Full color)
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Maryland) Print the program (some color mainly black and white)
Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site (Washington, DC) Print the Program (Some color)
Cesar E. Chavez National Monument (California) Print the Program (Black and White)
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve (Washington) - Print the program (Black and White)
Ford's Theatre Junior Ranger Program -(DC) - Print the program (full-color pages) The site does not say if you can mail the program in for a badge
Fort Donelson National Battlefield (Tennessee) - Print the program (Some full-color pages)
Fort Hunt Park Junior Ranger Book (DC) - Print the program (Some full-color pages)
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (DC) Print the program (Some color but most is black and white)
Governors Island National Monument (New York) Print the program (Lots of color)
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument (Arizona) Email the park to receive the program mailed to you.
Haleakala National Park (Hawaii) Email the park to request a program
Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas) Print the program (lots of color) The site does not say if you can mail the program in for a badge
Johnstown Flood National Memorial (Pennsylvania) Print the program (lots of full-color pages)
Katmai National Park and Preserve (Alaska) Print the program (Full color)
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield (Georgia) Print the program (Lots of color)
Keweenaw National Historical Park (Michigan) Print the program (Lots of color)
Kings Mountain National Military Park (South Carolina) Print the program (some color) The site does not say if you can mail the program in for a badge
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (Alaska) Print the program (Full color)
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site (North Dakota) Email or call the park to have the program mailed to you
Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska) Print the program (full color)
Lassen Volcanic National Park (California) Print the program (Lots of color) The site does not say if you can mail the program in for a badge
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (Nebraska) Print the program (black and white)
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site (Virginia) Print the program (Mostly black and white)
Manhattan Project National Historical Park (New Mexico) Print the program (Mostly color)
Manhattan Project National Historical Park (Tennessee) Print the program (Mostly black and white)
Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado) Print the program (some color mainly black and white) The site does not say if you can mail the program in for a badge
Minuteman Missile Silo National Historic Park (South Dakota) Print the program (lots of color)
Missouri National Recreational River (South Dakota) Email the park to request the program
Mojave National Preserve (California) Print the program (full color)
Monocacy National Battlefield (Maryland) Email the park to request the program
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park (Louisiana) Print the program (Full Color)
Niobrara National Scenic River (Nebraska) Email the park to request the program
Noatak National Preserve (Alaska) Print the program (full color) Part of the Western Arctic Parklands Junior Ranger Program
North Cascades National Park (Washington) Email to request the program be mailed to you.
Obed Wild & Scenic River (Tennessee) Print the program (Black and White) The site does not say if you can mail the program in for a badge
Ocmulgee National Monument (Georgia) Print the program (Mostly black and white with a bit of color)
Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum (Oklahoma) Print the program (quite a bit of color)
Oklahoma Outdoor Ranger (Oklahoma) Print the program (full color)
Petersburg National Battlefield (Virginia) Print the program (Black and White)
Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona) Print the program (lots of color)
Point Reyes National Seashore (California) Print the program (mostly black and white)
Roger Williams National Memorial (Rhode Island) Print the program (some color, the cover and back page are full color)
San Juan Island National Historical Park (Washington) Print the program (mostly black and white)
Sitka National Historical Park (Alaska) Print the program (lots of color)
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (Kansas) Print the program - The site says you can print the program but right now the link is broken.
Women's Rights National Historical Park (New York) Print the program (some color)
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (Alaska) Print the program (Black and white)
Unique Junior Ranger Programs
All About Bats - Print the Program(Black and white with color photos) I haven't seen if there is a specific badge for this program. The parks we visited said they write out a certificate.
Discover the Underground Railroad - Print the program (Black and white with some color)
Eclipse Explorer -Print the program (Full color)
Junior Archeologist Program - Print the program (some color)
Junior Cave Scientist -Print the program (full color)
Junior Paleontologist- Print the program (full color)
Let's Go Fishing - Print the Program (full color)
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 - Print the program (full color)
National Park Centennial - Print the program (Full color)
Night Explorer - Print the program (full color)
Underwater Explorer Junior Ranger Program - Print the program (full color)
Wilderness Explorer - Print the program (some color)
Junior Ranger programs you can learn about online but have to be completed in the park
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska - Learn about the program
Andersonville National Historic Site Georgia - There is currently no information online for this program
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (Tennessee) - There is a little information online here
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site (Colorado) - Unable to print online
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site (Kansas) Unable to print online
Cape Hatteras National Seashore (North Carolina) Unable to print online
Cape Lookout National Seashore, (North Carolina) - Learn about the Program
Capulin Volcano National Monument, (New Mexico) - Learn about the program
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (Arizona) - A visit to the park is required to receive a badge
Castle Clinton National Monument (New York) - Unable to print online
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park (Virginia) - Unable to print online
Chaco Culture National Historical Park (New Mexico) - Unable to print online
Chamizal National Memorial (Texas) - Unable to print online
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (Georgia) - Unable to print online
Chiricahua National Monument (Arizona) - Unable to print online
City Of Rocks National Reserve (Idaho) - Unable to print online
Coronado National Memorial (Arizona) - Unable to print online
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio) - Unable to print online
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, (Ohio) - Unable to print online
Death Valley National Park (California, Nevada) - Unable to print online
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (California) - Unable to print online
Fire Island National Seashore (New York) - Unable to print online
First State National Historical Park (Delaware, Pennsylvania) - Unable to print online
Fort Davis National Historic Site (Texas) - Unable to print online
Fort Frederica National Monument (Georgia) - Unable to print online
Fort Laramie National Historic Site (Wyoming) - Unable to print online
Fort Pulaski National Monument (Georgia) - Unable to print online
Fort Sumter National Monument (South Carolina) - Unable to print online
Fort Washington Park (Maryland) - Unable to print online
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park (Virginia)- Unable to print online, learn about the four programs available
General Grant National Memorial (New York) - Unable to print online
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (New Mexico) Print the program (Their site says you have to visit the park to earn a badge.
Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona) Unable to print online, learn about the three programs in the park
Grand Portage National Monument (Minnesota) - Unable to print online
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site (Montana) Unable to print online
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina, Tennessee) Unable to print online, the site says you can buy them online but the link did not work when I checked it.
Gulf Islands National Seashore (Florida, Mississippi) Unable to print online
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (Idaho) Unable to print online
Hampton National Historic Site (Maryland) You can print the program at home but they must be turned in at the park to get a badge.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland) Unable to print online
Historic Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park (Virginia) Unable to print online, must be purchased onsite
Jewel Cave National Monument (South Dakota) Unable to print online
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (Oregon) Unable to print online
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site (Massachusetts) Unable to print online
Joshua Tree National Park (California) Unable to print online
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (Washington) Unable to print online
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (Texas) The site says you can print online but the link did not work for me.
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (Oregon, Washington) Unable to print online
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial (Indiana) Unable to print online
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Montana) Unable to print online
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park (Texas) Unable to print online
Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky) Unable to print online
Manzanar National Historic Site (California) Unable to print online
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (Georgia) Unable to print online
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (Minnesota) Unable to print online
Mount Rushmore National Memorial (South Dakota) Unable to print online
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (Massachusetts) Print the program - The site says you have to do some of the activities on-site at the park
New River Gorge National River (West Virginia) Unable to print online
Nez Perce National Historical Park (ID, MT, OR, WA) Unable to print online
Ninety-Six National Historic Site (South Carolina) Unable to print online
Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Missouri) Unable to print online
Padre Island National Seashore (Texas) Unable to print online
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (Texas) Unable to print online
Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial (Ohio) Unable to print online
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (California) Does not have a Junior Ranger Program
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (California) Unable to print online
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (New York) Unable to print online
Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site (New Hampshire) Unable to print online
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (California) Unable to print online
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (California) Unable to print online
Saratoga National Historical Park (New York) Unable to print online
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (Massachusetts) Unable to print online
Scotts Bluff National Monument (Nebraska) Unable to print online
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (California) Unable to print online
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument (Arizona) Unable to print online
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota) Unable to print online
Thomas Stone National Historic Site (Maryland) Unable to print online
Tonto National Monument (Arizona) Unable to print online
Tumacácori National Historical Park (Arizona) Unable to print online
Virgin Islands National Park (US Virgin Islands) Unable to print online
Walnut Canyon National Monument (Arizona) Unable to print online
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site (Oklahoma) Unable to print online
Whitman Mission National Historic Site (Washington) Unable to print online
William Howard Taft National Historic Site (Ohio) Unable to print online
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield (Missouri) Unable to print online
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (Virginia) Unable to print online
World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (Hawaii, Alaska, California) Unable to print online
Yosemite National Park (California) Unable to print online, The booklet costs $3.50 at the park.
We hope you enjoy this list of US National Park Junior Ranger Programs. You can use this Printable list of National Parks to help keep track of which Junior Ranger programs you have completed.
Kathy Harris says
What a wonderful, terrific idea! I simply LOVE this!!!!
Kristen says
Thank you for compiling this list. I'm 24 and started my own Junior Ranger project this year. I print them in grayscale. I was finally able to mail the booklets in starting Friday. I'm so excited! It's been enjoyable to learn more about my diverse country. I'm in AZ and my next goal is to visit Saguaro NP and do their Not So Junior Ranger program.
Correction--Aztec Ruins is in New Mexico.
JohnTillison says
Hi Kristen, I hope you are having so much fun with the Junior Ranger programs! Have your badges started to arrive in the mail from the parks you have been working on? How many badges have you earned?
Henry says
If you complete the Junior Ranger programs for the Big Cypress, Everglades, and Biscayne you will earn a special patch. You can present all 3 programs at the park where you complete the last program and get the patch on the spot, or you can mail in a copy of the completion certificates for the Parks.
Worth Noting: Several Parks now have "Senior Ranger" programs -- targeted for adults. (I did my first one at Petroglyph NP.) Ask for the list at participating parks.
Pam says
Save the PDF of the booklet to a flash drive and take it in to your favorite printer shop to print. Save your self some ink. This is good if you are printing multiples especially.
Enjoy these programs!
MB says
I just discovered the Junior Ranger program a few weeks ago while camping with my daughters. The had a booklet that was specific to the campground, West Thompson Lake Campground in Thompson, CT. So my daughters were able to complete their activities and earn their Jr. Ranger badges. The best part was that when we turned in the booklets at the camp office 4 rangers were present, one of them being the ranger that had designed the program for that area. I think I was a bit more impressed with the whole thing than my 7 and 4 year olds, but whatever! So since then I have researched the program a bit more and I'm delighted to find their are more badges to earn! I've printed out the ones for Bats and the Night Explorer one. I think I may have to earn some of these badges for myself, they're so cool!
Marianne Mills says
Hi, Ranger John -
This is Ranger Marianne from the National Park Service. You have an obsolete Junior Ranger Booklet that I request be removed. It's the Green Junior Ranger Program, a booklet produced several years ago by the Southeast Regional Office. That program no longer exists. We may consider reviving it as an online program where it does not require production of patches and the mailing process but currently - we no longer have any patches for this program. To avoid continuing to disappoint erstwhile Green Junior Rangers, could you remove it from your site please? Thanks for your time -
JohnTillison says
Thank you so much, Ranger Marianne, for letting me know! I just removed it from the post.
amanda johns says
Where did you mail in your completed junior ranger workbooks and have you received the badges?
JohnTillison says
Hi Amanda,
Each park has its own address to mail back the workbooks. We have received multiple badges in the mail over the past couple of years. Things are delayed a bit right now as parks continue to re-open and bring more staff into the offices. The address should be on the Junior Ranger booklet or on the park website.