Dartmoor Junior Rangers collect awards

On Saturday 5 December naturalist and TV presenter Nick Baker attended an award ceremony for the first group of teenagers to complete the Dartmoor National Park Junior Ranger programme. Nick’s inspirational talk on his life’s journey with wildlife set the scene for the Awards in which all 12 Junior Rangers' achievements were celebrated.

Over the last 12 months of this pilot programme the Junior Rangers aged 13 -16 have been working towards achieving not one but three different Awards - The Dartmoor National Park Authority Junior Ranger Award,  the John Muir Explorer 8 day award and the Europarc Junior Ranger Certificate.

Helen Jenny, former National Park Member and passionate advocate of Dartmoor and young people, organised and led the programme as a volunteer, with the National Park’s Education and Ranger Teams providing practical support.

The programme was specifically designed for teenagers and also helps to provide a progression for those who have come through the National Park’s Ranger Ralph Club route. As part of the programme Junior Rangers have undertaken a range of practical conservation tasks, combined with valuable outdoor learning experiences linked to the environment, as well as outdoor activities such as rock climbing and cycling. Through these experiences they have gained a greater understanding of Dartmoor and the natural environment.

As one newly qualified Junior Ranger put it: "It was really good to do some real work and not be treated like a little kid."

Kevin Bishop, Chief Executive of Dartmoor National Park Authority, was present at the Award Ceremony and commented: "The Junior Rangers were inspirational – they demonstrated why the natural environment is important and why we need to provide opportunities for people to enjoy it and ‘get closer to nature’.  From their presentations you got a very real sense that their experiences will form lasting memories and help shape their future lives."

Following the success of the 2015 pilot programme it is planned to recruit another group of Junior Rangers in the New Year, with the first group of Junior Rangers being offered a chance to stay on and mentor the new recruits.