Big Thicket to host Junior Ranger Day for National Park Week

Park rangers will help participants learn about aspects of the Big Thicket, according to the preserve's website.

"Kids and adults will explore different vehicles that rangers use in their jobs, like a wildland fire truck, an air boat, and other machinery," a news release from the preserve states. "They will also learn more about the bugs that live in water with resource management staff. Families can learn more about the different trees around the visitor center in a scavenger hunt and about paddling the waterways."

Other activities include a scavenger hunt for native trees, observing how park rangers protect the preserve on land and water, helping scientists look for dragonflies in a pond, looking inside a firefighter vehicle, learning how to paddle a canoe and checking out park construction and maintenance vehicles.

"We usually work with the entire park staff and decide what each division wants to kind of highlight about their jobs and things that they do," Big Thicket National Preserve Chief of Interpretation and Education Megan Urban said. "Our wildland firefighting office brings down one of their fire trucks and lets kids have some fun letting the water out of the hose. Law enforcement usually brings one of their airboats to kind of show what we do on the water. This year, resource management has decided to do some water quality sampling and also look at what kind of bugs live in the water which is pretty cool. So pretty much it's up to each division to figure out what they want to represent for kids and adults to learn."

Once participants complete all activities, they will earn a junior ranger badge.

Urban said that the event helps show both children and adults what different jobs are available at national parks.

"There's a lot of different career paths within the park service," Urband said. "We have our wildland firefighters, we have our law enforcement rangers, we also have rangers who do biological research or even keep our budget up and going. There's a great variety of career fields in the Park Service, so we hope that (the event) kind of introduces the idea of being a park ranger, but maybe not having to be the park ranger, if they grow up and want to do that."

Last year's event had 175 participants, and the park hopes to have the same amount this year if not more, Urban said.

"Junior Ranger Day occurs during National Park Week, when people are encouraged to celebrate and visit their national parks," Big Thicket National Preserve Superintendent Wayne Prokeptz said in the release. "At this event, you can learn about all the different ranger jobs at Big Thicket. And it is a great day to learn more about your backyard national park site."

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The Boss Burger food truck will sell food at the event.

According to the release, American Sign Language interpreters will be on-site during the event. 

The event will be cancelled should there be a thunderstorm.

National Park Week is a nine-day celebration of the over 400 national parks across the country.

"National Park Week is happening April 22 to April 30 this year," according to the National Parks Service website. "Entrance fees will be waived on April 22, 2023, to kick off the celebration and to encourage everyone to enjoy their national parks in person." 

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