Involving young people in protected area management

Connecting youth across Europe is the idea of the EUROPARC International Junior Ranger Programme – a youth environmental education programme that inspires young people con re-connect with nature and learn about the importance of protected areas.

The Junior Ranger Context

Young people are at the heart of the local communities living in and around protected areas. They are also the future advocates, guardians and potential employees of these areas. Our programme aims to provide young people with the opportunity to participate in protected areas with the idea to educate people about nature. At the same time, the programme wants to enhance their understanding about the protection of natural and cultural resources.

How it all began...
EUROPARC, the umbrella organisation of protected areas in Europe, started the Junior Ranger Programme in 2002 and it is by now a growing network facilitating international partnerships throughout Europe. Mobilizing youth for nature protection? That seems not an easy task, you might say. You are right as for many young people and teenagers this topic seems not fashionable enough. However, the great dedicated crowd of people in so many countries are highly motivated – and make things move!

Participants are meeting each year for the International Junior Ranger Camp. In 2013, this fun- and learn-camp will be hosted by the National Park Bavarian Forest in July in Germany. The theme is "Parks in Europe: discover how they work!", and nature fellows will look at the different fields of work that are necessary to run a park successfully.

How can protected area organizations best demonstrate that conservation and culture as well as the sustainable use of natural resources possess fundamental relevance to people´s daily lives? We at EUROPARC, from our headquarters in Regensburg (Germany) and our section offices across Europe, strive to encourage the exchange of experiences between leaders of Junior Ranger programmes. We do this with workshops, training seminars and conferences. The exchange is at the core of the entire EUROPARC network, and we are proud that more and more young adults are getting involved – as young ambassadors for nature.

My park. My passion. My story.

Passion for nature is a great motivation that moves all the people who are engaged in EUROPARC. Especially rangers and Junior Rangers in our network of 75 partner organizations, involving some 2000 youth and 120 skilled rangers. They have achieved great results and continue with their work and activities throughout the year. On your website we provide news and updates about the programmes and events.

In these days we are excited to promote the first great event for us in 2013, the European Day of Parks which will be celebrated on the 24th of May. Launched in 1999 as a campaign day to raise public awareness about protected areas, this year´s motto My park. My passion. My story invites everybody to join and express her/his passion for nature in an artistic way: a photo, a drawing, a film, a song a poem, a story etc.: http://europarc.org/whats-on/european-day-of-park. Young people are particularly invited to join as they have wonderful ideas, inspired and creative! Get onto the website and join your favourite park´s event for the European Day of Parks 2013!

Last but not least: our campaign "Junior Ranger Mascot" which invites young people to design a mascot as lead figure for this international programme is still running until 10th of May. Check out the Junior Ranger Facebook page and submit your ideas!

For more information, feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.