Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Junior Ranger Program

Previous to arriving I printed the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Junior Ranger Program to give us a head start on our Exploration Notebook.  To earn your Junior Ranger Badge you must complete the same amount of pages as your age, in addition to visiting the touch table and being able to list three items you saw to a Ranger.  Let me just start off by saying this is a twenty-three page book that goes into a lot of detail for a younger child it is overwhelming.  Even though it is not required to complete the entire book since we are utilizing the Junior Ranger book as curriculum we usually try to attempt to complete the entire book.  So that Jaxon would not get discouraged we broke this book up into three sections.  Prior to our visit we were able to pull out, discuss and complete ahead of time pages 6, 7, 12, 15, 16, 18, 20 and 22.  These pages included activities such as puzzle solving, crossword puzzles, we discussed our ancestors, where the Sonoran Desert is located, explored pottery and mazes just to name a few.  This gave us a great opportunity to lay a strong foundation and have an idea of what to expect upon our arrival.  We also included the wonderful pop up book Ancient Dwellings of the Southwest, which was a great conclusion to our trip since it contained a great deal of the locations we had previously visited .  Since this location was the first United States archeological preserve a great majority of the Junior Ranger book is teaching the children how to investigate in the same as an archeologist might.  Prior to entering the National Monument we read all of our safety tips for exploration on page three, and followed by reviewing the map and guide of the location on page four so that we knew where everything was located. 

As we were driving down the small country road we were able to see the towering Casa Grande Ruins in the distance.   It was like nothing we had experienced on our entire trip and immediately our bodies filled with excitement as we pulled into the gate.  No picture could be taken to explain the presence you feel when standing next to the ruins. 

Immediately following our arrival we walked the gardens located directly in front of the visitors center locating each plant and matching their names before proceeding into the museum.  

We then made our way to the theater to watch the film Case Grande: House of Many Stories.  This was a great film to help tell the story of Casa Grande and the people of its past.

During our exploration of the National Monument we carried with us the below scavenger hunt for animals unfortunately we had arrived in the heat of the day and only saw lizards during our visit.

When exploring the Ancestral Sonoran Desert homes I read Jaxon the plaques in front of each home along with the year.  Take note that the dates stated on each plaque actually have nothing to do with placing the houses in order from oldest to newest.  Due to this we got the entire page incorrect.

As you enter the museum on your left you will find a plaque that discusses the native language of the ancient Sonoran Desert people.  This plaque gave us the ability to complete page fourteen completely.

The displays within museum were fantastic and extremely well done which I somehow was overwhelmed and did not capture.  The last page we completed inside the museum was exploring trade clues on page seventeen.  This took some time as we went through the large exhibit discussing each item that they grew and had access to.  Then turned towards the discussion of what trade was and how it worked and then onto some of the items they might have traded.  Since we had not discussed this previously it took us a little bit of time to learn on site.  

After exploring outside we returned to the museum to locate yet another awe inspiring exhibit which incased a model of how the ruins might have looked in the beginning.  We then completed page eighteen of our Junior Ranger packet.

The location was a wonderful experience opening up subjects of exploration, history and preservation.  It was almost as if it was meant to be after a long trip of learning so much history it ended at a location that's main purpose was to explore ruins discovering stories of the past and how to preserve it for generations to come.

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

To reach Gila Cliff Dwellings you have to travel on the Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway.  This journey is not for the weak hearted.  The road is not recommended during the winter months as they do not plow the road on weekends.  It is extremely narrow and windy at times.  It took us two hours to reach the National Monument leaving from Silver City and traveling only 30 miles.  The Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway holds a lot of history, yet our only goal this trip was Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument.  We were told they are one of the few cliff dwellings left in the United States where you can climb inside.  Particularly due to the fact that they have very few visitors daily.  I would assume this is the case solely due to the treacherous scenic byway which is the only way in and out.  

I printed our Junior Ranger Book for Gila Cliff Dwellings ahead of time so that I could plan our day in the Park.  If you would rather pick up your Junior Ranger Book at the Visitors Center you will actually drive past the entrance of the Cliff Dwelling to the location of the visitors center and then backtrack to enter the park.  The visitors center also has restrooms, a small museum area and a gift shop.  The long drive to the National Monument gave us the opportunity to discuss what to expect and complete pages 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13 prior to our arrival.  These pages covered a wide range of topics such as, habitat, the Mogollon's native language, the wide range of settlers to the area during different courses in time, and what rules to follow while visiting the National Monument.  To become a Junior Ranger at Gila Cliff Dwellings you must visit the Cliff Dwellings, explore the museum, and complete all the activities that feature a Ranger Hat symbol as seen here.  

As we were intent on making the only ranger guided tour offered daily we did not spend much time in the museum area.  The tour begins at the cliff dwellings, approximately one-half mile from the beginning of the trailhead this may not sound like much, but when you are in a hurry, in the heat of the day it feels a lot longer then you think.  As we entered the beginning of the trailhead a ranger was standing at the entrance reviewing the rules with each and every visitor prior to them making their way up to the dwellings.  The entire hike is a one mile loop divided into the lower trail and upper trail.  The lower trail is shaded and fairly easy.  We did not end up taking the upper trail due to the fact that while we were in the caves a thunderstorm moved in and it was no longer safe to take.

Once we arrived Ranger Nancy led us through each dwelling helping us imagine what it might have been like to live up high in the cliff dwellings.  The tour was a wealth of information and really helped us picture life as an Ancient Puebloans of the Mogollon area and the struggles they might have encountered.  

To be able to see up close each artifact pictured in the Junior Ranger book was truly an educational experience.  It helped us to understand why and how you knew which room was utilized for cooking not just by seeing the grinding stones pictured below in the book but by having the ability to look up and see all the soot that was covering the roof.  Children are naturally curious so if we could inspire them to investigate how or why the wealth of knowledge they are able to absorb is astonishing.

Once the tour had ended we were able to leisurely walk through the dwellings exploring each area in such detail on our own timeline left us the opportunity to complete almost the entire Junior Ranger Book.

In the last cave Jaxon choose to draw a pictograph that had been on the wall.  It was so far in the distance that we could not get a really clear picture of it but if you look real close you can see a faint red paint on the wall located right above the wall on the right.

On our return hike down from the cliff dwellings Jaxon took a seat on a bench to complete page three of his Junior Ranger Book.  This page came extremely easy for him as we were hiking down in the mist of a thunder storm so the sounds of the storm superseded anything else in the area.

As we drove back towards the visitors center we stopped at the Trail of the Past located right next to the Lower Scorpion Campgrounds to complete the page below.  The trail is a very short trail and can be done in less then ten minutes.  

The last page of our Junior Ranger book took us on a journey of reflection on our visit.   Asking us the simplest question, What did this special place mean to you, the people you know, and the people who choose to spend their time protecting it?

Junior Dunes Ranger at White Sands National Monument

I had really no expectations when we planned our stop at White Sand National Monument.  Once we arrived we found the beauty of the dunes to capture our mind in a stillness I have never experienced.  The wonder and questions I had during our visit are still not completely answered.  White Sand National Monument is one of the most unusual places I have ever visited.  It is one of the few magical places that draws you in and makes you want to return over and over.  Not just for all the questions but for the adventure that lies in the dunes awaiting your discovery.  

Prior to our arrival I downloaded the Junior Dunes Ranger Activity Book for the White Sands National Monument giving us the ability to begin completing the required activities needed to earn our patch.  The Junior Dunes Ranger Activity Book is broken into three groups based on age.  We completed the entire Lizard activities within the book.  Located at the top of each page you will find the symbols that are required to complete that page in order to receive their Junior Ranger certificate, badge or patch and become a Junior Dunes Ranger.

Prior to arriving at the monument we completed the Desert Safety page discussing the importance of packing properly for a desert hike.  For this discussion we were able to complete both pages even though it was not required of his level I felt he really needed to understand how to prepare for the desert heat.  We also reviewed Nature Manners discussing how to respect the park and other visitors by having good manners.

Upon our arrival we began our journey in the garden located directly in front of the visitor's center.  Then making our way indoors to explore the museum, gift shop and gather information for our day of adventure.  This gave us a great beginning and orientation for what to expect during our visit to White Sand National Monument.  It also brought to our attention the unique geology that exists in the region.  White Sands National Monument is the largest white gypsum dunefield in the entire world and though it is called White Sands it is actually crystals that cover the miles and miles of breathtaking landscape.

Once we headed out on our journey to the dunes we had Jaxon fully equipped with a clipboard to begin his Scavenger Hunt completing two pages of our junior ranger program in the process.

The most exciting discovery we made was observing the lizards of White Sand National Monument.  A large majority of animals that live in the dunes have adapted overtime and shimmer white to match the gypsum dunes they inhabit.  We sat and observed the lizard above as he dug himself a burrow to escape the heat of the midday hot sun.

When we made our way farther into the dunes it appeared to be miles and miles of untouched land as the untouched ripples invited you to come explore.

After our visit to the Monument and learning so much about the Soap Tree Yucca I have now come to admire their beauty from a distance growing wild in the interdune area. I am fascinated that they hold such a beautiful symbiotic relationship with the Yucca Moths.  

During the heat of the day with temperatures reaching at least 100 degrees we imagined the sand to be scorching hot.  Yet when we got out to explore the area next to the trailhead we found the sand was cold to the touch we were actually able to walk barefoot through it during our adventures and not be affected at all.

When choosing a hike we choose the Interdune Boardwalk since it incorporated many different educational exhibits along the way.  

Half way down the platform are seats to sit and observe the natural surroundings.  Taking in the stillness of the dunes, watching for any wildlife that might be out braving the heat of the day, and having the ability to take your time in the shade and read through all the wonderful educational exhibits about the Monument.

After completing our hike we raced back to the courtyard at the visitors center to attend Skins & Skulls in hopes to learn about all the animals of White Sands National Monument.  We did not realize that this Ranger Program was just a table set up to explore at your own pace.  So since we had completed exploring the table within five minutes we decided to interview Ranger Emily to complete our Meet the Ranger page located in our Junior Ranger Book.

After completing the required pages and receiving our patch the fun began.  It was time to go sand sledding!  We headed to the top of the dunes and enjoyed sand sledding for our first time.  It was as if we had all the dunes to ourselves.  When we reached the top as far as our eyes could see were rolling hills of white. 

White Sand National Monument is a great natural wonder of this earth and I am so glad that we discovered it during our travels.  I sometimes wonder what attracts people to specific National Parks.  Why do we all flock to Yosemite, Yellowstone or Grand Canyon?  Why do so many of us overlook such grand adventures as White Sands National Monument.  

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Junior Ranger

During our study of Bats last Halloween we completed the first of two Primary Thematic Units on Bats.  The first Thematic Unit was focused on the book Stellaluna.  This was a fantastic introduction for children to the world of bats as it compares bats to birds.  It shares the similarities and differences and through the thematic unit we learned that bats are actually mammals not birds. When I read through our second thematic unit it included a great deal of discussion on Carlsbad Caverns and exploring the bats that lived there.  When planning our road trip through New Mexico I was excited to have the opportunity to complete our Bat study by observing Carlsbad Caverns Bat flight program.  It is such an amazing feeling to be able to take what you read in a book and have it come to life right in front of your eyes.  

It turned out that Carlsbad Carverns had so much more to offer than just a bat study.  Prior to our visit I downloaded and printed the Carlsbad Caverns Junior Ranger Book for ages 7-12 so that we could lay a strong foundation for our visit.  To become a Junior Ranger at this park you must complete 7 out of the 14 activities listed on the first page.  Since we have been studying bats prior to our visit I was able to incorporate pages 2, 5, 9, 10 and 11 into our daily work.  This told us the story of the Carlsbad Caverns, gave us a list of vocabulary words to prepare us for our visit, taught us about the habitat surrounding the caverns and what rules to follow during our visit.  Once we arrived we proceeded straight to the counter located to the right of the entrance to pay $5.00 a person to enjoy the children's audio tour that is offered.

Prior to descending down the trail we stopped at the gift shop located in the visitors center and picked up an explorer helmet for Jaxon.  This ended up being the perfect purchase.  As we climbed deeper and deeper into the cave it grew darker and darker.  At times there was very little light to guide our way.  This helped settle Jaxon's nerves about being on an adventure in a dark cave.  It did not settle our nerves as everytime he would turn to speak to us he would absolutely blind us with a stream of bright light.

I cannot express enough how amazing the childrens audio tour is.  The story is told by a young bat who lives in Carlsbad Caverns.  He takes you on a journey of exploration as you descend the 750 feet into the earth to learn about the Caverns he calls home.  He entertains your every moment as he leads you through the twists and turns of the 1.5 mile Natural Entrance Trail.  

To keep Jaxon busy during the entire walk we carried the Cave Scavenger Hunt.  It helped him locate and learn about all the different cave formations he saw on his adventure.

Once we reached the bottom we came to a cross in the road if we turned right we embarked on a whole new journey through the Big Room which is also included on our audio tour but not required to complete the Junior Ranger Program.  If we turned left we ended up in an area that provided restrooms, elevators escorting visitors back to the Visitors Center and a small cafe with table, chairs and souvenirs for purchase.  Since we were on such limited time we ended our audio tour here and proceeded to the cafe area.  Due to the extreme drop in temperature and an ill prepared mother Jaxon was cold so we purchased him a sweater and used the restroom then making ourselves comfortable at a table to work on our Junior Ranger book before making the journey back up to the surface.

I would make sure to leave a good amount of time to return by elevator, as the line was quite lengthy and took a good thirty minutes to reach the elevators.

Once we returned to the visitors center we joined Ranger Leah as she presented an amazing slide show called Batty for Bats! Learning all the basics of the bats of Carlsbad Caverns with her extreme enthusiasm made for an entertaining program.  Ranger Leah has a long history of working with young children and it truly showed as she entertained and dazzled Jaxon with her stories of bats full of facts.  

Since Ranger Leah worked so well with children we took this opportunity to complete page six of our Junior Ranger book "Ask a Ranger".

After leaving Leah we took a short half mile walk through the Nature Trail exploring all the different plants of the Chihuahaun Desert as we completed page 7 of our junior ranger program.  This was our first visit to the Chihuahan Desert and the start of our exciting desert habitat study.  

The half mile trail quickly became exciting as we began discovering centipedes and millipedes along the way. 

Once we completed the short loop we headed back inside to join Ranger Nikki for her program Discover the Night Sky.  This ranger program was directed to an older audience than Jaxon could comprehend but I as a parent found it very informative as her entire talk revolved around a book she had read as a child.  Find the Constellations is a great book that I am truly excited to incorporate into our curriculum.  The book is a wonderful beginning guide into the grand world of constellations.  It takes the child on a journey to discover the constellations in the nights sky. Once you hunt the night sky looking for the constellation you are able to turn the page then revealing the location of the constellation.  I find it to be a fun interactive book that entertains while you learn something new.  I strongly feel that exposing our children to concepts and words during their childhood help them to recognize the same concepts later during their education.  So maybe Jaxon did no fully understand anything during this Ranger Program but surely the next time he is learning about constellations he will at least remember the general notion.

Following the program we had the great pleasure of having Ranger Nikki present us with our badge prior to running off to the next Ranger Program.

The next ranger program was directed at a much younger age group.  As we wandered into the room we met Ranger Lindsay a seasoned Ranger of many National Park Deserts.  She would be leading us today through "Who Lives in the Desert?".  We eagerly listened to Ranger Lindsay read us stories of the Chihauhuan Desert and the many creatures that reside there.  

Finally the grand finale.  The whole reason we had made the journey south to Carlsbad Caverns was finally here. We all hurried to the amphitheater to find the best seats for our last program of the day The Bat Flight Program.  We took a seat and listened carefully to the rules.  Unfortunately the number one rule is no photographs.  So I cannot share with you a visual of how I felt as the bats took flight over our heads making their nightly journey out into the sunset to find food.  Watching a sunset alone is a moment that is breathtaking but adding hundreds of thousands of bats flying into the sunset as they take flutter past you into the nights sky is a majestic sight.  If everyone remains silent you can hear them and if your lucky they will soar directly above you.  This is an amazing site I would definitely recommend as I hope to return again one day to feel this breathtaking moment once more.

Bandelier National Monument Junior Ranger

Our exciting journey through the Indian Reservations opened up a whole new educational experience into the Native American culture.  This laid a great foundation for our entire road trip through the southwest.  As we embarked on the next leg of our trip it brought us even further back in history to Bandelier National Monument.  To take an adventure through the Ancient Pueblon history would fulfill a long time dream of my mother's to climb the many ladders to the top of the Alcove House.

We arrived extremely early so that we were able to drive our own vehicle into the park.   Bandolier National Monument is one of the few monuments that during peak season visitors who arrive during operating hours must ride a mandatory shuttle into the park.  Arriving prior to 9:00 am gave us the opportunity to drive our own vehicle into the park and continue our journey on after Bandolier National Monument through the Jemez Mountain Trail.

Bandelier National Monument is the only park I have currently found that has broken it's Junior Ranger Program into four age groups consisting of Pre K to 1st Grade, 2nd Grade to 3rd Grade, 4th Grade to 6th Grade, and Deputy level being 7th Grade and up.  Offering a different patch for each age group makes it exciting for children to return to the park often embarking on a new adventure each time they return.  We downloaded our booklet at home prior to our visit and will be walking you through our journey of Bandolier National Monument for the Pre K to 1st Grade age group. Before we even set out on our adventure we were able to compete pages 4, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15.  This taught Jaxon how to respect and protect the monument during our visit, what animals live in the surrounding habitat, and what the ruins would have looked like when the Ancestral Puebloans called them home.  

Prior to our departure we picked up a trail guide at the Visitor's Center for $1.00 to guide us through this small piece of amazing human history.  As we began our journey down the main loop Jaxon kept him self entertained by playing Bandelier Bingo.  

It did not take us long to complete as for every corner we turned we were surrounded by wildlife.  

As you turn the corner looking up at the enormous mountain you see in the distance small holes not yet realizing that each one was eloquently carved out by a human being.

 As we took the 1.2 mile trail it led us past an intact Kiva and through what remained of a small village area before descending up the hill to the base of the cliff dwellings.

 When you reach the base of the cliff dwellings you have the opportunity to climb numerous ladders into a number of the homes that still are intact today.  

When we arrived in front of the Long House we sat on the bench to discuss what the difference was between a petroglyph and a pictograph while completing page 9.  This was Jaxon's first encounter with any form of a petroglyph.  It was the beginning to many new petroglyph discoveries along our quest of learning.  He now studies them with ease trying to put meaning behind each individual picture he finds.

Once we completed the leisure walk around the main loop we returned to the visitor center to walk the gardens and learn how the Ancient Publeon people used each plant in their daily lives. 

When we finished we headed back to the Visitor Center to turn in our completed Junior Ranger Book and be rewarded with an amazing Patch showing the accomplishments of our day learning through the Monuments awe inspiring historical site.

After completing our Junior Ranger Program we set out to conquer the Alcove House.  

The Alcove House trail is 2.7 miles long reaching 140 feet above the canyon.  Which can only be reached by the four sets of steep ladders and stone stairs that take you on a journey from terrace to terrace up the mountain.

In the heat of the day we began our climb.  We were extremely relieved by each terrace we reached stopping to catch our breath and drink some water before resuming our climb to the next knowing we were just a little bit closer each time.

Once we reached the Alcove House we felt a great sense of achievement as we looked down below at the people who choose not to take the challenge.  As they wait at the foot of the mountain for their loved ones they appeared to be ants.  Giving us great perspective on how life must have been for the twenty-five people who once occupied the Alcove House.  The climb they choose to make everyday to fetch water, and gather food.  

Grand Canyon South Rim

Unless you have visited the Grand Canyon I cannot put into words the excitement and beauty the canyon holds when you gaze out across the rim.  This trip we are exploring the South Rim and all the excitement it has to offer us while completing our South Rim Junior Ranger Program.

One of the many reasons I enjoy traveling to National Parks are the many Park Ranger Programs they have to offer.  We all learn so many new things as we explore the parks along side the rangers, soaking in all of their knowledge of the area.  Below is an example of what is offered during the summer months.  This trip we actually attended almost all the programs listed below with the exception of one or two.

One of our absolute favorite Ranger Programs was the Nature Walk that departed from the Park Headquarters daily during our visit.  We had the pleasure of joining Ranger Ronnie during her two hour exploration of the forest that is in between the park headquarters and the south rim trail.  She was so fantastic that two hours felt like ten minutes and i could have followed her around all day.  

She took us on an exploration of the entire area and the same walk we had made to the Park Headquarters that took ten minutes took two hours making our way back towards the rim trail.  We dissected owl pellets, smelled trees, looked for animal tracks and discussed the different fauna and flora of this elevation.  She held the attention of adults and children the entire nature walk.  It takes a special person to appeal to all generations.  So many times I have attended walks and talks and someone in our group was lost or overwhelmed with boredom.  This was not the case on this adventure to the rim.  If I ever return I will seek out any Ranger Programs she might be leading and return daily just to soak up the knowledge she has to share.

The other amazing Ranger Program we attended was the Fossil Walk that took place near Bright Angel Trailhead lead by Ranger Joel Kane.  This upcoming year Jaxon will be studying Rocks, Minerals and Fossils which is a foreign subject in my area of knowledge.  So when we sat down and Ranger Kane explained the different types of rocks in the simplest definition within the first five minutes I was ecstatic.  Light bulbs were going off the entire time I listened to Ranger Kane as he explained so well I wondered how I had never understood any of these concepts previously.

After deep explanation he led us to an area right next to the trail full of fossils.  From a distance I would have assumed this area was full of boulders not until we stopped and took a closer look did I see all the fascinating fossils from times of earths past.  If I had been making my way up the trail, that runs parallel to Hermit Road right past the Angel Bright Trailhead entrance, I would have walked by unknowingly missing so much history.  This is one of the many reasons I so enjoy attending Ranger Programs they always seem to take you off the beaten path exploring what you would have missed otherwise.

Jaxon could not contain his excitement to actually be hunting for fossils on his own and not in a excavation kit he had purchased at the local education store.  This was so much more to be outside exploring as if he himself was a Paleontologist on a search to answer questions from the unknown.

Located a short walk from El Tovar is the Hopi House.  The Hopi House was designed by Mary Colter and is famous for it's architecture.  While I found it be a beautiful building I found it much more interesting to walk around inside and gaze at all the amazingly crafted Native American arts and crafts for purchase.  

As we explored the Native American crafts inside the Hopi House it was solely by chance that a poster caught my eye displaying scheduled performance times for a Navajo Native American Dance Troup for 1:00 pm that day.  I was so excited to have Jaxon experience his first actual authentic native american dance it would completely set the stage for our next adventure further east through Navajo Nation.  Jaxon was in complete awe over the entire experience and just continued asking if they were real.  It is such a great feeling as a mother for you to see your child experience something that will change how they look at the world and history of our country.  

As we rushed down the Trail of Time to make it to the Ranger Program that was taking place at the Yavapai Geology Museum we actually ran right past a grazing elk and had to double take as we stopped for a brief second to take in her beauty before continuing our journey.

Once we began to venture away from the village we found ourselves at the Tusayan Museum and Ruins.  This would be our first official introduction to Native American ruins on our journey across the southwest.  We arrived early with great excitement and anticipation. 

As we made our way to the museum it happened to be the perfect introduction to the tribes we would later learn more about.  In the museum a single glass display case gave visitors the opportunity to observe pictures along with items that represented each individual tribe.

While at the Grand Canyon we learned repeatedly about the split twig figures you see above.  It is thought that they were once children's toys.  They were found by archeologists in caves that date back between 2000 to 4000 years old.  We were lucky enough to find a kit showing Jaxon how the children of the ancient civilizations had made them.  When we returned home and were reviewing and discussing our adventures discovering the history of the Grand Canyon we sat down and took the opportunity to create a couple together.

By the time we were done touring the museum the Tusayan Ruins Ranger led program was just about to begin.  The program took us on a journey through the Tusayan Ruin walk trail which lays a great introduction to the Ancient Puebloan People and how they might have lived long ago.  It guides you through the farm area introducing you to the three sisters, the different storage areas used to store their food after harvesting, the living areas they shared with their families and two Kivas.  

Almost everything we had just learned was new to us.  I had studied Native Americans but not at this depth.   Until this trip I had never heard of the three sisters, or a Kiva.  This is one of the many reasons I love the decision we made to embark on an education based on experience.  To have the opportunity for Jaxon to learn from so many different subject from knowledgeable people is a great gift.

Our last stop prior to exiting the park was the Desert View watchtower.  Perched on the rim of the canyon stood an amazing piece of history which I would have completely passed if it was not for a flyer catching my eye discussing a Cultural Demonstration series featuring a Hopi Potter and Painter.  This perked my interest as we made our journey to the watchtower to embark on a cultural experience.

Upon our arrival Jaxon was drawn to Bobby Silas the Hopi Potter and Painter who was demonstrating his tribes techniques and had no problem discussing and sharing with my son the culture and history he had learned to perfect through the years.  He was such a compassionate person to give my son the attention he did and took the time to explain and teach Jaxon all the techniques and ways of his tribe.  As we left with new knowledge of the Hopi Tribe we left an amazing awe inspiring experience as we pulled away from the Grand Canyon we all felt a small piece of sorrow.  

Grand Canyon South Rim Junior Ranger Raven Award

So I would like to start off by explaining that this National Park has two Junior Ranger Programs, North and South Rim.  Our adventures will only take us to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon this trip.  The Grand Canyon Junior Ranger Booklets are not available online you must pick them up at a ranger station once you arrive inside the park.  Another piece of information is that the South Rim does not provide or have any books for the North Rim Junior Ranger Program, but they do have North Rim badges.  So while you are able to end your North Rim Junior Ranger adventure at the South Rim, you cannot start your adventure here.  We started our visit at The Grand Canyon Visitors Center picked up our book and then proceeded straight to the theater to watch the park film.  During your visit you have to either attend a park ranger program or watch the park film, Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder.  We actually did both.  The film was a great introduction and also gave Jaxon a quick history lesson about the park before embarking on our adventure

To begin our journey lets discuss how the program is broken up by ages.  The Grand Canyon Junior Ranger Program is broken into three age groups, you can find listed below, which is also located on the inside of Junior Ranger Activity Book.  We will be walking you through what we did to complete the Raven level designed for ages 4-7 years old.  This is one of the few National Parks that offers a patch for each age group.  This makes it wonderful because I can now return to the Grand Canyon two more times with Jaxon and he will earn a completely new patch still filled with as much excitement as the first.  

As we made our way down the road towards the center of the village Jaxon was able to keep himself busy playing Canyon Bingo.  There is such an abundance of wildlife featured in the park that we completed almost the entire page prior to our arrival during our five minute drive.

There are so many magical views of the canyon I do not feel that I could ever choose a favorite.  No matter what angle I have ever seen it from it's awe inspiring beauty never ceases to amaze me.  To complete this page we choose the Lookout studios for a couple reasons.  Mostly location, it was literally directly in front of our cabin at Bright Angel.  It also had a nice walk down a couple of staircases leading you below the canyon rim giving Jaxon an alternative view.  This excited Jaxon as through out our entire visit to the Grand Canyon he envied all of the visitors who were brave enough to climb over the fence at the south rim trail and perch themselves on rocks for the perfect backdrop to any vacation photo.  Of course, having a mother who is terrified of heights this was never going to happen.  So by descending down the stairs of Lookout studios and allowing him to perch himself on a safe ledge provided by the studio it satisfied his craving of adventure for the day.  Lastly, it was fully equipped with a telescope which Jaxon found extremely fascinating to have the ability to examine each layer of earth down the canyon walls.

Daily between the hours of 11:00 - 3:00 pm located in front of the El Tovar backporch, right on the south rim trail with the most amazing backdrop was a Junior Ranger table.  Set up with brochures, Junior Ranger Booklets and an entire table full of items to explore with a different theme daily.  Jaxon loved exploring the table with the many hands on items they had available for the children.  The volunteers and rangers that were at the table handled the children exceptionally well answering every questions, patiently listening to their current adventures through the park, all while encouraging them to explore the items on the table the entire time.

After we completed our fossil walk we stayed in the area, located right next to the trail view overlook to the right of Hermit Road, to explore and find the perfect rock to study and complete page six of our Junior Ranger book.  It was one of the few areas that had loose rocks we could explore and examine.

During our early arrival for our Nature Walk with Ranger Ronnie we explored the Grand Canyon Head Office and found the most amazing blocks that went perfectly with the Stratigraphic Column.  The blocks were an exact replica and made completing this page so easy and enjoyable.    Later after our visit I found the Grand Canyon Nesting Blocks to purchase so that we could continue our education after we returned home.

We have taken approximately a dozen junior ranger oaths since our recent endeavor into our National Park adventures.  By far may I say this was the most beautiful backdrop for any Junior Ranger ceremony.  The access that gives the rangers the ability to perform such a special ceremony for each junior ranger is amazing.  The crowds near by cheer on the children giving them such a feeling of pride and accomplishment for all of their hard work in completing their ranger books through out the park.  I personally have not come across any other National Park yet that is able to hold such a powerful display of achievement for the children by not only the park rangers encouragementthemselves but also the by-standers observing the ceremony taking place.  

Statue of Liberty National Monument

We saved the best for last.  This was also Jaxon's highlight of our entire trip.  Our entire trip was planned around the Statue of Liberty Crown Access tickets.  We had tried to make a quick stop months prior on our way to Florida and quickly learned that Crown Access sells out months in advance.  Learning our lesson we actually booked our Crown Access tickets before our flights this time.  The Crown Access tickets give you access to everything you could possibly want to see the pedestal, museum, audio tour and grounds area.  These tickets are only available online.  I suggest planning way in advance to get your tickets here.  This is the only official provider of Crown Tickets.

To prepare for our trip to the statue of liberty we read L is for Liberty.  My favorite part of this book is that towards the end they celebrate the Fourth of July which really relates to our entire journey to New York.  For Jaxon's reading assignment he read The Statue of Liberty, a Step up to reading book.  I find it really takes Jaxon's reading to another level when the book focus's on something we are learning in another subject.  It then takes the focus off the fact that I am asking him to read but, that we are taking an adventure to learn about something new.

We pre-printed our Statue of Liberty Junior Ranger Activity Book.  When downloading the Junior Ranger Program this park actually has two choices. The first one is a short double-sided page meant for visitors wanting to earn their badge.  The second one was created for teachers to utilize during field trips to the Statue of Liberty.  Since we were including the book in Jaxon's "Time for Kids" Social Studies curriculum we chose to utilize the field trip based Activity Book.  We also included a short educational video by BrainPOP Jr.  Jaxon loves to watch  Annie and Moby bring topics to life through short cartoon clips.  Prior to our visit we were able to complete Activities 5,6,7,8 and 10 at home.  This gave Jaxon a great foundation of understanding the history and meaning behind such an important monument to american history. Below you can see how I took Activity 8 and expanded the topic into a small science project for a better understanding of how copper ages.  I found this great activity with the worksheet included by Buggy and Buddy. 

At the top of every Activity Page they give you a Hint where to find the answer which made it much easier to maneuver as we walked around the monument.  

Activities 1 and 2 we actually saved for last since both pages are to be completed in the information center at the same location that we would complete our Activity book and turn it in to a Ranger.  Activity 1 includes watching a video.  I would highly recommend leaving a good amount of time for these two activities, the information center is extremely small and tight.  Once you get more then one family trying to complete the same activities and meet with the rangers to sign off on the books it becomes cramped very quickly.  

The monument has an amazing children's audio tour that I highly recommend for children and adults.  It takes you on a tour through the gardens and then continues on around the entire outside grounds of the Statue of Liberty.  These tours are done at your own pace.  So you are able to listen in one area and then take your time walking until you reach the next stop.

After we returned our audio tours we quickly walked to the pedestal area where we were directed to leave all of our backpacks in a locker and only proceed with cameras that you have the ability to carry.  At this point you enter the pedestal and museum area and must proceed immediately to either the elevator or stairs during your selected tour time. We choose to take the stairs just to rule out the idea of us missing anything.  We didn't miss anything it is literally a corridor of stairs that lead you to the same location as the elevator.  At this time we met up with a Ranger who then told us how long we would need to wait before proceeding to the crown stairs.  

As we made our way to the top of the crown we were completely alone and able to climb at our own pace. 

The crown itself was so much smaller then I expected but, we have no regrets and would do the entire thing over again.  It was absolutely amazing being able to walk up the stairs and see all of her features from the inside.

After we made our climb down we headed to the museum to explore more on the history of the Statue of Liberty.

In the end after a long day of exploring the monument we all enjoyed an ice cold fresh made cup of Statue of Liberty Lemonade.  

Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

Jaxon's First grade study of Immigration took us on our journey to Ellis Island.  This was another trip inspired by Jaxon's "Time for Kids" Social Studies curriculum.  I decided when planning this trip to split up the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island so we could take our time and do both Junior Ranger Programs and not be in a hurry.  Honestly,  the last thing I wanted to happen was for all of us to be exhausted and not enjoy the exploration.  That ultimately was the best decision we made by the end of our day on Ellis Island I couldn't wait to get back to our hotel and relax.  I could never imagine doing it any other way now.  

I would like to first discuss the Junior Ranger Program.  If I could go back and do things differently that would be the one thing I would change.  I attempting to be prepared printed the Junior Ranger Booklet at home.  Which I printed immediately after booking our trip in March.  The Junior Ranger Book I printed was at least ten pages long and by the time we had made it to the third floor we were exhausted, hungry and could not easily find any of the answers.  Once we completed the third floor questions we took a break and went and grabbed lunch in the cafeteria. We then returned to the last two pages which was all located in the main entrance area.  After still having major difficulty finding the answers I opted to go to the ranger desk and ask them how many pages needed to be completed.  When I questioned the ranger he notified me that the Junior Ranger book I had printed was out of date and meant for teachers use.  The now Junior Ranger Program was two pages.  So lesson now learned going forward I will always visit the ranger desk prior to beginning our day.

One of the reasons that I always try to print the Junior Ranger Book out ahead of time is so that we can do as many of the pages ahead as possible.  This helps us lay a strong foundation for our trip and allows us a little more time to enjoy the monuments at a more relaxed rate.  On this trip we were only able to complete the first page before arriving.  The entire packet is designed to be completed at particular exhibits.  Below is an example of one page of the packet.  I then went to plan b and organized our entire day by floor and exhibit which made it much easier while traveling through the museum.

In preparation for our trip we utilized BrainPOP Jr.'s short video on Ellis Island. If you have never heard of BrainPOP Jr. you absolutely need to look into it.  We pay $1.99 a month to have unlimited access to their app.  BrainPOP Jr. has six different categories science, health, reading and writing, social studies, math art and technology.  Within each of these are subcategories with endless subjects full of short educational videos that appeal to children.  There are times I can explain the same topic to Jaxon over and over and he still just stares at me completely lost.  This is when I pull out BrainPOP Jr. and all of a sudden a lightbulb comes on in his head.  There are times when he is honestly just tired of hearing my voice and that is completely understandable.  For this reason I try to incorporate all forms of education in his curriculum including educational movies and videos.

The page below was the only time I assisted Jaxon in writing in his Junior Ranger Activity Book.  I knew that this would be a huge challenge for him to sit down and write his own manifest so I interviewed him as if he was entering a real legal inspection and wrote all his answers below.  It actually made for a fun change of dramatic play during our tour of Ellis Island.

We also took the children's audio tour while on Ellis Island.  My first suggestion is to bring the children their own headphones.  They do not come with headphones and the rooms are small and can get quite loud.  We actually went back to the audio tour counter and asked if they had any we could borrow due to the volume of noise in the rooms.  The audio tour was absolutely perfect for children, a mouse who lives on Ellis Island takes you on a journey to meet some of his friends and explore their journey to the new world.  

Another great feature of the audio tour is it is enjoyed at your own pace.  Each room the tour leads you to has a plaque on the wall and the children just follow the mouse footprint numbers when they are ready to begin.

Once we had completed our Junior Ranger Program and our audio tour I took Jaxon on a more personal tour of Ellis Island.  We wandered the American Immigrant Wall of Honor in search of my Great Grandfather's name.  My Great Grandfather had traveled to Ellis Island from Belgium to start a new life for his family in America.  I wanted Jaxon to understand that Ellis Island is a historical landmark for many reasons and it is personal to every person who has had an ancestor pass through.  For if it was not for our ancestor's coming to America to start a new life we would not be here today.

Jaxon came to Ellis Island with very little knowledge or understanding of the concept of immigration and coming to america.  For a young child to learn history is one goal during most National Monuments but, to understand a concept of how we all came together to become what is now the United States of America is a little more difficult.

Clinton Castle National Monument

During our recent visit to New York we wanted to be able to do as much as we possibly could in walking distance of our hotel located in Battery Park.  While exploring Battery Park we found ourselves inside Castle Clinton National Monument.  

Castle Clinton does not have their Junior Ranger Book online so you have to pick one up once you arrive.  The rangers are walking around so you just have to stop and ask one of them.  They do not have an official area that you are able to talk to them except their private office which is the door to the left as you pass through the arch.  The book is designed for ages 4-7 to complete three pages and ages 8 and up must complete all the activities.  Jaxon was able to complete the book with little to no problems.

As we began filling out our book we did lose sight that there was an outside so I would suggest walking around outside to see the plaque at the entrance which answers some of the questions on page nine.  

When it came to the Cannons on page three we had to ask the ranger for assistance that is when we discovered that at some point in time someone had stolen their signs.  That is why we were having a difficult time finding the answers we needed to complete the book.  This is when I am happy we have technology today that gives us the ability to sit down and look up the answers.

The one area that was located inside is set up with dioramas of Castle Clinton so that you have the ability to see the transformations it has gone through over the years.  This is where we found a majority of the answers for pages 7 and 10.  The history of the building and all it has been used for was astonishing.  Technically by right it was the first Ellis Island for our country and yet somehow we never hear much about it during our Nation's history.

As we wandered around Castle Clinton Monument completing our junior ranger book we noticed out the corner of our eye that a group of men dressed in colonial day attire had arrived.  Sparking our interest we walked over to admire their amazing attire.  It was at this time we came to find out that they were going to be re-enacting a colonial band by performing patriotic songs in spirit of the Fourth of July holiday.  After studying the history of the Fourth of July prior to our visit this was an exciting opportunity for us.  To not only read, listen and discuss but now to actually see what it was like in the past to witness a colonial band playing such patriotic music was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

In the end Jaxon was very excited to receive his Junior Ranger Badge and Patch.  When we come across a location that has the opportunity to collect a patch it makes the experience extra special.  

Clinton Castle National Monument is an under appreciated National Monument that is sadly shadowed by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Islands who have taken over the gift shop, ticket stands and will call in the center.  I highly recommend taking the time to visit the location next time you are in New York.