PASSAIC COUNTY PARKS JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM
The Passaic County Parks Junior Ranger Program is a free summer program for children ages 5-12. To participate, please download the Passaic County Parks Junior Ranger Program Activity Booklet, complete the required pages for the appropriate age group for your child, document your child’s attendance at an in-person ranger led activity (see the list below) and email or mail the booklet to the Passaic County Parks Department at one of the addresses noted below. The activities in the program booklet can be completed on your own time throughout the summer, both at home and in the numerous parks within Passaic County.
In addition to the program booklet, our Visitor Services Ranger staff will be offering numerous scheduled Junior Ranger activities throughout July and early August which offer various opportunities for children and youth to have fun and learn more about park and natural resources areas within Passaic County. To sign up for these activities, which are listed below, please visit passaiccountyrec.org.
All participants who complete the Junior Ranger Program booklet and attend at least one in person Junior Ranger activity will receive an official Passaic County Parks Junior Ranger certificate and be invited to an end of summer barbecue and pool party at Camp Hope in honor of our Junior Rangers! If for some reason your child is unable to attend an in-person Junior Ranger activity, we will accept the completion of two of the National Park Service on-line Junior Ranger program activities as evidence of your completion of this program requirement. A list of on-line Junior Ranger activities can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/kids/junior-ranger-online.htm
To become a Junior Ranger, you must complete the program booklet which documents your completion of various activities which will help you learn about the preservation, management and enjoyment of our park and natural resource areas. As noted above, in addition to completing the Junior Ranger program booklet, we require that Junior Ranger candidates attend one of the following on-site Junior Ranger activities offered by our Visitor Services Ranger staff.
When you complete an in-person activity, have one of the staff members who led that program sign your Junior Ranger program booklet to verify your completion of that task. If you are unable to attend an in-person activity and opt to complete an on-line National Park Service activity to fulfill this requirement, just attach a screen print which verifies your completion of the requirements.
When you have completed the required pages for your age group and documented the in person or on-line activity that you participated in, please email a copy of the booklet to: ParksAndRecreation@passaiccountynj.org. Please list “Junior Ranger” in the subject line of your email. Alternatively, you may also mail a completed copy of the booklet to the following address:
Passaic County Department of Parks and Recreation
Junior Ranger Program,
1310 Route 23 North
Wayne, NJ 07470
Program booklets must be submitted by August 15, 2023 to qualify for admission to the end of summer Junior Ranger pool party celebration at Camp Hope. This event is scheduled to be held at the end of August. If you have any questions regarding the program, or require a reasonable accommodation to complete the program, please contact the Visitor Services Ranger Division at (973) 881-4357.
We hope that you enjoy the program as much as we enjoyed developing it. See you in the parks!
Passaic County Parks Visitor Services Rangers
Activities:
June 17: Birding for Kids at Garret Mountain Reservation
Calling all young bird enthusiasts! Does your child love animals and the outdoors? Join us for a captivating Children's Birding Program on Saturday, June 17th, at 9:00 AM at Garret Mountain Reservation in Woodland Park, NJ. They will learn all about the special features that make birds perfect flying machines and then how to observe and identify them. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair of ours as they put their newly learned observational skills to use on a short nature hike! Don't miss this chance to foster their love for nature and discover the wonders of avian diversity!
July 12: Amazing Adaptations at Rifle Camp Park
Your Junior Ranger will have fun learning about many of the animals of Passaic County and their amazing adaptations. They will get to feel actual animal pelts and bird feathers. Then we will go on a short hike to find and observe our new found friends!