Jr. Ranger Program- National Parks

If you didn't already know your National Park system offers a great free program for kids ages 4 and up. For us our 5yo and 10 yo did the program  at all three places we went this summer.


 The St. Louis Arch, Mammoth Cave National Park, and both the Lincoln Birthplace and Boyhood home at Knob creek( they share a book). Our 13 and 14 yo boys did the program at St. Louis but not the others, I wish they had but they were a bit done with mom's need to see historical sites.

All you need to do is when you arrive at a park is head to the information desk and ask them do they take part in the the Jr. Ranger program if so they will ask you how many books you need.



In the book are many activities and each age level has to complete a different number of activities, during your visit to the site.

Kat and Nolan working on book at St. Louis

 I find that this makes the site more interesting to the kids, they are looking for and understanding things that they might have first passed over.They also learn to ask the rangers for information that they can not find.


After they are done they head back to a ranger who will look at their book, ask them questions about things they wrote in the book and then swear them in as Jr. Rangers, in which they promise to explore, learn, and protect.


Then they receive a small plastic park ranger badge with the park name on it. My 5yo was so very proud to receive these badges at the different parks that he would run up to ranger to tell them he was a Jr.Ranger.

It is a great program to help make your visits to National Parks more meaningful, and it also has the goal of teaching today's children about the importance of exploring, learning, and protecting their past.

So the next time you are at a national park with your children, ask about the Jr. Ranger program.

Heading Home

After being here in Oklahoma City for a month, the time has come to head home.

Aidan I have learned is a growing boy, hours spent in the pool each day making friends on his own, and adventures with his sister finding frogs and playing tag. Have shown me that he is no longer my little one but a big boy ready to explore his world with mom looking on but no longer part of his play all the time.

 



Kathryn I have learned can make friends anywhere. In one month she has become the dog walker for a neighbor and she got paid in Popsicles ,is anything better when you are 10.




Conner I have learned can step up when needed, still loves to pester his younger brothers and sister, and if given the chance will spend way to much time on the computer. But he did enjoy the pool, and eating out more then normal.

Nolan is Nolan, he has enjoyed himself, but looks forward to having his own bed again and not sharing with Conner. He has reminded me this month why we no longer have regular TV at home, I love Netflix when TV shows that can be stopped and watched when mom says you can. He has enjoyed helping out in the kitchen this trip and I hope he still does when we get home.

I have enjoyed the break from normal housework, and look forward to the day when I can have a indoor pet free home :), which with having Kathryn for a daughter is not going to be any day soon. I do hope to simplify our home when I get back, making it easier to keep clean.


 I have enjoyed a less stressed husband this month, well except for the last 3 days, and hope that when he gets back to his regular work that all will go well. And that with our science center pass we will enjoy some day trips this summer.

Tonight we will be in Memphis, before heading to Mammoth Cave National Park on Friday, and then on to Abraham Lincoln Birthplace memorial on Saturday and then on to to Ohio and home on Sunday night.

Looking forward to green grass, and rain.

Some Fun Pictures

Where you can find Aidan everyday

A restaurant that serves cotton candy, we are on a trip so sure you can have 5 of them.

It seems no matter where you go there is a Game Spot to be found

Kathryn can find toads were ever we may be, the scary part it is that at that size it still had part of it's tail.

Some clouds for Sarah, not as pretty as the ones at home

It is nice to have a pool that I don't have to clean a short walk from our door

  Mac and cheese on a pizza is a great thing when you are 5. Now only if he could have mac and cheese and meatballs on the same pizza.

Conner having some fun

 Now that is a tree house three stories high, with a pulley system to get things from the bottom to the top, and a launcher on top that you used balls in to hit a target on the floor, and hit a couple of adults standing in the wrong spot.

                Thinking of you Sarah, they had a whole crime seane  laid out for you to solve.

                                              If I only had a pizza as big as this table to eat.

And a picture of Kathryn, yes she is with us but since I am usually with Aidan and I am the one with the camera it's not often I get to catch her in a picture.

The Oklahoma Zoo

Last week we went to the Oklahoma Zoo and Aidan had one goal he wanted to see elephant's of course they were at the very back of the zoo. So we bought tram tickets and rode the tram to the back of the zoo, he was able to see his elephant's. 

The kids also loved seeing the snakes and lizards, and the monkeys.

We didn't realize how big their children's zoo was and it was our last stop before heading home as it was in the high 90's, so we didn't get to see the whole thing.

 But because this zoo offers military personal half price tickets we will be going back before we leave Oklahoma city just to spend a morning in the children's zoo.

Our Home away from Home

We are currently living in short term housing in Oklahoma City.

The living room

More of the living room and the door you see goes to the kids room

From the front door, the computer area, dining area, and kitchen

The hallway bathroom

Parents room we took the smaller room

Bathroom in the kids room

The kitchen and behiind that door is the washer and dryer

Washer

Dryer and I really like this set up, so easy to keep up on the wash

Conner and Nolan's bed

Since there were no 3 bedrooms availble we used camp cots for Kathryn and Aidan

Well that is our home away from home.