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
Leave No Trace Activity Playbook
Leave No Trace - Short Answer Questions Glacier National Park Activity
A National Park Service Index 2012-2016 HOT
Trip Planning Guide National Park Service
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 Fishing Activities and Identification
Fish Identification for Common Fish Species PowerPoint
Fish Identification for Common Fish Species
Let's Go Fishing National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
15 Awesome Alaska Fish Coloring Book
Alaska Sport Fishing Guide
Freshwater Fish Consumption Video
Guide to Salmon Identification and Fishing
Mercury Fish Consumption Video
Salmon Lifecycle Coloring Book
Saltwater Fish Consumption Video
Shellfish Consumption Video
Tropical Fish Consumption Video
Fishing ABC Coloring Book
Download Yellowstone Junior Ranger Activities
Yellowstone Junior Ranger National Park Activity Book 5-7
Yellowstone Junior Ranger National Park Activity Book 8-12
Yellowstone National Park 1938 Poster
Yellowstone National Park Lodges
Map of Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park Bison Baby's First Steps Video
Yellowstone National Park Safety
Download Hiking and Camping Activities, Information, and Resources
Hiking and Camping Picture Checklist Emergency Preparedness Kit
Hiking and Camping Picture Checklist Emergency Preparedness Kit Image
Smokey Bear Printable Campfire Checklist - Spanish
Smokey Bear Printable Campfire Checklist
California State Parks Activities Guide
Camping Equipment Checklist
Educate Kids to find Directions using a Compass Activity Challenges
Hiking Environmental Awareness Kids Worksheets
Hiking Merit Badge Workbook
Hiking Scavenger Hunt Activity Sheet
How to Maintain Personal Hygiene While Camping
Kids Camping and Recreation Activity Book
New York Camping and Recreation Guide
Sleepover & Camping Kids Activity Worksheets
Summer Camp Checklist
Hiking 10 Essentials
Download Web Ranger Activity Books
A Guide to Web Rangers Activities for Educators
All About Bats National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
Archeologist National Park Service Junior Ranger Ages 6-12 Activity Book
Be a Citizen Scientist National Park Service Public Lands Junior Ranger Activity Book
Cave Scientist National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
Centennial National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
Eclipse Explorer National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
Let's Go Fishing National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Turns 50 Activity Book Toolkit and Answer Key
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Turns 50 Activity Book
Night Explorer National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
Paleontologist National Park Service Junior Ranger Ages 5-12 Activity Book
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
Underwater Explorer National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book - Spanish
Underwater Explorer National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
Virginia Web Ranger Petersburg National Battlefield Activity Booklet
Wilderness Explorers National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
U.S. Forest Service Junior Forest Ranger Activity Book
U.S. Forest Service Junior Forest Ranger Adventure Guide - Spanish
U.S. Forest Service Junior Forest Ranger Adventure Guide
U.S. Forest Service Junior Snow Ranger Activity Book
MWAC Junior Ranger Archeology Program
SEAC Junior Ranger Archeologist Program Book
Download Yellowstone Junior Ranger Activities
Yellowstone Junior Ranger National Park Activity Book 5-7
Yellowstone Junior Ranger National Park Activity Book 8-12
Yellowstone National Park 1938 Poster
Yellowstone National Park Lodges
Map of Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park Bison Baby's First Steps Video
Yellowstone National Park Safety
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
A List of National Trail Junior Ranger Programs
Address and Contact Junior Ranger Badges and Patches
Find Junior Ranger Pages for Specific Parks
Independent State of Samoa Junior Ranger National Park of American Samoa Activity Book Samoan Version
Independent State of Samoa Junior Ranger National Park of American Samoa English Activity Book
Junior Ranger Book Morse Code
Junior Ranger Certificate Printing Guide
NASA Spaceflight Explorer Junior Ranger Activity Book
United States Territory of Guam Junior Ranger War In The Pacific National Historical Park Activity Book
Where to Request Badges and Patches
Download National Park Information and Resources
All National Registry of Natural Landmarks Listing by State and County
Every Kid in a Park Logo
Frederick Douglass Hat National Park Service Teaching with Museum Collections Lesson Plan
Introduction to World Heritage
Map of Recreational Visitors at each National Park
National Park Service Definitions for Fire and Wildfire
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes
The Roland W Robbins Excavations 1948-1953 Massachusetts Archaeology Saugus Iron Works eBook
Trip Planning Guide National Park Service
Washington DC National Mall Map
Map Learning Park Symbols
Map of Yellowstone National Park
Do Not Feed Wildlife Poster
The First Lady Celebrates the National Park Service Find Your Park
Ask a Ranger Getting Lost - Find Your Park
Ask a Ranger Wild Animals - Find Your Park
Ask a Ranger 10 Essentials - Find Your Park
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site Youth Summer Leadership Institute Flyer
Download Environmental and Educational Activity Guides, Information, and Resources
A National Park Service Index 2012-2016 HOT
All Seasons Safety Activity Book
An Overview of Nature eBook
Book of Stuff To Do
Environmental Games and Activities
Spend Time in Nature Parent Guide
History of the National Park Service from Wikipedia
History of Women In the National Park Service
Leave No Trace Activity Playbook
Do Not Feed Wildlife Poster
Finding My Forest Tools to Re-connect with Nature Education Activity Guide
