Kids, families invited to explore nature, history in Arabia’s digital Junior Ranger Ramble

STONECREST—Beginning Oct. 5, kids and their families can embark on a six-week journey, exploring the nature and history of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area (AMNHA) to earn a Junior Ranger Badge. The Junior Ranger Ramble program has been reimagined to feature an online, weekly series of videos and activities that bring kids and their families out of the house and into the natural world. A virtual swearing-in of the junior rangers will be held in mid-November.

The free program introduces children of all ages to the historic and natural significance of the AMNHA, a 40,000-acre landscape located just outside of Atlanta. Each week, the program will focus on different aspects of the National Heritage Area including the massive granite outcrops of Arabia and Panola Mountains, the historic Flat Rock community and downtown Lithonia, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, the Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort, the running waters of the South River and more.

“Getting outside, experiencing nature and discovering history are more important than ever, and we hope that people of all ages across metro-Atlanta get the opportunity to participate in this exciting program,” said Sarah Lisle, Director of Interpretation for the Arabia Alliance. “Even if you can’t make it out to Arabia or Panola Mountains, the Junior Ranger Ramble highlights the ways you can experience nature in your own backyard, or even in a parking lot. There are wonderful natural and historic resources all around us that can enrich our lives.”

The Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, the nonprofit management entity of the NHA, is also offering special Discovery Kits for $15 (the cost of shipping). Discovery Kits offer kids several tools and supplies to further their outdoor exploration far beyond the completion of the Junior Ranger program. The kits are not essential to complete the Junior Ranger Ramble.

To sign up for the Junior Ranger Ramble, visit here. You can order your own Discovery Kit here.