Three Rivers Launches Jr. Naturalist Activity Book

Three Rivers Parks has a Jr. Naturalist Activity Book that helps families explore local parks.

“Even if you are somebody who hasn’t spent a lot of time outdoors with your kids, it’s a great way to do a lot of fun activities that anyone can do at any park,” said Patty Maher with Three Rivers Parks. You can pick up your booklet at any Three Rivers Park. “It helps people go out and explore nature and in their parks. We hope it inspires curiosity and helps kids see something they haven’t seen before.”

Maher says for several years park naturalists kicked around the idea of creating a booklet, much like the Jr. Ranger booklets at state or national parks, for people  to use at local parks. Three Rivers Parks worked with a local artist and launched the book last fall, thanks to a donation from Three Rivers Park District Foundation. The self-guided activity book is available in Spanish and English and features information about ecosystem connections, habitats, pollinators and different types of recreation.

A kid completes an exercise in the Jr. Naturalist Activity Book at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park.

Park staff say the book has taken off in popularity this summer. 

“If you are bored outside, this will help you just look in it and you can find lots of stuff to do outside,” said Oliver Grinolds, a youth who completed exercises in the book along with his friend Luke and brother Simon. “There so much stuff that sometimes you don’t know what to do, but the activity guide gives you stuff to do. And you can always use your imagination too.”

The books are available at Three Rivers Parks and you can visit each park with your book to get a sticker specific to the park.

See also: Three Rivers Parks Highlights Opportunities to Learn About Birds

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