Beginning on Monday, Oct. 5, the first-ever virtual Junior Ranger Ramble begins, according to a press release. The event is an opportunity for kids, families and even adults to connect with the nature and history found in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area (and in their own backyards).
This six-week journey will explore various facets of the nationally significant historic sites and biodiversity that make up the landscape of the National Heritage Area, while also revealing opportunities for exploration in the sidewalks, yards and even parking lots where we spend much of our time. The Junior Ranger Ramble is free, self-guided and accessible to all. Lasting six weeks, the program will culminate with a virtual swearing-in ceremony in mid-November.
Participants can enjoy a weekly series of videos and activities, with each week focusing on a different aspect of the National Heritage Area. Week One, for example, features Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, a DeKalb County greenspace that is home to the namesake Arabia Mountain and a host of rare and beautiful plant species.
Other weeks will feature sites such as the Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort (AWARE), the Flat Rock Archives, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Panola Mountain State Park and the South River. Coordinated by the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, the nonprofit management entity of the National Heritage Area, the Junior Ranger Ramble will guide future rangers through the powerful history, rich culture and engaging landscapes found right outside of Atlanta.
Participation in the 2020 Junior Ranger Ramble is free. The Arabia Alliance is also offering special Discovery Kits for $15 (the cost of shipping). Discovery Kits offer kids several tools and supplies to further their outdoor exploration far beyond the completion of the Junior Ranger program. The Kits are not essential to complete the Junior Ranger Ramble.
“The Junior Ranger Ramble will give you a new perspective on this area’s rich natural and cultural legacy. There are wonderful natural and historic resources all around us that can enrich our lives,” said Sarah Lisle, Director of Interpretation for the Arabia Alliance. “We also want to thank all of our partners for making this happen, including the staff at Georgia State Parks, DeKalb County, Flat Rock Archives, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, the South River Watershed Alliance and AWARE,” she added.
Sign up for the Junior Ranger Ramble: arabiaalliance.org/jrrsign-up
