RANGER TREK’S GUIDE TO THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444 mile scenic drive and recreational road that takes you on a journey through 10,000 years of history. Spanning 3 states and crossing 4 ecosystems, it closely follows the historic “Old Natchez Trace,” one of North America’s oldest and most traveled transportation routes used for travel and trade for centuries.

Junior Ranger Programs offered at this park:

• The Natchez Trace Parkway Junior Ranger Program
• The Wildland Fire Junior Ranger Program
• The Let’s Go Fishing! Junior Angler Program
• This park also has a B.A.R.K. Ranger Program

ways to access this park’s junior ranger booklet:

1. The 3 booklets are available in person at either the Parkway Visitor Center at milepost 266 near Tupelo, MS, or the Meriwether Lewis site at milepost 385.9 near Hohenwald, TN or the Mount Locust site at milepost 15.5 north of Natchez, MS, during normal operating hours (see below). We recommend the Parkway Visitor Center since it is the main visitor center and they are open year round.
2. The Natchez Trace Parkway Junior Ranger booklet is available to download and print from the park’s website or by clicking these links. The booklet file is large. To get the whole book, you will need to download Part 1 and Part 2. Download Natchez Trace Parkway Junior Ranger Booklet Part 1 here., Download Natchez Trace Parkway Junior Ranger Booklet Part 2 here
3. The Wildland Fire Junior Ranger Program and the Let’s Go Fishing! Junior Angler Program are also available to download and print from the NPS website or by clicking these links: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/upload/Wildland-Fire-Junior-Ranger-Book_FINAL-508_reduced-2.pdf https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fishing/upload/Let-s-Go-Fishing-Accessible-6-24-2019_508.pdf
4. Or, you may request by phone or email (both listed below) to have the booklets mailed to you. Be sure to include a mailing address and specify how many you need.

How to complete this program:

There is one booklet geared toward children age 6 and up, but all ages are welcome to participate.

To complete the book, participants must complete the same number of activities as their age.

Most activities in the booklet can be completed without visiting the sites in the park but we think it’s more fun to complete them while visiting the sites. Information to help you complete the activities can be found in a few ways:

• Watch the 15-minute park film.
• Go for a walk on one of the many trails along the parkway. 3 suggestions for family-friendly walks include Cypress Swamp, at milepost 122.0, Chickasaw Village, at milepost 261.8, and Rock Spring at milepost 330.2.
• Explore some of the many stops along the parkway.
• Exhibits in the visitor center.
• Information on the park website and in the park brochure/Unigrid.
• Talking to Park Rangers.

3 ways to turn in your completed junior ranger booklet:

1. Completed booklets may be turned in, in person at either the Parkway Visitor Center at milepost 266 near Tupelo, MS, or the Meriwether Lewis site at milepost 385.9 near Hohenwald, TN or the Mount Locust site at milepost 15.5 north of Natchez, MS during normal operating hours (see below). We recommend the Parkway Visitor Center since this is the main visitor center and is open year round.
2. If you completed the booklets remotely, or you didn’t complete the book while at the park, or you weren’t able to turn them in while the Visitor Center was open, you may submit them by mail to the park at:
   Natchez Trace Parkway
   Attn.: Junior Ranger Program
   2680 Natchez Trace Parkway
   Tupelo, MS 38804
   A Park Ranger will look it over, sign and date the certificate in the back, and mail it back to you along with a badge. Don’t forget to include a mailing address.
3. If you are unable to complete the Junior Ranger program while visiting the park or you completed it remotely, and you would like to submit the completed pages by email then send an email to natr_interpretation@nps.gov with pictures of your completed book and a mailing address and request that the park send you a badge for each booklet completed.

Estimated time to complete:

It can take anywhere between 30 minutes to a full day to complete the junior ranger booklet depending on how many of the sites you visit in person to complete the activities. A visit to this park may average anywhere between 1 – 5 days depending on how many sites you choose to explore, how in depth you explore each site and accounting for time exploring the walking and hiking trails.

What you earn:

• Completing the Natchez Trace Parkway Junior Ranger Program earns a wood Junior Ranger Badge with the words, “Junior Ranger, Natchez Trace Parkway”.
• Completing the Wildland Fire Junior Ranger Program earns a wood Junior Ranger Badge with the words, “Junior Ranger, National Park Service, Wildland Fire Management”.
• Completing the Let’s Go Fishing! Junior Angler Program earns a wood Junior Ranger Badge with the words, “Junior Ranger, Angler, Explore-Learn-Protect NPS”.
• An official Junior Ranger Certificate, located on the inside of the back cover of the Natchez Trace Parkway junior ranger booklet, will be signed and dated by a Park Ranger.
• The B.A.R.K. Ranger program earns a metal dog tag with the words, “Bark Ranger” and a paw print on the front, and the words, “Natchez Trace Parkway” on the back.

Monetary costs:

It does not cost anything to participate in these junior ranger programs. All the booklets and badges are free of charge.

important to know about this park:

• The park’s main visitor center is the Parkway Visitor Center located at milepost 266 near Tupelo, MS, and has a park film and bookstore. The 15 minute park film, “Traces Through Time,” can also be seen on Youtube or by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0myhkMCKqc&t=28s
• Drive time for the entire 444 miles of the parkway is estimated at 10.5 hours with over 100 stops along the way including ancient mounds, trails including the Old Trace, bayous and cypress swamp, Meriwether Lewis burial site, Confederate gravesites, historic homes, inns and stands, creeks, waterfalls and natural springs and more.
• On one side of the park brochure / Unigrid is a map of the entire parkway with dots marking the sites along the road. On the other side is a list of sites on the parkway, including their milepost, with a short description of each stop.
• This site is fee-free year-round. No entrance fee or pass is required and parking throughout the parkway is free.
• Check out the park’s calendar of events for special Junior Ranger Program events at https://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/calendar.htm
• The park manages three campgrounds along the parkway; 1. Meriwether Lewis at Milepost 385.9, 2. Jeff Busby at Milepost 193.1 and 3. Rocky Springs at Milepost 54. These three campgrounds are free, primitive, and available on a first come, first serve basis. They do not offer electricity, showers, or dump stations. The maximum stay is 14 days combined throughout the year.
• The park offers nearly 100 trails ranging from short walks to long hikes. The park website has loads of information about the trails so you can find the one best suited for you.
• With so many things to see and do, the park website created a list of must see sites and highlights along the parkway to help you plan your visit.

Park Details

Other nearby Parks, Junior ranger Programs and attractions:

• Natchez National Historical Park is located at the southern end of the parkway in Natchez, MS and has a junior ranger program unique for their park.
• Vicksburg National Military Park, located in Vicksburg, MS, is just west of the Natchez Trace Parkway and has a junior ranger program unique for their park.
• Tupelo National Battlefield, located near the main Natchez Trace Parkway visitor center, is considered part of the Natchez Trace Parkway and they do not have a site specific junior ranger program.
• Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site, located near Tupelo, MS, is considered part of the Natchez Trace Parkway and they do not have a site specific junior ranger program.
• Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center, part of Shiloh National Military Park, is located in Corinth, MS not too far from the Natchez Trace Parkway and has a junior ranger program unique for their park.
• Shiloh National Military Park, located in Shiloh, TN, is to the west of the parkway in southern TN and has a junior ranger program unique for their park.
• Stones River National Battlefield, located in Murfreesboro, TN, is just southeast of Nashville and not too far from the northern end of the Natchez Trace Parkway and has a junior ranger program unique for their park.

Disclaimer

Last updated: Sept. 19, 2024

Posted by

Ranger Trek