Grand Canyon National Park - Be A Junior Ranger (U.S. National Park Service)

What is a Junior Ranger?

Junior Rangers help to preserve National Parks; they learn about the Grand Canyon, have fun, and are our representatives to their friends, families, and schoolmates back home. Junior Rangers spread their new knowledge about Parks and continue to use good environmental practices.

How can you become a Junior Ranger?

At Grand Canyon, there are now five ways for you to complete the Junior Ranger requirements and be sworn in as a Grand Canyon National Park Junior Ranger. All of our Junior Ranger programs are free of charge.

Cover of Grand Canyon Jr. Ranger Booklet

Ravens, Coyotes and Scorpions !
(Ages 4 and up)

To become a Junior Ranger, pick up the Junior Ranger Activity Booklet at the Visitor Center at Canyon View Information Plaza, Park Headquarters, Tusayan Museum near Desert View, Kolb Studio or Yavapai Observation Station. On the North Rim, you can pick them up at the Visitor Center. You then must complete the requirements listed in the booklet for your age group. Requirements include writing down your impressions and observations, answering questions about the park, writing poems and attending one of our Ranger-led programs offered throughout the day.

You can earn a special Jr. Ranger award depending on your age.

Ages 4-7: Raven Award
Ages 8-10: Coyote Award
Ages 11-on up: Scorpion Award

When you finish your activities, bring the booklet back to the Visitor Center for review by a ranger. Each Jr. Ranger will receive an official Grand Canyon Junior Ranger Certificate and Badge. By showing your certificate at our park's non-profit book stores, you can purchase a custom sew-on patch to go with the award you received.

Grand Canyon Junior Ranger Rattler Award

Phantom Rattler Junior Ranger (ages 4 - 14)

This is a very special program because only kids that hike or ride the mules down to the bottom of Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch can become Phantom Rattler Junior Rangers! There are two requirements to become a Phantom Rattler Junior Ranger -- first, you have to make it to Phantom Ranch, and second, you must complete the activities in the Junior Ranger booklet. If you do both, you will receive your badge, certificate and a free patch from a ranger at Phantom Ranch. Phantom Rattler Junior Ranger booklets are available in the canteen, the campground or the Ranger Station. The Phantom Rattler Junior Ranger program is available throughout the year.

There are three additional "summer only" programs in which you may complete the Junior Ranger requirements and be sworn in as a Grand Canyon National Park Junior Ranger. Follow the links below to learn more about each option.

Adventure Hike By attending this program you will discover how the forces of nature create, uplift, and sculpt rock to form the Grand Canyon. Upon completion participants are eligible to purchase the Jr. Ranger Adventure Hike patch ($1.50). Sun., Mon., Wed., and Fri. June 8 thru August 16.

Discovery Pack
The Junior Ranger Discovery Pack is for aspiring naturalists (ages 9-14). Explore the wonders of Grand Canyon ecology with your family. After attending a one and a half hour ranger-led program, you can check out a "Discovery Pack" for the day. It is complete with binoculars, hand lens, field guides, and other important tools of a real Park Ranger Naturalist. 9am daily June 8 thru September 1.

Junior Ranger Programs for Families
The family programs include, A Children's Reading Circle, "Kids Rock" and "Way Cool Stuff for Kids" Program. During the SUMMER MONTHS ONLY (June thru August)