biodiversity conservation, Junior Rangers, Parks Connect, Rangers, Uncategorized
Junior Ranger Programs foster a love for wildlife
Apr
Encourage your child to become a Junior Ranger
Last school holidays, we jumped right into the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service’s Junior Ranger School Holiday Programs to test them out, and here’s what we found …
Rangers make great role models!
With a diverse line-up of hands-on activities, the program brings conservation to life in an educational and fun way for primary-school-aged children. Young adventurers from across South East Queensland got up-close to wildlife and learnt directly from dedicated, experienced Park Rangers, who freely shared their knowledge and helped young people understand their role in protecting Queensland’s threatened species and biodiversity.
Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre’s Junior Ranger Program
NPAQ attended some of these Junior Ranger events last school holidays to prepare for the upcoming program—and we loved what we saw!Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre (WCDC) is a bushland oasis in Brisbane’s backyard, with a Visitor and Wildlife Centre, short walking trails, a beautiful, shaded-deck cafe and a reservoir for swimming and paddling.
It’s the perfect place to while away some school holiday hours.In January, the Fossil Finders event encouraged budding palaeontologists to uncover Queensland’s prehistoric past. Wildlife Helpers gave kids a chance to step into a Ranger role, caring for native species. Kids made food for the resident emu and wombat, got to pat a monitor lizard, and peeked behind the scenes of wildlife care. The popular Wild As Art program unleashed their creativity, giving them the chance to meet Walkabout Creek’s resident species and to later paint a portrait of their favourite animal.
During the upcoming April 2025 School Holidays, several Junior Rangers programs at Walkabout Creek cater to varying age levels and interests.
Check out the full range of April 2025 school holiday offerings here or click on the images below.
NPAQ is seeking volunteers to act as Junior Rager Assistants and help with these fun, nature-based school holiday activities for kids. A Blue Card is required (or willingness to apply). To find out more, email admin@npaq.org.au
Junior Rangers at David Fleay Wildlife Park
From crocodiles and cassowaries to platypuses and koalas, David Fleay Wildlife Park (DFWP) is home to some of Australia’s most beloved fauna. Led by passionate Park Rangers, the Animal Carers program there introduces older kids to the daily responsibilities of wildlife care, whether health checks and enclosure maintenance or feeding the park’s animals.
For younger participants, the Protectors program is an excellent introduction to conservation. Junior Rangers get the chance to eyeball wallabies, crocodiles and dingoes before venturing into the nocturnal house for a behind-the-scenes look at the “nightlife”. Protectors even designed awesome enrichment activities to keep wildlife stimulated and engaged. The Guardians program is designed to encourage deeper learning through hands-on activities. Its participants constructed useful enrichment challenges to support the wellbeing of the park’s wildlife ambassadors.
Check out the range of April 2025 school holiday offerings here or click on the images below.
Why programs like Parks Connect Junior Rangers matter
Studies indicate a strong correlation between early childhood experiences in nature and lifelong environmental stewardship. Positive, frequent experiences in nature as a child foster increased environmental awareness in adulthood.
The Junior Ranger program encourages children to develop this awareness while gaining practical skills in national park management.NPAQ’s submission to the 2024–2025 State Budget called for an additional 300 Park Rangers, and these need to come from somewhere. Events such as these, and the upcoming Parks Connect Junior Ranger and Cadet Ranger programs, provide important pathways for recruiting and developing high-calibre ranger candidates and for supporting young peoples’ career choices working in environmental management.
Keep watch for more 2025 Parks Connect Programs …
To help your child connect with like-minded peers and learn how to protect Queensland’s national parks, be sure to book them in to be a Junior Ranger over the upcoming school holidays. Also, subscribe to NPAQ’s Connected eBulletin and look out for the next round of Parks Connect Junior Ranger and Cadet Ranger activities.
Parks Connect is proudly supported through the Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
