A Junior Ranger

While we were beginning our exploration of the southern Rim we met a Park Ranger who asked Liam if he would like to do the Junior Ranger programme. This seemed like fun so we listened to the talk and Liam had his book signed up. We worked on the activities as we visited the various viewpoints. We noted the birds and plants - Liam ticked some in advance - "we will see one of those". However we did see most of the things eventually. I enjoyed seeing humming birds. We also discovered a lot about Juniper.

Having successfully completed the Grand Canyon badge Liam and I were keen to continue. We found the programme at Navajo National Monument rather disappointing. Liam completed the programme and was given a badge without his booklet being checked. There was no certificate and the person seemed very vague about it all.

Not detered we went on to complete programmes at Natural Bridges. This was an excellent booklet well pitched at Liam's age group and the rangers made a good job of the presentation. Mesa Verde was not such a good certificate or booklet but the activites helped Liam understand what we were looking at. It also meant the adults had a good look at the Museum and learnt something too!! ( Maybe this is the underlying purpose of the programme?)

At Mesa Verde we bought a Junior Ranger hat to put the badges on.














While we were camping a Big Meadows Camping Site in the Rockies, Liam and I got talking with the rangers. One ranger said to Liam I have something for you if you pledge to care for the environment. Liam was well into this now and the ranger came up with a junior wildlife officer badge. Liam liked this badge as it is star shaped. On our return to Santa Fe we added his Sandia Peak badge as well and put the certificates up on the wall.

On Saturday we visited Bandelier National Monument. This was a very good junior ranger programme and a very good ranger completed the formalities. The badge was a sew-on one so in the evening Liam and I stitched it onto his hat.