Teenagers living in the Cairngorms National Park still have a chance to become countryside rangers.

There are a few places available for Kingussie High School students aged between 13 and 18 to take part in the five-day long Cairngorms National Park Junior Ranger Project, which is co-ordinated and funded by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) with support from the local ranger service.

The programme will involve the youngsters going canoeing and doing nature conservation, as well as learning about the National Park and the countryside ranger profession.

Those taking part in the course are promised plenty of fun and the prospect of learning more about the beautiful area they live in. They will also meet new people and get the chance of travelling abroad.

The Project is a great opportunity or youngsters to become directly involved in the Cairngorms National Park and also see what opportunities there are for careers in land-based professions.

Kingussie High School’s programme will take place from June 15 to 19 while pupils at Aboyne and Alford Academies will also do the course from June 22 to 26.

The Project is being run under the guidelines of the EUROPARC Federation, of which the Cairngorms National Park is a member.

Anyone interested in taking part in either event can contact Alan Smith, the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s John Muir Award Manager, on 01479 870518 or email alansmith@cairngorms.co.uk .

The Cairngorms National Park Junior Ranger Project is supported by Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service, The Highland Council Ranger Service, the Glen Tanar and Balmoral Estate Ranger Services, NTS Mar Lodge Ranger Service, Cairngorm Mountain Ranger Service and Explore Abernethy.