This 9-year-old is the first to complete DeKalb County’s Junior Ranger Program

Nearly three months after DeKalb County announced the launch of the Junior Ranger Program, DeKalb Parks has announced the first participant to complete it.

In a press release posted on Facebook by District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, the parks system revealed that 9-year-old DeKalb resident Joshiro Lee has received his completion badge in the program.

DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs created the program to encourage youth ages 5 to 12 to explore and protect natural resources.

Joshiro is a big lover of nature and eagerly registered at the Mason Mill Recreation Center once the DeKalb’s Junior Ranger Program was announced. Still, he hasn’t limited his adoration of the great outdoors to Georgia. He’s enrolled in several virtual Junior Rangers programs throughout the nation.

“I spent a great deal of time during this past spring and summer walking the trails of Mason Mill looking for snapping turtles and owls,” Joshiro said. “My favorite part of the DeKalb Junior Ranger Program was collecting nature items from my yard during the scavenger hunt activity.”

Participants interested in learning about and preserving nature can join DeKalb County Junior Ranger Program for free. It’s easy to access and download a digital copy of the journal by visiting the parks’ junior ranger website. Alternatively, a printed copy can be picked up at all recreation centers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Junior Rangers must complete all twelve activities in the Junior Ranger Activity Journal. They include scavenger hunts, leaf rubbings, bird watching and assisting with recycling trash in the woods. Activities can be done at any DeKalb County Park, another local green space or in the backyard.

The program’s planned launch was announced in an October press release.

“I am so excited to see this program get started,” DeKalb Park Naturalist Jonah McDonald said at the time. “I believe connection with nature is very important for youth and becoming a Junior Ranger is a great place to start.”