Explore...Learn...Protect

*Critters we’ve seen on our 2010 trip so far: javelina, mule deer, desert grassland whiptail
*Birds we’ve seen on our 2010 trip so far: white-wing dove, Gamble’s quail, western tanager, roadrunner
*National Parks/Monuments visited on 2010 trip so far: 9
*State Parks visited on 2010 trip so far: 1
*Total number of Jr. Ranger badges so far: 11

[Click on any picture to enlarge…then arrow back to the blog]

Although every national park, monument, and historic site have their own individualized Junior Ranger programs and oaths to take upon completion, all follow the same basic Junior Ranger motto: “Explore, Learn, Protect”. Explore your surroundings, learn from what you see and hear, protect these national treasures for future generations.

Generally geared for kids up to age 12, we discovered last year that anyone can participate. We have found it a great way to really learn about the area we’re visiting and thoroughly enjoy the process. Instead of just whizzing by the displays in the visitor centers or quickly glancing at things along the way, it forces us to really focus and learn more. Generally the program is free but occasionally a park will charge a buck or two. Some programs are tougher than others (even for adults), and on occasion we’ll run across a National Park Ranger who kind of gives us some attitude like “it’s supposed to be for the kids”. But mostly the Rangers are thrilled that we are taking part, and an official Park Ranger has to administer the oath. To date we each have completed 11 Junior Ranger programs and plan on earning more along the way including a couple we didn’t get last year because we didn’t know we could join in the fun.

So as we left Camp Verde and headed for the Grand Canyon, we had decided to make a stop at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument (www.nps.gov/sucr), and along the way saw Humphreys Peak in the distance. Located in the San Francisco Mountains about 11 miles north of Flagstaff, it is the highest mountain in Arizona at an elevation of 12, 637 feet. What a beautiful sight with its snow still glistening on top!

Sunset Crater’s Junior Ranger workbook can be viewed on their website, and it looked like we might actually be able to complete it in the short time we planned to be there. Once we arrived at the visitor center, Ranger Tom told us that we could actually complete it along the 35- mile scenic drive and turn it in at the Wupatki National Monument on the other end since they have a reciprocal agreement and have each other’s badges. Sounded cool to us as this had been on our agenda since the road continues out of Wupatki ending where we needed to head north.

Neither of us had ever seen a volcano in person so going to Sunset Crater Volcano NM seemed like a no-brainer since it was sort of on the way, and the area turned out to be way cool. The crater was created by a volcanic eruption about 900 years ago but is the youngest on the Colorado Plateau. Though this volcano has been dormant for hundreds of years, it’s still a study in dramatic volcanic features. Rising 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, it is considered a classic example of a cinder cone volcano. The rest of the area is covered by rocky lava flows, popcorn-sized lava, cinder deposits, and squeeze-ups, but there are also signs of life emerging through the desolation in the form of pine trees, aspen trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and even small wildlife. The sunset name was given by explorer John Wesley Powell in the 1800s because of the reds, browns, and yellows of its summit

Here are some interesting facts about Sunset Crater: summit elevation - 8,029 feet; base diameter - 1 mile; top diameter from rim to rim - 2,250 feet; depth of the crater - 300 feet; extent of the ashfall - 800 square miles.

According to what we’ve learned, more than 600 volcanoes existed in this area and nearly every hill and mountain you see was an active volcano at one time. There is a 1 mile loop trail with ¼ mile of it paved while the rest takes you across the rocky lava flows to the base of the volcano (we only walked the ¼ mile paved section), but you too can experience the trail through the virtual field trip on the site’s homepage. Hiking and climbing the volcano are prohibited.

When we arrived at Wupatki National Monument (www.nps.gov/wupa), the first thing we did was take our completed Junior Ranger workbooks to the front desk of the visitor center. The volunteer got the ranger for us, and initially we were a little worried…Ranger Chuck seemed like it was going to be gruff and really give us some attitude. On top of it he was a little intimidating as he was one of the law enforcement rangers and completely armed. He did give us some good natured grief, even throwing Russ’ workbook on the floor because his drawings were so much worse than mine! The volunteer came over and “reminded” Ranger Chuck that he’s supposed to “encourage the Junior Rangers” not berate them…LOL He signed our certificates, gave us our badges, and then took us over to the Wupatki National Monument backdrop to take our oath. I asked him if he’d mind taking our picture, to which he said sure, but as I handed him the camera, he said “wait a minute” and ran off towards the office. He returned with his official park ranger hat and placed it on my head for the photo…how cool is that! He then gave us the oath, which he really embellished, and had us cracking up. Turns out Ranger Chuck was a really great guy as are nearly all the park rangers we’ve met.

We walked outside to the trail leading out to the pueblos, and according to the pamphlet, “Wupatki pueblo was home to numerous groups of people over thousands of years. Less than 800 years ago, it was the tallest, largest, and perhaps the richest and most influential pueblo around. It was home to 85-100 people, and several thousand more lived within a day’s walk.” The theory is that the people moved here to escape the eruptions of Sunset Crater after they lost their homes, but around 1250 they left the area…guess it was just time to move on. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to complete the Wupatki Junior Ranger program…perhaps another time.

As we continued our drive out of the park, we commented on the diverse contrast in landscape views on the 35-mile scenic drive we had just taken. We passed smaller pueblos seeming to pop out of the desert grasslands, volcanic hills, mesas, red sandstone, white limestone, forests, lava flows, and in the distance snow-capped mountains and even the Painted Desert. What a fascinating little side trip off the beaten path.