Dartmoor Junior Ranger Programme launches
Dartmoor National Park Authority's headquarters at Parke were very busy over the weekend with the first group of newly recruited Junior Rangers joining members of the Education Team and the Ranger Service to launch a year-long pilot programme of activities.
Young people were greeted and welcomed by Dr Kevin Bishop, Chief Executive, and Peter Harper, Chairman, of Dartmoor National Park Authority. After this formal welcome Junior Rangers were given an orienteering challenge to help them work independently, work as a team and learn valuable skills that would help them on their onward journey.
Dartmoor's Education and Ranger Services wanted to develop a programme of practical voluntary opportunities that connect young people to Dartmoor's special qualities and encourage them to become ambassadors for the National Park, promoting messages about care, active enjoyment and wise use.
This year is a pilot programme and, if successful, Dartmoor National Park Authority will run further programmes in future years. It is aimed at the age range 13 – 15 specifically to build on the success of Dartmoor National Park Authority's highly popular Ranger Ralph Club which provides for families with children in the 5 – 12 age bracket. Education and Ranger staff were pleased with recruitment – the programme reached maximum numbers very quickly.
All activities will provide real conservation work experiences and also cultural/social topics, some examples.....
- Farming and land use - farm visit with activities
- Habitat management - hedgerow planting, woodlands, forestry, bird boxes, surveys
- Historic environments - stone walling, archaeology, listed buildings
- Visits - museums, information centres,
- Landscape - litter picks, tourist issues, invasive species, wetland management, dark skies, path maintenance
- Activities - orienteering, hill walking, cycling, rock climbing
In addition Junior Rangers will be working towards their 8 day John Muir 'Explorer' Awards.
