Junior Ranger Program
Become a Junior Ranger!
There are now many ways to become a Santa Clara County Parks Junior Ranger, as park staff offer activities online and in the parks throughout the year.
VIRTUAL JUNIOR RANGERS
Sessions run March 14-March 23, 2023
All Santa Clara County youth ages 7-12 are invited to join park staff after school via Zoom for Virtual Junior Rangers. A series of 40-minute Junior Ranger sessions take place at 3pm and 4pm every Tuesday and Thursday from March 14-March 23, 2023. Registration opens February 1st through March 10th.
Participants can join individually from their own homes or as a group through after-school programs and clubs. All that’s needed is access to a screen and reliable internet connection. All sessions take place in real time with special guest speakers dispatching from a different park location each session. The virtual programs are highly interactive with plenty of opportunities for Q & A with park rangers. For group leaders interested in signing up multiple youth, please reach out directly to [email protected] for more information.
Participants who complete 3 or more sessions will earn the Junior Ranger badge and are invited to gather together in person for a fun Junior Ranger Family Day celebration on Saturday, March 25th at Hellyer Park from 10-11:30 am. This event will feature a variety of hands-on activities, and a chance to meet many of the park staff they saw on Zoom. The event will conclude with a special ceremony in which Junior Rangers will receive their badges and certificates.
Junior Rangers unable to attend the in-person Family Day event will receive their badges in the mail.
For more information, email [email protected].
Click here to view: Virtual Junior Ranger Flyer
Sign up
IN-PARKS JUNIOR RANGER ACTIVITES AND LOG BOOK
Youth ages 7-12 are invited to explore the parks with their families in a self-paced series of activities by exploring 3 or more park locations on their own time and sharing what they’ve learned in a Junior Ranger Log Book that can be printed at home.
To earn the Junior Ranger badge, participants must attend at least 1 staff-guided interpretive program in a park, and the other 2 activities can be self-guided hikes or a digital mission in a park through the Agents of Discovery app.
- For a complete list of upcoming interpretive programs, visit our events page.
- For more information on Agents of Discovery, click here.
- Following completion of 3 different park adventures, Junior Rangers can send a picture of their completed logbook to [email protected], and park staff will follow up to send out a badge and certificate.
JUNIOR OHV PROGRAM AT METCALF MOTORCYCLE PARK
Saturday sessions in April 2023.
Do you like dirt? Are you curious about nature? Do you have a motorcycle and want to learn how to ride safely while also keeping our parks healthy? Certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) coaches will teach basic riding skills, discuss safety equipment, rider etiquette and trail conservation. Participants must be ages 9-12, own a motorcycle, and sign a liability waiver. Upon completion of the five free sessions, each Junior OHV Ranger will receive a badge, jersey, and certificate.
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and participants must complete a registration form and liability waiver before participating in the five-session program.
Sign up
All Junior Ranger activities are free, but parking fees may apply. To ensure safety, a parent or guardian must participate with anyone under 18 years old.
What are people saying about this program?
“In the junior ranger program, I felt like I was with everyone else, and not alone. I was happy being with new friends and with nature. My life changed through the course of the program. It made me feel like I was more involved. When I wasn’t doing anything I felt lazy, tired and bored. And now I feel energetic and amazing. The program helped me so much.” – 2017 Junior Ranger
“I wanted you to know what a life changing experience Jr Rangers has been for my son and how he is carrying those experiences forward with him. Ranger Mike and the Jr Ranger program has made such a positive impact in my son’s and our family’s life, enriching it beyond expectations.” – 2017 Junior Ranger Parent