83°F
weather icon Clear

Annual Junior Ranger Day goes off as a hit

Junior Ranger Day is all about “inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards and connecting our community with Lake Mead in a fun, hands-on way,” Park Ranger Max Dotson said.

Dozens of families visited Junior Ranger Day on Saturday at Boulder Beach to learn more about their environment and participate in fun activities. According to the National Park Service, “Junior Ranger programs connect kids and their families to the people, places, and stories of the National Park Service.”

Marisa, Michael, and Mikey Argenziano enjoyed learning about Sloan Canyon and the types of animals that live there. “It’s important that the kids have learning,” Marisa Argenziano said. “This is a great way for the community to learn about natural resources.” Mikey Argenziano enjoyed seeing the different animal remains, such as the big horns from the bighorn sheep and a tortoise shell.

Jennifer Rackliffe and her two daughters enjoyed meeting Snitch, the Park Ranger canine. “The kids love seeing everything, they love learning about the stuff, and they’re still young but they get really excited about all the different things to see,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for them to be outside and appreciate national parks and everything. I think it’s a great way for the community to learn more about what the national parks do, and how to be safe, and how to take care of our natural resources. So, it’s just a great resource.”

Isaac Matthews, Yaritza Prapo, and Jaden Matthews enjoy visiting Lake Mead regularly, and after hearing about the event, they decided to visit. “It’s just a fun day,” Isaac Matthews said. “We come to Lake Mead a lot in the summer. I first heard about the actual clean-up part of it, where they’re cleaning up the coves and stuff, but then I heard that there was a kids’ thing so we decided to do the kids’ thing.” Jaden Matthews’ favorite thing he saw that day was the canine demonstration where bomb-sniffing dogs, drug-sniffing dogs, a human-remains dog, and canine biting demonstrations took place.

^

Multiple activities available

Some of the events at Junior Ranger Day included writing a poem to a fossil, connecting the dots of a whale skeleton, learning native names for plants, climbing on top of a boat, and fishing to learn about native fish types. There were a mix of activities to choose from, arts and crafts to ranger-led programs and wildlife education.

Children who participated in Junior Ranger Day activities were able to earn a Junior Ranger badge for their participation. Additionally, they took a Junior Ranger pledge, promising to stay safe, be a great role model, and continue their learning journey.

“Through Junior Ranger Day and Love Lake Mead Days, we aim to foster a deeper appreciation for public lands, promote outdoor recreation, and encourage volunteerism to help protect this incredible resource,” Park Ranger Dotson said. “Events like this bring people together with a shared sense of purpose. They give families an opportunity to explore, learn, and give back to the place they love. It helps build a stronger connection between the community and the park while reinforcing that protecting these spaces is a team effort.”

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Homecoming: Small town tradition

There’s something special about Homecoming in Boulder City.

Student achievement main focus at Mitchell

Mitchell Elementary has enjoyed a great beginning to our school year as our staff continues to serve our students and families as their children learn and grow their leadership skills.

What is a PSA test and why you need one

PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) is a protein produced by the prostate gland, which is found in small amounts in the blood. The PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test is a blood test used to screen for prostate health and to help detect prostate cancer.

Wurst Fest kicks off fall event season

For nearly three decades it kicks off a very busy event season in Boulder City; one that goes up into the holidays.

Chugging Along

Photos by Ron Eland/Boulder City Review

Class In Session: Bobcats hit the ground running

The 2025-2026 school year is off to an exciting start at Garrett Junior High School. From impressive academic growth to new STEAM classes, our Bobcats are showing what it means to learn, lead, and succeed.

BCHS going strong at 85

The 2025–26 school year is off to a fantastic start at Boulder City High School.

Falls at home place seniors at significant risk

We may crack up watching slip and fall accidents on TikTok or “America’s Funniest Home Videos”, but in real life, especially for seniors, it’s no laughing matter.

Wine Walk returns with new lineup of themes

September kicks off the busiest time of the year in terms of community events in Boulder City.

Local schools welcome new staff faces

Author John Steinbeck once wrote, “I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.”