The Kittatinny Valley State Park Junior Naturalist Workbook and Program
Series are designed to help young children understand, enjoy and
appreciate our natural and cultural resources. Through workbook activities
and interpretive programs children will learn to respect our environment
and help preserve it for present and future generations.
The Junior Naturalist Workbook aims to involve 7- to 12 year-old children
in park appreciation. Junior Naturalist requirements involve completing a
set of workbook activities, hiking the Kittatinny Valley State Park
Self-Guided Nature Trail and attending a Kittatinny Valley State Park
naturalist program. Upon completion, the child will bring the workbook to
the Kittatinny Valley State Park Visitor Center where it will be signed by
the Naturalist. After taking the "Junior Naturalist Pledge," the child
will be awarded a certificate and the Junior Naturalist badge. In
addition, the child's name will be added to a list of current Junior
Naturalists that will be posted at the visitor center.
In conjunction with the workbook, the Junior Naturalist Program Series is
designed to actively engage young children in park interpretive programs.
The program series is a set of naturalist-led interpretive programs
scheduled throughout the year and correlated to the Junior Naturalist
Workbook activities. Though these programs are open to all children and
their parents, those who wish to earn the Junior Naturalist badge will find
the programs especially helpful in completing the workbook. Covering
topics such as orienteering, lake ecology, butterflies and bird study, the
Junior Naturalist programs give children the opportunity to experience
nature by participating in fun and exciting hands-on activities.