When you take a trip with your little ones, you want to be sure that they have as much fun as possible – and learn a lot in the meantime. And going to national parks is a great way to do just that. Not only are national parks beautiful and fun places to visit, but they can also provide your entire family with learning experiences you’ll never forget. Want to get your kids involved with the trip as well? Have them participate in the Junior Ranger Program. This program is a fun and easy way your kids can learn more about the national parks you visit. Whether you’re taking a cross-country road trip or are sticking close to home, there are tons of activities they can complete. Take a look at what you should expect when you get your kids involved with this program.
Activity Sheets
The main aspect of the Junior Ranger Program from the National Parks Service is the activity sheets. When you go to a national park, you can check to see if the welcome center has any activity sheets to give you. Or, if you want to plan ahead, you can print them out before you even leave. These sheets help kids focus on what’s most important about the areas they visit, which can provide them with an incredible learning opportunity. When they are done exploring the park, have them take a few minutes to write down what they learned on the activity sheet. You can even reach out to a park ranger to get more information and have your kids share what they learned.
Check Out Some Nearby National Parks
Not sure where to go with your family this season? You may think that you have to drive all over the country if you want to see some incredible national parks, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, there are national parks that are quite close to the local area, and you may want to check them out. These include Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument near Dayton, Ohio, the Indiana Dunes National Park, the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, and many others.
You might also like: Bring The Family To The Children’s Museum Of Illinois
Other Activities for Kids
No matter which parks you choose to go to, there are plenty of activities for kids at every one. Just go online to individual parks’ webpages to see what the specific parks you’re visiting offer for the little ones. By choosing activities just for them, your whole family is certain to have an amazing trip.