Junior ranger programmes

This document contains a good practice guide for junior ranger programmes in protected landscapes, produced with input from junior rangers and their mentors in four United Kingdom protected landscapes. The guide explains the value of junior ranger schemes for young people, senior rangers, protected landscape staff, and the landscapes themselves, and it examines practical management aspects of establishing a programme, including ideas for activities and visions for the future network development. Junior ranger programmes started in 2002-03 by the EUROPARC Federation as a pilot project. The guide aims to provide information for setting up such programmes, including considering duration, frequency of meetings, age range, uniforms, and charging for participation, as well as the importance of retaining members, keeping in touch, and international/national exchanges. The document also highlights ranger collaboration, codes of conduct, recruitment, and the EUROPARC Federation's guiding principles. Finally, the guide discusses ideas for junior ranger activities across several themes like personal development, farming, cultural heritage, landscape quality, and biodiversity, and it presents a vision for the future of junior ranger networks.