Joshua Tree National Park offers a wealth of opportunities for kids to learn, explore, and develop a deeper connection with nature, while having fun and creating lasting memories. Here are three kid-friendly activities that will help young adventurers get the most out of a trip to the park:
1. Join the Junior Rangers
Designed for kids 5 to 13, and open to everyone (including kids-at-heart), the Junior Ranger program is an opportunity for young outdoor lovers to enrich a visit to Joshua Tree National Park through connecting with the National Park Service. To become a Junior Ranger, pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at visitor centers and entrance stations, and then complete activities, share answers with a ranger, take the Junior Ranger pledge, and earn an official Junior Ranger badge. Activity booklets can also be downloaded online. It’s a great way to “Explore, learn, & protect.”
In addition to the Junior Ranger program, young explorers may check out areas of special interest like Junior Paleontologist which focuses on ancient plants and animals, fossils, the Earth’s history, and the changing climate; Junior Night Explorers which checks out the night sky and the park after dark; and Wilderness Explorers which examines wild areas.
2. Explore Discovery Trail
The Discovery Trail is an enjoyable .7-mile loop, specifically crafted for young adventurers. Winding through the boulder fields across from Skull Rock, this trail explores the distinctive and extraordinary aspects of Joshua Tree. Ideal for kids and families, the trail was conceived by local children from the Morongo Unified School District, with the guidance of park rangers in 2012, and constructed by high school students from the Youth Conservation Corps in 2013. The Discovery Trail offers young hikers the chance to stretch their legs, revel in explorations, and gain insights into the prominent features of Joshua Tree.
3. Visit Skull Rock
Incorporating a visit to Skull Rock offers kids a chance to learn, play, and marvel at the wonders of nature. Skull Rock, one of the most famous and fascinating rock formations in Joshua Tree National Park can be found off of Park Boulevard, at the trailhead to Skull Rock Nature Trail. Kids can climb and play around the giant skull-shaped rock, lean about the geological processes and forces that crafted the large granite chunk, and let their imaginations run wild as they immerse themselves in Joshua Tee’s unforgettable natural wonders.
Discover more kid-friendly activities in 150 Things to See, Do & Love: Joshua Tree National Park on Amazon.
Pudgy Buffalo 
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