For the past several years, the 4th grade class at Ft. Braden in cooperation with the park rangers at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park and Lake Talquin State Park (Tallahassee area), has incorporated the Florida State Parks’ Junior Ranger Program into its curriculum.
The Florida State Parks Junior Ranger Program provides the opportunity for young people to learn, share and serve Florida’s natural and cultural resources. As part of the Junior Ranger Program, field trips to each of these state parks are arranged to provide the students first hand experiences to better understand how important our natural environment is and to know of Florida’s deep history and past cultures. By becoming a Junior Ranger, these young people learn how they can help the state park rangers preserve our state park’s natural and cultural resources so that you and other visitors can enjoy them for many years to come.
Each student completes 6 core activities. Upon completion, the class reviews their work with a park ranger, recites the Junior Ranger Pledge and receives a certificate of completion and official Junior Ranger ID card. The students are eligible to complete additional activities to earn Junior Ranger pins, badges and patches.
With generous funding from the Friends of Florida State Parks program “Yellow Buses in the Parks Project”, students at Ft. Braden were able to have the field trip transportation costs fully funded. Without this financial help the programs and field trips would not have been possible.
To the Friends of Florida State Parks, the students and teachers at Ft. Braden thank you for your support and we look forward to the continued partnership with the Friends of Florida State Parks.
Julie Baisden
4th Grade Fort Braden School
Language Arts
*Note from FFSP President, Paula Russo: It’s a team effort that requires caring teachers like Julie Baisden, dedicated park rangers, and the generous people who financially support our programs that get kids into our state parks to learn. Become part of “the team”! Make a donation here and designate Yellow Buses.
