Junior rangers

The junior ranger project is a free, fun and adventurous outdoor learning programme for young people aged 11 to 18, delivered through close partnership working across the Cairngorms.

Junior rangers have the chance to explore the Cairngorms, working alongside adult rangers on practical tasks whilst having fun, building confidence and learning new skills with people of their own age. The activities vary from learning how to catch, identify and release bumblebees as part of species monitoring efforts to path maintenance to expeditions.

Working alongside ranger services and other partners in the National Park, the programme is based on a European model and aims to develop positive, cooperative social skills, encourage the active citizenship of young people and promote international exchange.

There are two groups of junior rangers who meet once a month on a Saturday or Sunday – one in Badenoch and Strathspey and one in Deeside, and through the programme, junior rangers:

Develop skills, knowledge and understanding that will benefit the young people in further education and work
Use new skills in meaningful and real situations
Act as youth advocates for the Cairngorms National Park
Participate in international and national camps and exchanges
Achieve their Scottish Countryside Rangers Association Junior Ranger Award

The Park Authority also works with secondary schools and partner ranger services in and around the Cairngorms National Park to deliver five-day programmes that involve:

Conservation tasks
Visits and talks
Outdoor activities
Sharing experiences with friends and family
Graduating as a Cairngorms National Park junior ranger

Junior ranger programmes are run across Europe and our groups are affiliated with the EUROPARC Federation.

Get in touch

If you would like to support this project or find out how you can get involved please email [email protected]

If you would like to sign a young person up for junior rangers please include their name, address and date of birth.

Supporting documents

This document contains a review of the Cairngorms National Park Junior Ranger Project in 2024, which is an outdoor learning program for young people between 11 and 18 years old, based on the EUROPARC model. The project involved 178 junior rangers and was delivered through 55 sessions by 34 partners. The program aims to engage young people in the Cairngorms National Park area, providing them with opportunities to develop skills, gain experience, and build confidence while promoting environmental stewardship. The project involves different activities, including school programs, monthly programs, expeditions, and recognizes achievements through the Scottish Countryside Ranger Association (SCRA) Junior Ranger Award and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Nature of Scotland Awards.

Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.