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.
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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 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.
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.
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.)
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
15 Awesome Alaska Fish Coloring Book Alaska Sport Fishing Guide Fish Identification for Common Fish Species 
Fish Identification for Common Fish Species PowerPoint Fishing ABC Coloring Book 
Freshwater Fish Consumption Video Guide to Salmon Identification and Fishing Let's Go Fishing National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book Mercury Fish Consumption Video Salmon Lifecycle Coloring Book Saltwater Fish Consumption Video Shellfish Consumption Video Tropical Fish Consumption Video Download Yellowstone Junior Ranger Activities
Map of Yellowstone National Park 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 Bison Baby's First Steps Video Yellowstone National Park Lodges Yellowstone National Park Safety Download Hiking and Camping Activities, Information, and Resources
California State Parks Activities Guide Camping Equipment Checklist Educate Kids to find Directions using a Compass Activity Challenges Hiking 10 Essentials Hiking and Camping Picture Checklist Emergency Preparedness Kit Hiking and Camping Picture Checklist Emergency Preparedness Kit Image 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 Smokey Bear Printable Campfire Checklist Smokey Bear Printable Campfire Checklist - Spanish Summer Camp Checklist 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 MWAC Junior Ranger Archeology Program National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Turns 50 Activity Book National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Turns 50 Activity Book Toolkit and Answer Key Night Explorer National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book Paleontologist National Park Service Junior Ranger Ages 5-12 Activity Book SEAC Junior Ranger Archeologist Program Book U.S. Forest Service Junior Forest Ranger Activity Book U.S. Forest Service Junior Forest Ranger Adventure Guide U.S. Forest Service Junior Forest Ranger Adventure Guide - Spanish U.S. Forest Service Junior Snow Ranger Activity Book Underground Railroad Network to Freedom National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book Underwater Explorer National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book Underwater Explorer National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book - Spanish Virginia Web Ranger Petersburg National Battlefield Activity Booklet Wilderness Explorers National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book Download Yellowstone Junior Ranger Activities
Map of Yellowstone National Park 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 Bison Baby's First Steps Video Yellowstone National Park Lodges 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 Ask a Ranger Getting Lost - Find Your Park Ask a Ranger Wild Animals - Find Your Park Ask a Ranger 10 Essentials - Find Your Park Do Not Feed Wildlife Poster 
Every Kid in a Park Logo Frederick Douglass Hat National Park Service Teaching with Museum Collections Lesson Plan Introduction to World Heritage Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site Youth Summer Leadership Institute Flyer Map Learning Park Symbols Map of Recreational Visitors at each National Park Map of Yellowstone National Park National Park Service Definitions for Fire and Wildfire National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes The First Lady Celebrates the National Park Service Find Your Park The Roland W Robbins Excavations 1948-1953 Massachusetts Archaeology Saugus Iron Works eBook Trip Planning Guide National Park Service Washington DC National Mall Map Download Environmental and Educational Activity Guides, Information, and Resources
A National Park Service Index 2012-2016 All Seasons Safety Activity Book An Overview of Nature eBook Book of Stuff To Do Do Not Feed Wildlife Poster Environmental Games and Activities Finding My Forest Tools to Re-connect with Nature Education Activity Guide History of the National Park Service from Wikipedia History of Women In the National Park Service Leave No Trace Activity Playbook Spend Time in Nature Parent Guide
