Many kid activities offered at Yosemite N.P.

Activities abound at Yosemite National Park for teaching children about the natural wonders before them as well as the environment in general.

Among the kid-friendly programs are:
g Junior Ranger/Little Cub – Children ages 3 and up can be sworn in as a Yosemite National Park Junior Ranger or Little Cub by participating in several different programs. Those ages 3-6 can earn a Little Cub button by completing the Little Cub Handbook, which can be purchased at the Happy Isles nature center, the visitor centers in Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Tuolumne Meadows, and the Big Oak Flat Information Station. Those ages 7-13 can garner a Junior Ranger patch by completing the Junior Ranger Handbook (available for purchase at the same spots selling the Little Cub Handbook), collecting a bag of trash collected, and attending a guided program.
g Ranger-led programs – A variety of nature and history programs meant specifically for children and families are held throughout the year across Yosemite, primarily from May through September. A schedule for the various programs with their dates, times and locations, is available online.
g Youth programs – A variety of programs and camps for teenagers are offered at the national park. Among the many programs are hiking, helping field research projects, and skiing. Application must be made to participate in the programs, which are offered by NatureBridge.

For descriptions of 100-plus children’s games and activities that can be done before the hike, on the drive to the park, during a hike, and afterward, see this author’s book Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Kid-friendly programs plentiful at GCNP

Grand Canyon National
Park Junior Park Ranger badge

Activities abound at Grand Canyon National Park to teach children about the natural wonder before them as well as the environment in general.

Among the kid-friendly programs are:
•Junior Ranger – Children ages 4 and up can be sworn in as a Grand Canyon National Park junior ranger and receive a certificate by participating in several different programs. The most common way is to pick up a Junior Ranger Activity Booklet at a visitor center, complete it, and then attend a ranger-led program. Kids then receive a certificate and are sworn-in as junior park rangers during a ceremony. Presenting the certificate at a park gift store allows the child to purchase a junior ranger patch. During the summer, kids who participate in the Adventure Hike or Discovery Pack (ages 9-14) programs also can become junior rangers.
•Ranger-led programs – A variety of programs meant specifically for children are held throughout the year on the South Rim and when open on the North Rim. Programs include short hikes, talks about condors, walks to fossil beds, and other presentations. A schedule for the various programs with their dates, times and locations, is available online.
•Expeditions – Teenagers can sign up for multi-day camps in which they explore the canyon on a number of exciting adventures. The Rim to Rapids camp takes teens on a rapids ride and has them performing conservation field work. The Grand Inspiration camp involves teens drawing, painting, photographing and writing about the canyon as exploring it. Kids must apply for the camps through Grand Canyon Youth.

Read more about day hiking the Grand Canyon in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Grand Canyon National Park guidebook.