Rangers

Last updated on: April 23, 2011 at 2:16 am by Tara Edelschick

Rangers 2011-04-23T02:16:30-06:00 Tara Edelschick

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What is it about a man in uniform? So sexy.

At least that’s what I thought. Until I saw Jeff, after working hard to obtain the rank, raise his right hand, make the oath, and receive his badge. Maybe it was that he was becoming a Junior Ranger at Redwood National Park. Maybe it was that the next oldest Junior Ranger that day was twelve. Maybe it was because I had already seen him do this at two other National Parks that summer.

In any case, it was definitely not sexy. Here’s the thing, though; it was sweet. Jeff loves national parks, and he loves workbooks, and loves park rangers. And the Junior Ranger Program of the National Park Service has all three. Jeff could not have been more in his element.

Because I helped Jeff complete the necessary activities to become worthy of the badge, we both learned more than we would have if we had just strolled through on our own. As much as a worksheet is a lame way to learn something, the right worksheet at the right time can spark interest and focus.

The boys have inherited their dad’s love of workbooks. And of badges and all things official sounding. They were psyched to learn that they could become Junior Rangers at Historic Jamestown yesterday. They happily read the signs they needed to read, and observed the artifacts they needed to observe, and attended the archeologist’s talk they needed to attend, all to get their badge.

So here’s to the National Park Service! I hope you don’t lose all your funding this year. I’d so much rather do without corn subsidies or the Diane Rehm Show. (Sorry NPR, but she talks sooooo slowly. I really can’t take it.) Any organization that can get my kids to happily settle in and work hard for a few hours should be given as much tax support as possible.

After all, a generation of Junior Rangers has to be good for the country, right? And just think how sexy they’ll all be.

national park service

Previous Post

April 22, 2011

Early to Bed

Next Post

April 26, 2011 It's Nice To Be Known

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Reflections on "Mind In The Making" by Ellen Galinsky Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz