Activities For Kids

ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Junior Ranger Programs

JUNIOR RANGER DISCOVERY PACK Harry Javelina

Saguaro National Park offers two versions of our self-guided Junior Ranger Discovery Pack program. Parents may choose from one of two activity booklets. We recommend the 12-page activity booklet for children between the ages of 5 and 8. The 20-page activity booklet is recommended for children between the ages of 9 and 12. "Discovery Packs" are available for loan with your child's Activity Booklet. These packs contain a variety of supplies designed to aid in the completion of the Activity Booklet. The Junior Ranger Discovery Pack program is free of charge, however, identification is needed to check out a Discovery Pack. This program is available year round, except Christmas Day. Please allow 1-2 hours to complete either Activity Booklet. If you would like more information, please call or write the park.

JUNIOR RANGER DAY CAMPS

Both districts of Saguaro National Park offer Junior Ranger Day Camps each summer during the month of June. These programs are for children 6 to 8 and 9 to 11 years of age. Activities include hikes, environmental games, craft projects, petroglyph making, desert safety and much more. A nominal supply fee is charged to participate in the Junior Ranger Day Camp programs.

Registration for all camps is on a first come, first served basis. Due to the limited number of slots available, children who have not participated previously will be given priority.
Please call or stop by the visitor center to register your child.

Saguaro National Park (EAST) will offer Junior Ranger Camps for kids 6 to 11 years of age. Each camp lasts for three days, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and includes a variety of activities. Each day begins at 7:30 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m.
The fee is $25.00 per child.
Call (520) 733-5153 for more information.

The Rincon Mountain District schedule for 2006 is as follows:

AGES 6 to 8
	June 5th, 6th & 7th
	June 12th, 13th & 14th


AGES 9 to 11
	June 19th, 20th & 21st
	June 26th, 27th & 28th

Saguaro National Park (WEST) will offer Junior Ranger Camps for kids 6 to 11 years of age. Camps vary in length depending on age. Camps for 6 and 7 year olds are one day in length; camps for 8 and 9 year olds are two days in length; and camps for 10 and 11 year olds are 3 days in length. Each day begins at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 1:00 p.m.

The Tucson Mountain District schedule for 2006 is as follows:

AGES 6-7	June 23rd	$15.00

AGES 8-9	June 20& 21st	$20.00

AGES 10-11	June 13th, 14th, & 15th	$25.00

For information on the (West) Tucson Mountain District Junior Ranger Camp,
please call 520 733-5158, or e-mail: chip_littlefield@nps.gov

Ranger-Guided Field Trips

TUCSON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

The Tucson Mountain District (West) offers Desert Communities, a hands-on look at the interrelationships among the plants, animals and people of the Sonoran Desert. This program is for 4th grade students and is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, November through March. Also available is the Desert Wonders program, which gives 1st through 6th grade students a broad overview of the Sonoran Desert through exploration at the visitor center and nearby trails. This program is available Monday - Friday, year-round. The Desert Biomes program is for 7th through 10th grade students and integrates school curriculum with the scientific, cultural, historical and natural aspects of Saguaro National Park. This program is available on a limited basis, year-round. Participation in these programs is limited, please call (520) 733-5157 for more information or to register your class. Home-school groups are invited to participate in all programs.

NOTE: Participants in the Desert Communities and Desert Wonders programs will receive a one-hour pre-visit approximately one to two weeks before the field trip.

Desert Wonders: 1st through 6th grades

1 to 1½ Hours - Indoor and outdoor workbook activities at the visitor center and nearby trails

Desert Communities: 4th grade

2 Hours - Hands-on activities rotating among four stations at the Signal Hill Picnic Area

Desert Biomes: 7th through 10th grades

2 Hours - Indoor and outdoor workbook activities at the visitor center and at Signal Hill Picnic area

RINCON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

The Rincon Mountain District (East) offers Desert Communities, a hands-on look at the interrelationships among the plants, animals and people of the Sonoran Desert. This program is for 4th grade students and is available on Wednesdays and Fridays, November through March. Also available is the Desert Discoveries program, a hands-on look at the interrelationships and adaptations of desert plants and animals, plus a look at the remains of the Freeman Homestead. This program is for 3rd grade students and is available on Wednesdays and Fridays, November through March. Also available is the Desert Explorations program, which gives 2nd grade students an introduction to the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert. This program is available on Wednesdays and Fridays, November through March. The Desert Characters program is designed to give pre-school through 1st grade children their first look at the Sonoran Desert. This program is available on a limited basis, November through March. Please call (520) 733-5151 for more information or to register your class for the Desert Characters program. Participation in the Desert Communities, Desert Discoveries and Desert Explorations programs is limited, please call (520) 733-5152 to register your class. Home-school groups are invited to participate in all programs.

NOTE: Participants in the Desert Communities, Desert Discoveries and Desert Explorations program will receive a one-hour pre-visit approximately one to two weeks before the field trip.

Desert Characters: Pre-school through 1st Grade

1 Hour - Indoor and outdoor activities in the visitor center and the cactus garden

Desert Explorations: 2nd Grade

1½ Hours - Indoor and outdoor hands-on activities in the visitor center and the cactus garden

Desert Discoveries: 3rd Grade

2 Hours – Hands-on activities along the Freeman Homestead Trail (1-mile hike)

Desert Communities: 4th Grade

2 Hours - Hands-on activities rotating among four stations at the Javelina Picnic Area

Self-Guided Field Trips

Information packets are available for teachers wishing to plan their own self-guided field trip to Saguaro National Park. Free "Teacher Packets” are available by calling (520) 733-5153. If your self-guided field trip includes a visit to the Rincon Mountain District (East of Tucson), an educational fee waiver is available by writing to the Fee Collections Office at least 4 weeks in advance. If you arrive at the park without an educational fee waiver, an entrance fee will be charged. For information on educational fee waivers, please call (520) 733-5121.

Outreach Programs

Traveling Trunk Programs
Invite a ranger to your classroom! We bring the material and do the program. Teachers looking for a presentation to augment an existing science or desert unit may request one of our Traveling Trunk Programs. These presentations are designed to enhance and expand your in-class teachings. Topics include: mammals, reptiles, birds, desert tortoise, bats, saguaro cactus and ethnobotany.

Career Days
Two distinctly different Career Day Programs are available depending on grade level. For elementary grade levels, park staff are available to present a fun, activity oriented look at the many hats park rangers wear. For middle school, high school and college levels, park staff are available to present a broad overview of the various job opportunities within the National Park Service.

Love of Reading
In celebration of “Love of Reading Week”, park staff are available during the entire month of February to visit your classroom or library and share our own personal love of reading with your students. As the main component of this program, we will bring a selection of books on the natural and cultural history of the Sonoran Desert. After reading a book, we will pass around a variety of hands-on material that relates to the story.