How to Become a Junior Park Ranger at Sunset Crater

We are now one week out from our tour of Northern Arizona’s National Parks and the kids are still excited about becoming a Junior Park Ranger at Sunset Crater. The process was fun but also educational and so I encourage anyone that attends one of our nation’s National Parks to complete the Junior Ranger process with their children. Here is a quick run down on how to become a Junior Park Ranger at Sunset Crater.

1. Print out the Junior Park Ranger – Sunset Crater PDF file. If you don’t have a printer or end up at the National Park by chance, ask for a packet from the Visitor’s Center. Other children were piqued by what Alex and Ava were doing and asked for their own packet.
2. Fill out the first part of the packet. This includes reading and watching informational videos, displays, audio files, etc in the Sunset Crater Visitor’s Center. While listening to an audio file of the legend of the crater in the Hopi language, Ava gave me a perplexed look and said, “They’re speaking Spanish!” The audio files were presented first in the Native language of the various tribes of the region and then followed up with an English version.


Ava listening to a Hopi legend.

3. Interview a Park Ranger. We were able to complete this process in the Visitor Center but there were also Park Rangers on the trail. One of Alex’s questions was whether the lava flow made it to the park and the Ranger showed him a map of the Bonita Lava Flow, where we were about to take a hike. One of Ava’s questions was whether the Park Ranger had ever rescued someone – gotta love her zeal for Search & Rescue thanks to Pops.
4. Go out into the Sunset Crater area, right out on the Bonita Lava Flow, and start drawing pictures of the natural beauty that you come across. Note: a blue jay may or may not be present in July, regardless of what your son tells you.


Marveling at the Bonita Lava Flow.

5. Check off all of the features that you find while visiting the National Park. One of the trails was closed but the one that was open was about a one-mile loop and it was an easy hike. Yes I had to stop and rest a little but it was hot and I forgot a hat, thanks to my dad for allowing me to wear his hiking hat. However, the hike definitely fits within the easy category. A portion of the trip is wheelchair-accessible, which is a bonus for those with children needing the support of a chair for transportation.
6. Head back to the Visitor’s Center and turn in your paperwork. The Park Ranger will carefully go over your answers, correct any that are wrong (because you want to make sure you have the right information stored in your brain, right?), and marvel at the fact that you saw a blue jay in July.


Going over the answers.

7. Take your National Park Service Junior Park Ranger oath and wear your new badge with pride.


Taking the Junior Park Ranger oath.

That’s it. The process is that simple but allows the kids to learn more about the place that you are visiting while giving them the rewarding feeling of being a part of something that is oh so important – protecting our nation’s National Parks.

Tagged as: Junior Park Ranger, national parks, Sunset Crater