Junior Ranger

Note: Find out more about the Junior Ranger Camp 2010.

Context

Young people are at the heart of the local communities living in and around protected areas. They are also the future advocates, guardians and potential employees of these areas. By providing young people with opportunities to participate in their work, protected areas fulfill their educational role whilst enhancing individuals understanding of their aims and appreciation of the natural and cultural resources they protect.

Objective

EUROPARC is the umbrella organisation for Junior Ranger programmes throughout Europe. The aim of the network is to facilitate the increase of new partners throughout Europe by providing interested parks with information on the most important aspects of a Junior Ranger programme.

One of the greatest challenges facing protected areas today is to find ways of demonstrating that the conservation of nature and culture and the sustainable use of natural resources have a fundamental relevance to people?s daily lives. To accomplish this EUROPARC strives to encourage the exchange of experiences between leaders of Junior Ranger programmes and to improve the quality of the regional programmes through the organisation of international workshops and training seminars.

Approach

The EUROPARC Junior Ranger Programme was launched in 2002 as a pilot project embracing four partner parks. The network has grown ever since and boasted a total of almost 50 partners in 2008. With the support of EUROPARC funds and through the park administrations' own resources, park directors and rangers throughout Europe have established and developed junior ranger activities on a long-term basis.

The main event of the network is the International Junior Ranger Camp, coordinated each summer by EUROPARC and hosted by one of the network members. This event is a great opportunity for many young people to gather, have fun and discover Europe's biodiversity. The international camps have proved a great success and candidates for hosting and participating in the event increase each year.

Current status

The International Junior Ranger Camp 2010

The EUROPARC Federation is now very much looking forward to the 9th camp in 2010, which will be hosted by the Mendip Hills AONB (UK) from24th - 31st July 2010! News and registration form now online

The International Junior Ranger Camp 2009

In August 2009, the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natre Park (E) organised the 8th EUROPARC Junior Ranger international camp! This fantastic experience yet again highlighted how enjoyable and useful Junior Ranger Camps are. You can find more news here: Junior Ranger camp 2009

Junior Ranger Network

EUROPARC will also carry on developing and enhancing the Junior Ranger Network in 2010. The Network's work plan in 2010 means new opportunities for the programme and includes improving EUROPARC's role as coordinator, the involvement of new members and the development of new activities and stronger communication within the network.

We at EUROPARC are currently in the process of updating our list of parks in Europe who have their own Junior Ranger programmes. If you do we ask you to please fill in the form at the bottom of the page and to send it to junior-ranger@europarc.org.

Junior Ranger Summit 2008

At the end of 2008 EUROPARC held a summit with experts in the area of Junior Ranger to discuss the Programmes future. The results of this summit, which will eventually form the basis of guidelines for the programmes, are available to download below.

Get the latest news from Junior Ranger parks here!

Interested in finding out more? Then contact Federico Minozzi.