Congaree National Park
Just For Kids
Our children are our greatest natural & cultural resource. The park mission "â¦to preserve and protect forâ¦future generations." is aimed directly at our kids and their descendents. At Congaree National Park, kids can walk the boardwalk and trails or join us on our guided walks and canoe trips or picnic, camp and fish.
Today's children need to reconnect more with their natural world in structured and non-structured ways. There are few better ways to do this than by immersing themselves in the park's forest wilderness. Scouting groups, and others have already pitched in on helping to clean up the park picnic grounds and trails during our Public Lands Day event and other community service projects. In this way children become good stewards of our park and our natural world.
Also, school groups regularly attend guided walks and other ranger led programs as part of their curriculum oriented education. Park staff members coordinate teacher workshop field trips with other state agency and area school partners. Also, the park Junior Ranger Program helps kids connect with Congaree National Park.
Be A Junior Ranger
Are you 12 years old or younger?
Are you interested in being a "great discoverer?"
Do you have 3 hours to spend at Congaree National Park?
Then YOU could be a Congaree Junior Ranger!
To become a Junior Ranger, head out to the Congaree National Park Visitor Center and ask for your free copy of the Junior Ranger Workbook.
When you have completed all requirements for your chosen level, you and a parent or other adult must sign the back of the workbook. Then take your completed workbook to the Visitor Center to receive your certificate and an award.
Fun Facts from the Junior Ranger Booklet
National Park Service
The National Park Service is a part of the federal government of the United States. It was created in 1916 to protect and preserve the outstanding natural, cultural and historical areas of this country for the people of the United States. The National Park Service preserves over 380 of these special places in monuments, parks, battlefields, and along seashores in just about every state.
What is a Ranger?
A Ranger's job is to protect and take care of the park, so your grandchildren can see the same kinds of trees and birds you saw. They teach people how special these parks are, enforce important rules, and build trails to make sure plants and animals are not hurt by visitors.
Law Enforcement Division
Law Enforcement Rangers make sure the park is safe for plants and animals, as well as for people.
Maintenance Division
Maintenance Rangers keep the park clean and safe for visitors and for the plants and animals that live here. Maintenance Rangers keep the trails open, build and repair the park's boardwalks, maintain the building's, and ensure the park is neat and clean.
Resource Management Division
A Resource Management Ranger keeps track of what is found in the park, identifies threats and recommends solutions. That includes making lists of animals and plants, finding out about any problems and learning as much as possible about the land and water resources in the park.
Interpretive Division
Rangers of this division are called Interpreters or Naturalists. These Rangers answer questions and educate visitors.
Administrative Division
The Administrative Division of the park is made of men and women not often seen by visitors. They work in offices and see to the smooth running of the park. These are some of their duties.
Superindendent
Each park has someone in charge of all of the divisions. This person is called the superintendent and is like the principal of a school. He or she is responsible for making sure the Rangers do their jobs well. The Superintendent oversees the protection of all resources of the park.
Lunch Time
What did you bring for lunch? Where did you get it? We buy food for our meals in supermarkets. Where do animals get their food? The forest is their supermarket, and they have plenty of choices. This is why people should not feed animals in the park. Animals are used to their own food and may get very ill from eating our food. Animals don't need to eat cookies, bread or potato chips any more than people need to eat grass, bark or beetles.
Do Trees Have Knees?
In the Congaree there are many cypress trees. They have shaggy bark and light green needles in the summer months. Around them you will see something called cypress knees. The knees are cypress roots that have grown away from the tree and up into the sunlight. They will never grow into new cypress trees. Scientists think cypress trees use the knees for anchors during strong winds or floods and possibly as snorkels to give the trees additional oxygen when growing in the wet soil.
R.I.P. (Rot In Peace)
When trees fall in a wilderness area, they are left alone to provide food and shelter for plants and animals. Think about what a downed tree does to help the floodplain and its animals.
Congaree In Depth
News from the Parks
Rainier Landmark Meets Wrecking Ball
November 18, 2008 - 11:29am
Paradise echoed Monday not with the voices of park visitors, but with the thump and crash of a 4,500-pound wrecking ball smashing through the old visitor center.
November 18, 2008 - 11:29am
Paradise echoed Monday not with the voices of park visitors, but with the thump and crash of a 4,500-pound wrecking ball smashing through the old visitor center.
New River Gorge National River Celebrates 30th Anniversary
November 18, 2008 - 11:24am
The New River Gorge celebrated its 30th year as part of the National Park System last week with the Nov. 10 anniversary of its 1978 designation as a National River.
November 18, 2008 - 11:24am
The New River Gorge celebrated its 30th year as part of the National Park System last week with the Nov. 10 anniversary of its 1978 designation as a National River.
Park to Go with 720 Sleds per Day
November 18, 2008 - 11:22am
Yellowstone National Park officials have opted to allow 720 snowmobiles a day in the park this winter, abandoning a temporary plan they proposed two weeks ago for 318 machines a day.
November 18, 2008 - 11:22am
Yellowstone National Park officials have opted to allow 720 snowmobiles a day in the park this winter, abandoning a temporary plan they proposed two weeks ago for 318 machines a day.
Falling Boulders Endanger Lives at Yosemite
November 18, 2008 - 11:20am
A major rockslide at Yosemite National Park's Curry Village has prompted officials to consider closing part of the lodging area permanently.
November 18, 2008 - 11:20am
A major rockslide at Yosemite National Park's Curry Village has prompted officials to consider closing part of the lodging area permanently.
Interior and Energy Team-up to Make National Parks “Green”
November 18, 2008 - 10:09am
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will help the National Park Service (NPS) showcase sustainable energy practices and fulfill its mission of environmental stewardship. With equal amounts of initial “seed money” from DOI and DOE totaling $1 million for 2009, the Energy SmartPARKS program hopes to eventually draw private sector support to spark a green energy future in the United States. “This partnership will deploy energy efficient and renewable energy technologies throughout the national park system,” said Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. “We have the power to not only improve conditions in the parks, but also demonstrate for the public the impacts and benefits of green energy innovations.” “Our national parks are a showcase of this country's natural beauty and historical significance. With this agreement, we're ensuring that these parks are also models of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies,” said Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman. “Our parks have always been an important way for Americans to learn about the environment, now they can learn about energy use as well.” “The Energy SmartPARKS program will make positive, tangible advancements by greening the parks and by reducing energy costs and carbon emissions,” said Mary A. Bomar, Director of the National Park Service. “This is a great way to demonstrate our environmental leadership as we approach the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.” On the ground, parks will use funding from Energy SmartPARKS to deploy cutting-edge technology as well as traditional solutions, including projects that retrofit lighting systems; purchase electric utility vehicles; install solar panel systems; upgrade meters and thermostats; replace windows and furnaces; study the feasibility of wind power; and conduct energy audits. Lessons learned from these projects can be used in other national parks and in the homes of every American. A list of some of the 2009 projects is available. Two recent projects illustrate the exciting possibilities of Energy SmartPARKS in the future: the exterior relighting of both the White House and the Washington Monument. With ground-breaking technology that improved the exterior illumination, these national icons now look beautiful while being energy efficient at the same time. Although the official assessment of the White House relighting project by DOE has not yet been conducted, early estimates anticipate over 50% energy reduction. The Washington Monument relighting project resulted in a 27% energy reduction with a cut of 36 tons per year in carbon emissions according to the official DOE assessment. The Energy SmartPARKS program will also develop new and expand existing partnerships with the private, non-profit, and academic sectors. These partners may help raise funds, identify projects, find technological solutions, and educate the public. The National Park Service is developing an Energy SmartPARKS website, in partnership with DOI and DOE, to showcase its commitment to a green energy future in America. Visit www.nps.gov/energy in the coming weeks.
November 18, 2008 - 10:09am
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will help the National Park Service (NPS) showcase sustainable energy practices and fulfill its mission of environmental stewardship. With equal amounts of initial “seed money” from DOI and DOE totaling $1 million for 2009, the Energy SmartPARKS program hopes to eventually draw private sector support to spark a green energy future in the United States. “This partnership will deploy energy efficient and renewable energy technologies throughout the national park system,” said Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. “We have the power to not only improve conditions in the parks, but also demonstrate for the public the impacts and benefits of green energy innovations.” “Our national parks are a showcase of this country's natural beauty and historical significance. With this agreement, we're ensuring that these parks are also models of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies,” said Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman. “Our parks have always been an important way for Americans to learn about the environment, now they can learn about energy use as well.” “The Energy SmartPARKS program will make positive, tangible advancements by greening the parks and by reducing energy costs and carbon emissions,” said Mary A. Bomar, Director of the National Park Service. “This is a great way to demonstrate our environmental leadership as we approach the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.” On the ground, parks will use funding from Energy SmartPARKS to deploy cutting-edge technology as well as traditional solutions, including projects that retrofit lighting systems; purchase electric utility vehicles; install solar panel systems; upgrade meters and thermostats; replace windows and furnaces; study the feasibility of wind power; and conduct energy audits. Lessons learned from these projects can be used in other national parks and in the homes of every American. A list of some of the 2009 projects is available. Two recent projects illustrate the exciting possibilities of Energy SmartPARKS in the future: the exterior relighting of both the White House and the Washington Monument. With ground-breaking technology that improved the exterior illumination, these national icons now look beautiful while being energy efficient at the same time. Although the official assessment of the White House relighting project by DOE has not yet been conducted, early estimates anticipate over 50% energy reduction. The Washington Monument relighting project resulted in a 27% energy reduction with a cut of 36 tons per year in carbon emissions according to the official DOE assessment. The Energy SmartPARKS program will also develop new and expand existing partnerships with the private, non-profit, and academic sectors. These partners may help raise funds, identify projects, find technological solutions, and educate the public. The National Park Service is developing an Energy SmartPARKS website, in partnership with DOI and DOE, to showcase its commitment to a green energy future in America. Visit www.nps.gov/energy in the coming weeks.
