2009 Junior Ranger Ambassadors Arrive at the Parks

Another crew of 35 Junior Ranger Ambassadors were trained at the National Conservation Training in Shepherdstown June 15-19. These Student Conservation Association interns were trained in basic interpretive skills, writing for children, the use of a design platform, and the history of the National Park Service. While in training they also passed the security training necessary to use park computers. A field trip was taken to Monocacy National Battlefield where the Ambassadors participated in the park Junior Ranger Program and received Safety Training from Dave Schuller of the Northeast Regional Office. Other instructors included Wendy Davis, Marcia Towns, Tom Davies, and Corky Mayo. In a matter of three days the Ambassadors were able to produce some outstanding examples of Junior Ranger Program activities. Each of the Ambassadors will be assigned to a park for 12 weeks with the task of either creating or updating a Junior Ranger Booklet. Currently there are 340 parks that offer Junior Ranger opportunities. In FY 2008, 565,000 junior rangers were sworn in. The goal is to reach 1,000,000 by 2016. The 2009 Junior Ranger Ambassadors are: Alisha Allen (SITK), Kara Arvidson (MIMA), Nareen Bagdasarian KEFJ), Megan Barnhart (SEKI), Christopher Beers (BISC), Nicole Bianco (ROVA), Sarah Carnes (PEVI), Michael Chornesky (FOTH), Gay Contreras (TUMA), Robin Czerwinski (SLBE), Sarah Davis (CHOH), Alpha Ecalnea (WAPA), Annelies Gray (HUTR), Lisa Hogan (FLAG), Joshua House (HOME), William Hughes (YOSE), Jenny Isaacs (EDIS), Krista Jankowski (WASO GEO), Danielle Masanoff (PEFO), Tawanda Morgan (INDE), Nkemdilim Onwudinjo (VICK), Amanda Pachomski (FIIS), Kathryn Price (CALO), Dakota Radford (CHIC), Adam Rusinak (FRSP), Elizabeth Sampson (SAIR), Lydia Shahi (MABI), Megan Sharretts (DEPO), Emily Shaw (NACE), Andrew Sullivan (KEMO), Samuel Tabory (HOME), Eris Vander Heyden (MALU), Nathan Wilairat (CRLA), and Christie Young (DINO).