Shenandoah National Park has released a new full-color Junior Ranger book. The new book encourages families and children to explore, learn, and help protect the Park and its resources. The book is geared toward children ages 7 to 12, however all ages are encouraged to participate in the program.
To celebrate the release of the new book, there will special Junior Ranger activities outside Byrd Visitor Center (mile 51 on Skyline Drive) on Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Following the event, there will also be a regularly scheduled Junior Ranger Program at 2:30 at the visitor center. September 26 is also Public Lands Day and an entrance fee-free day.
Junior Ranger books are free and available at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (mile 4.6), Byrd Visitor Center and Park Headquarters in Luray. The booklet will also be available for download online at www.nps.gov/shen. Upon completion of the book, participants will earn a patch or badge.
Booklet design and artwork is by Ray Radigan, with content and activities developed by Park Interpretive Rangers. Radigan is a professional illustrator and artist whose work includes fine art, traditional illustrations, and children’s illustrations. In addition to his work with Shenandoah’s Junior Ranger book, he has worked on a wide range of illustrations and design projects at Acadia and Glacier national parks.
The new Junior Ranger book is also linked with the Kids in Parks TRACK Trails program. Completion of either of the Park’s two TRACK Trail activity guides can be substituted in place of an activity page in the book. TRACK Trail activity guides are available at Limberlost (mile 43) and Blackrock Summit (mile 84.8). More information about the Kids in Parks program and TRACK Trails can be found atwww.kidsinparks.com.
The new Junior Ranger book and the TRACK Trails are both possible due to the generous support of the Shenandoah National Park Trust.