Inspired by the thrill of catching your first fish, the Junior Angler program encourages kids to enjoy the vast recreational opportunities of our national parks. Today, nearly 200 parks allow recreational fishing, presenting a great opportunity for the National Park Service to educate and engage the next generation of fishing enthusiasts. Since the 1960’s, the National Park Service Junior Ranger program has inspired children and their families to explore the great outdoors. As the most recent Junior Ranger program, Junior Angler encourages young people to earn their Junior Ranger patch and certificate by participating in a series of fishing activities in a national park and then sharing their experience with a park ranger.
Highlights
Casting a Line at New River Gorge
In 2020, rangers at New River Gorge National Park & Preserve were able to implement social distancing measures to keep program participants safe by separating family units on the riverbank while educational stations on nearby picnic tables allowed for mini workshops on angling, including tying lines, which fish to keep, and how to handle fish.
Participating Parks  Â
- Cape Cod National Seashore, MA
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH
- Fort Washington and Oxon Cove Parks, MD
- Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, MA
- First State National Historical Park, DE
- Redwood National and State Parks, CA
- Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, ID
- Anacostia Park, DC
- Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, OK
- Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial, OH
- Ozark National Scenic Riverways, MO
- Buffalo National River, AR
- Fort Frederica National Monument, GA
- Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, WA
- Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, HI
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area, OK
- Western Arctic National Parklands, AK
- Manzanar National Historic Site, CA
- Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, GA
- Booker T. Washington National Monument, VA
- New River Gorge National River, WV
- River Raisin National Battlefield Park, MI
- Canaveral National Seashore, FL
- Cane River Creole National Historical Park and Heritage Area, LA
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore, NC
- Biscayne National Park, FL
- Everglades National Park, FL
Thank You
This program was made possible by generous support from L.L.Bean, Pisces Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Al Baldwin, and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
Learn more about L.L.Bean’s partnership with the National Park Foundation by clicking here.
