Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Jamaica Bay Junior Ranger

Living in New York City, I don't get as many opportunities to be out in nature as some kids, like Violet. Still, there are some places in the city where you can imagine you're in the wild. One of those places is the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It's part of the National Park system. My moms and I love to go there on weekends to walk their trail around the pond along the shore of Jamaica Bay.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

I have been to Jamaica Bay more times than I can count. It's definitely the National Park site I visit most- but until very recently, they did not have a Junior Ranger program. Every visit, I made sure to tell the rangers that I wanted a Jamaica Bay Junior Ranger program- and they listened!! This time, they were debuting their new Junior Ranger program.

Jamaica Bay Junior Ranger

Our walk around the pond took a little longer than usual, since I had so many activities to do. At this time of year, the Canadian geese are nesting. Some of them built their nests so close to the trail! I should ask the ranger why they do that- when people walk by, they hiss at them!

Jamaica Bay Junior Ranger

At the end of the day, I earned a badge. I also earned a patch, since I did every one of the activities. I'm so proud to be a Junior Ranger at Jamaica Bay!

What's your favorite place to explore where you live?

9 comments

  1. That's so cool that they have a Junior Ranger program at Jamaica Bay. We like to visit a lake that has a nice trail around it and a small wildlife refuge next to it. We can walk to that. Our other favorite spot is called Coal Creek Trail cause it's a super long trail that goes along the creek.
    ~ Kiki

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  2. You must be a Junior Ranger of so many places, Inky! I've never earned a badge in my life. Maybe I'll try it someday!

    -Sonali

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  3. I'm glad you had a good time at the park! It looks very beautiful. Congratulations on your badge and patch!

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  4. Jamaica Bay looks really pretty! I'm glad they debuted a Junior Ranger program for you. It must be pretty awesome to add yet another badge to your collection.

    Unfortunately, I don't find myself exploring my city that much. All of the cool historical places are downtown where parking can be confusing, and then there's Laura's big excuse - that she doesn't take us out and about anywhere that's close to her university. *GASP* She might get seen by someone she knows!

    Sophie

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  5. What fun Inky! We went to our wildlife refuge park 2 years ago. Congratulations on earning your badge and patch!

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  6. Congrats on earning a badge and patch there, Inky! It looks like a pretty place!

    Sometimes we go along the backroads or in the woods. There's a pretty park a half hour away, too. There are some state forests sorta nearby (30-60 min away) but we can never find the way in, lol. We'll go to them someday.
    ~Susie

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  7. Hi Inky,
    Jamaica Bay looks like a lot of fun! It's so cool that they listened to you and started a junior ranger program! I've never participated in the program. Maybe I can if we go to Yellowstone this summer. My mom got rifted and doesn't know if she'll be teaching next year. If she gets rehired soon we can go, if she doesn't then we can't.
    My favorite place to explore is my backyard and easement behind our house (a grassy alley) because I can do that every day. My other favorite places are Mt. Lemmon (a sky island) and Saquaro National Park.
    hugs,
    Karma

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  8. Dear Inky- Jamaica Bay looks like a really interesting park. Besides Canada Geese, did you see any other birds? The park looks like a great place for nesting. Do they put up bird boxes? I live near the Connecticut River and we have bald eagles that nest on a little island in the middle of the river. Sometimes the bald eagles even fly over my house. Tupper

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