Jr. Ranger Intern Program 2022
Over the past two months (June-July), we have conducted our annual Jr. Ranger Intern Program. These three week, six day sessions of the Junior Ranger Intern Program at Radnor Lake were held during the weeks of June 13-18, June 20-25 and July 24-30, 2022.
The park staff worked with these youth interns on numerous projects around the natural area over a six day period (9am-4pm daily) for each session. Most of this work was done during heat advisory warnings so we would like to give special thanks to our park staff for their safety focus precautions to ensure the safety of our youth interns while also ensuring on the trail engagement safely during this unusual hot summer.
Now in our 20th year of this internship program, the Jr. Ranger Intern Program creates a unique outdoor opportunity for participants to work with state park rangers on trail projects at Radnor Lake, focused environmental education at the Barbara J. Mapp Aviary Education Center to increase their exposure to quality environmental education programs and gain an insight into natural resource protection.
This is a labor-intensive collaborative effort between the Friends of Radnor Lake, the Radnor Lake Staff, Tennessee State Parks and the Jr. Ranger Interns. One of our main projects during these sessions of our Jr. Ranger Intern Program 2021 was working on trail projects on the Lake Trail, South Lake Trails and on the Harris Ridge Trail Project.
Tennessee State Parks Trails Coordinator Michael Meister assisted us with our 3rd session as we refocused on the Harris Ridge Trail Project which included a 1/2 day of trails training for our youth interns. Thank you Michael for working with us over these two sessions!
In addition, this year Ranger Matthew Bowling conducted a full day of birding orientation and training for these youth during each of our three sessions. Thank you Matthew for leading this beginner birding course for our youth interns!
Thank you to Friends of Radnor Lake for funding the Jr. Ranger Intern Program this year and for the past 20 years! Friends of Radnor Lake provided all meals, t-shirts, work gloves and $25 per day stipends for each of our youth participants during these six day sessions.
Our collective goal of the Jr. Ranger Intern Program at Radnor Lake is instilling a conservation ethic and stewardship of our natural resources for future generations! It was another great year at Radnor Lake and the highlight of our summer to work with these youth interns over the past two months.
Special thanks to Lyndy Maness who oversees the Jr. Ranger Intern Program and FORL Director Tina Corkum who both work behind the scenes to support this youth program on the ground so we can provide this opportunity at Radnor Lake!
