Parks offer a wide variety of fun things to do in different settings and with levels of difficulty. When you plan your trip, match the interests and physical fitness of your group with the activities you choose. You do not want to push yourself or your group members to hike, climb, or explore beyond their physical abilities—that's when injuries are more likely to occur.
Once you know the limits of your group and their experience level, pick the park you want to visit, explore your camping options, and select your campsite. Some sites may be reserved either by calling the campground or through online reservation systems including Recreation.gov, while other sites within a campground may be available by a first-come, first-served system.
A Youth Educator’s Guide to Leave No Trace Activities, Games, and Experiential Curriculum
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics protects the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly. The Center accomplishes this mission by delivering cutting-edge education and research to millions of people every year.
Read More: LNT.org
Cook Fun Things
Kids love to be involved cooking their own food that can be cooked at the end of a stick. Introduce your kids to the camping tradition of roasting marshmallows and cooking hot dogs over a fire. Cooking in Camp for more tips, tricks and recipes for meals.
Camping Trip Safety Series
- Know Your Limits
- Plan Your Trip
- Park Requirements and Regulations
- In Case of Emergency
- Prepare – Gear Up!
Keep Your Pet Safe Too
If camping with your pet, be sure to follow these guidelines:
- Always keep your pet restrained.
- Check your pet for ticks.
- Do not leave your pet in a closed vehicle.
- If you are camping in bear country, camping with dogs can be more dangerous than elsewhere. Dogs can attract curious bears, and the interaction often leads to conflict, which can put your pet and you in danger.
Read More: Camping with Pets
Respect Wildlife
Follow these basic guidelines to ensure the safety of you and animals in the park with respect to wildlife:
- Do NOT feed wildlife under any circumstances. Feeding wildlife creates an expectation that they can receive food from you (and other campers) in the future. This can make them persistent and sometimes violent, and may attract wildlife to your site.
- Avoid contact with wildlife. While it is certainly tempting to approach wildlife, this can be very dangerous.
- Keep safe viewing distances. When watching wildlife, make sure to keep a safe distance. Your park may or may not have recommended viewing distances regarding certain wildlife.
Avoid attracting wildlife to your campsite with the following methods:
- Keep food secured in airtight containers. Not only will it be fresher, it will attract less unwanted attention from wildlife.
- Keep your food out of reach of wildlife. Generally, food can be stored in your car, but certain campgrounds may require the use of food storage lockers or other means of keeping food out of reach of wildlife.
- Keep your campsite clean. Collect any food packaging and food scraps in a waste bag and dispose of the waste in the campground's receptacle before you leave the camp or turn in for the night.
- Do not feed wildlife. Not only will they become more aggressive toward you, they will be more likely to be a nuisance for campers who use the site after you.
- Do not take food inside your tent. While it's tempting to have that midnight snack on hand, it will attract wildlife.
How to Get a Campsite in a National Park
Step-by-step instructions on how to claim a campsite in a national park. (This video is specifically tailored to Norris Campground in Yellowstone, but the basics are the same at all U.S. National Parks.)
Read More: Camping Website
Read More: Camp Activities
Download the trip planning guide and checklist. Make your fun adventure a safe one too! No one plans to get hurt while out exploring in a National Park. However, nature is unpredictable, structures are historical, and your equipment can unexpectedly fail. Planning can be the key to a fun and safe adventure. Remember, safety starts with you!
National Park Finder App
iPhone, iPad, or iPod
Android Devices
"Explore, Learn, and 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.
Adventure Activity Resources
All downloads in this category include Junior Ranger activity books available in each state park. Explore additional subcategories with activities to download for special exhibits, events and National Park Service programs. Be sure to check out other articles in this section for links to resources, information and videos.
Public Downloads
All items are free to view, share, and download.
Public Downloads - Español (Spanish)
When available, we provide all our content with a Spanish version in our public download section. You can find additional material from sources listed in all our articles.
Download Hiking and Camping Activities, Information, and Resources
California State Parks Activities Guide
DownloadSize 1.2 MB
Camping Equipment Checklist
DownloadSize 83.68 KB
Educate Kids to find Directions using a Compass Activity Challenges
DownloadSize 1.15 MB
Hiking 10 Essentials
DownloadSize 10.2 MB
Hiking and Camping Picture Checklist Emergency Preparedness Kit
DownloadSize 179.87 KB
Hiking and Camping Picture Checklist Emergency Preparedness Kit Image
DownloadSize 137.14 KB
Hiking Environmental Awareness Kids Worksheets
DownloadSize 83.97 KB
Hiking Merit Badge Workbook
DownloadSize 270.31 KB
Hiking Scavenger Hunt Activity Sheet
DownloadSize 1.8 MB
How to Maintain Personal Hygiene While Camping
DownloadSize 505.25 KB
Kids Camping and Recreation Activity Book
DownloadSize 1.28 MB
New York Camping and Recreation Guide
DownloadSize 7.83 MB
Sleepover & Camping Kids Activity Worksheets
DownloadSize 898.44 KB
Smokey Bear Printable Campfire Checklist
DownloadSize 2.63 MB
Smokey Bear Printable Campfire Checklist - Spanish
DownloadSize 1.74 MB
Summer Camp Checklist
DownloadSize 294.36 KB
Download Fishing Activities and Identification
15 Awesome Alaska Fish Coloring Book
DownloadSize 5.46 MB
Alaska Sport Fishing Guide
DownloadSize 1.9 MB
Fish Identification for Common Fish Species
DownloadSize 7.93 MB
Fish Identification for Common Fish Species PowerPoint
DownloadSize 12.02 MB
Fishing ABC Coloring Book
DownloadSize 3.37 MB
Freshwater Fish Consumption Video
DownloadSize 2.22 MB
Guide to Salmon Identification and Fishing
DownloadSize 2.93 MB
Let's Go Fishing National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 10.77 MB
Mercury Fish Consumption Video
DownloadSize 3.01 MB
Salmon Lifecycle Coloring Book
DownloadSize 1.56 MB
Saltwater Fish Consumption Video
DownloadSize 2.76 MB
Shellfish Consumption Video
DownloadSize 3.05 MB
Tropical Fish Consumption Video
DownloadSize 2.46 MB
Download Yellowstone Junior Ranger Activities
Map of Yellowstone National Park
DownloadSize 3.67 MB
Yellowstone Junior Ranger National Park Activity Book 5-7
DownloadSize 2.45 MB
Yellowstone Junior Ranger National Park Activity Book 8-12
DownloadSize 2.87 MB
Yellowstone National Park 1938 Poster
DownloadSize 931.03 KB
Yellowstone National Park Bison Baby's First Steps Video
DownloadSize 679.67 MB
Yellowstone National Park Lodges
DownloadSize 6.86 MB
Yellowstone National Park Safety
DownloadSize 182.1 MB
Download Junior Ranger and State Park Program Activities, Information, and Resources
Download Files: Multi-State Parks
Download Files: Songs for Junior Rangers
Download Files: State Parks
A List of Links to Find Junior Ranger Pages for Specific Parks
DownloadSize 217.85 KB
A List of National Trail Junior Ranger Programs
DownloadSize 18.16 KB
Address and Contact Junior Ranger Badges and Patches
DownloadSize 93.03 KB
Find Junior Ranger Pages for Specific Parks
DownloadSize 218.14 KB
Independent State of Samoa Junior Ranger National Park of American Samoa Activity Book Samoan Version
DownloadSize 31.67 MB
Independent State of Samoa Junior Ranger National Park of American Samoa English Activity Book
DownloadSize 7.62 MB
Junior Ranger Book Morse Code
DownloadSize 44.9 KB
Junior Ranger Certificate Printing Guide
DownloadSize 661.29 KB
NASA Spaceflight Explorer Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 6.74 MB
United States Territory of Guam Junior Ranger War In The Pacific National Historical Park Activity Book
DownloadSize 7.06 MB
Where to Request Badges and Patches
DownloadSize 92.69 KB
Download National Park Information and Resources
All National Registry of Natural Landmarks Listing by State and County
DownloadSize 570.89 KB
Do Not Feed Wildlife Poster
DownloadSize 225.98 KB
Every Kid in a Park Logo
DownloadSize 112.91 KB
Frederick Douglass Hat National Park Service Teaching with Museum Collections Lesson Plan
DownloadSize 154.77 KB
Introduction to World Heritage
DownloadSize 1.01 MB
Map Learning Park Symbols
DownloadSize 101.24 KB
Map of Recreational Visitors at each National Park
DownloadSize 571.43 KB
Map of Yellowstone National Park
DownloadSize 3.67 MB
National Park Service Definitions for Fire and Wildfire
DownloadSize 357.84 KB
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes
DownloadSize 761.21 KB
The Roland W Robbins Excavations 1948-1953 Massachusetts Archaeology Saugus Iron Works eBook
DownloadSize 16.45 MB
Trip Planning Guide National Park Service
DownloadSize 1.81 MB
Washington DC National Mall Map
DownloadSize 2.3 MB
Download Environmental and Educational Activity Guides, Information, and Resources
A National Park Service Index 2012-2016
DownloadSize 6.24 MB
All Seasons Safety Activity Book
DownloadSize 8.45 MB
An Overview of Nature eBook
DownloadSize 43.9 MB
Do Not Feed Wildlife Poster
DownloadSize 225.98 KB
Environmental Games and Activities
DownloadSize 3.4 MB
Finding My Forest Tools to Re-connect with Nature Education Activity Guide
DownloadSize 3.54 MB
History of the National Park Service from Wikipedia
DownloadSize 1.05 MB
History of Women In the National Park Service
DownloadSize 538.42 KB
Leave No Trace Activity Playbook
DownloadSize 12.41 MB
Spend Time in Nature Parent Guide
DownloadSize 375.16 KB
Video Playlist: National Park Service
