The Department of Environmental Conservation, which controls the State Parks department, has an excellent Junior Naturalist Program. The program is available at participating state parks and works like this:
Children 5-12 can request a Junior Naturalist journal at participating campgrounds. The journal is separated in to two sections: one for the younger children (5-8 years old) and one for the older children (9 and up). Activities for younger children are usually marked by an acorn surrounding the page number; where as an oak tree designates activities for the older children. Also, older children should attempt all of the activities in the journal. The journal can be filled in by using the activities as family activities or with someone helping the child. When the journal is completed, children bring it to the appropriate DEC staff person who reviews the journal then gives the child a Junior Naturalist patch.
Activities include bingo games, word puzzles, a scavenger hunt, matching, activities specifically focused on the Forest Preserve and a reflection activity that allows the children to think back on their stay and remember what they liked and learned. These journals are ideal for those camping at a State Park, but can also be worked through while hiking. Participating Parks in our area include, Bear Spring Mountain, Devil’s Tombstone, Little Pond, North-South Lake Caroga Lake, Little Sand Point, Moffitt Beach, Northampton Beach, Sacandaga.
Go to www.dec.ny.gov/education/21673.html for information.
Lifelong camper Lynne Smith, who was raised in Tupper Lake, takes her grandson Gabriel camping for two weeks each August in Fish Creek/ Rollins Pond State Campground. Last year he completed his Junior Naturalist journal and earned a patch. He now asks about other hikes he could go on to earn another patch.
“The program kept him focused on observing things in his surroundings that would have potentially gone un-noticed,” says Smith. “He is so proud that he finished the whole book and found all the things he was supposed to be looking for! It was the thing he brought in for show and tell to share about his summer once school started last fall.”
