Junior Ranger

INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR RANGER CAMP 2012:

the Camp will take place in the Triglav National Park (SL) from the 21st to the 28th of July. Soon more news will be available.

Is your park interested in the Junior Ranger Programme? Contact Federico Minozzi for more information. 

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Junior Ranger 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

10th INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR RANGER CAMP: 

The Weerribben-Wieden National Park (Netherlands) hosted the 10th International Junior Ranger camp, from the 16th to the 23rd of July 2011. 

Junior Ranger Network

EUROPARC is currently working to further develop and enhance the Junior Ranger Network across Europe. The network includes today 75 Protected areas from 15 different countries, and involves about 120 Rangers and 2000 youth across Europe.

Thanks to the close collaboration with the International Ranger Federation, the Scottish Countryside Ranger Association, the Danish Ranger Association and the Romanian Ranger Association, a new international project “Action for Youth in Parks” was recently submitted, seeking a better coordination of European Rangers, to enhance the quality of their work with youth in environmental education.

The contribution to the development of the JR programme made by EUROPARC Germany is remarkable, with a new Junior Ranger project currently involving 37 protected areas and youth of 7 – 12 years from all over the country. Read more

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.

The International Junior Ranger Camp 2010

The Mendip Hills AONB (UK) hosted the 9th International camp, involving 24 Junior Rangers and 12 Rangers from 8 different countries! Read more on the Junior Ranger Camp 2010 

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 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.