Looking for a few good Junior Rangers!

New Mexico State Parks has joined the ranks of other state and national parks charging their young visitors with learning about and respecting their parks through a Junior Ranger Program.

"One little girl I spoke with already has 11 Junior Ranger patches from other parks," says Kathryn Jones, regional interpretive ranger for New Mexico's three southeastern parks.

"We're encouraging kids ages six through 12 visiting the parks to work on the new Junior Ranger activity book with the help of their parents, and we've also sent some sample books to teachers and scout troop leaders."

The activity book is made up of 15 activities that range from identifying state symbols to matching animals to their tracks. Kids must complete ten activities, some of which require visiting more than one state park, and turn the book in at a park office or visitor center to receive a Junior Ranger patch.

Steve Cary, State Parks' natural resource planner, says the goal of the program is to bring kids into the parks. "We want them to learn about our state's precious resources--historical, cultural, and natural--and how they can help safeguard them. Kids will get tuned in to this way of thinking, and it will help them become regular and courteous park visitors."

"Teachers at smaller schools really appreciate having a curriculum they can follow when they visit the park with their students," adds Charles Wood, interpretive ranger for the southeast region. 

However, completing the activities and earning the patch are just the beginning when it comes to serving New Mexico State Parks as a Junior Ranger. As noted in the pledge, a Junior Ranger is charged with enjoying nature and cultural artifacts without disturbing them, helping keep the parks clean and safe, and learning park rules and letting a ranger know if someone is breaking them.

"Parks are for kids," Cary says, "and the Junior Ranger activity book helps them be better stewards of their parks."

With the assistance of a grant from McCune Charitable Foundation of Santa Fe, New Mexico State Parks created and produced 10,000 copies of the Junior Ranger activity book and 5,000 Junior Ranger patches.