Become A Junior Ranger

Explore. Learn. Protect.

The Junior Ranger motto is recited by children around the country; each taking an oath of their own to protect parks, continue to learn about parks, and share their own ranger story with friends and family.

The KWS Junior Ranger program is an activity based program conducted in almost all parks, and some Junior Ranger programs are national. Many national parks offer young visitors the opportunity to join the Kenya Wildlife Service "family" as Junior Rangers.

Interested youth complete a series of activities during a park visit, share their answers with a park ranger, and receive an official Junior Ranger patch and Junior Ranger certificate. Junior Rangers are typically between the ages of 5 to 15, although people of all ages can participate.

Junior Ranger Books

Programs and special events offer junior ranger books to engage visitors at an early age. Check out these special interest books that you can download and do at home or at your favorite park. 

Environmental Education 

There is no better classroom for conservation lessons than a national park. Every year hundreds of schools visit the parks. Many children see, hear and smell the wonders of nature for the first time and learn a lot in the process. What does an elephant eat? Why is a snake important too? Why should we not litter? From day programmes, to the celebrated Kids in Parks camp to special calendar events: environmental education opens young people’s eyes.

For most schoolchildren a visit to a national park is an unforgettable day, but more than this, it is also a crucial learning experience. Many of the children that are brought into our parks have been told or taught very little about Kenya’s unique flora and fauna and the necessity of environmental protection and eco-friendly behaviour. That is why Environment Education is one of the priorities of the People and Conservation division, with some extra attention going to rural and poorer communities.

KIDS in the Park

The Kids in Parks Programme provides a unique opportunity for learners and their educators to visit a national park and learn a lot about natural and cultural heritage.

The three-day programme allows for a loads of discovery, learning and fun for kids. The programme exposes the importance of a national park to learners from nearby schools – and mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds. The children learn to identify, name and describe the fauna and flora. They learn about biodiversity and how to sustain it.

Special activities make learners aware of the importance of water conservation, a critical area in the country. The overnight camp is also an ideal opportunity to make young people aware of careers in conservation. The kids are housed in dorms. They are provided with three meals a day and educational material.