JAMESTOWN— Families will have the opportunity to explore history in an interactive way on April 19 during Junior Ranger Day at Historic Jamestown, part of Colonial National Historical Park.
The annual event invites children, accompanied by an adult, to take part in hands-on activities that highlight the story of the first permanent English settlement in North America. Organizers say the event is designed to engage young learners while encouraging an appreciation for history and stewardship.
This year, 65 students from Jamestown High School’s Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society will help lead the event, contributing a combined 390 volunteer hours. Throughout the school year, the students research Jamestown’s history and create activities for visitors.
The program is completely run by the Rho Kappa students.
“This type of program is all about why you get into this job. You want to empower the students to take control, be inventive, and take initiative and ownership over products. For history class, there are so many times where the students ask ‘when am I going to use this in the real world?’ and this type of event gives them real world applications of what we’re trying to teach them in the classroom,” Molly Sandling, Rho Kappa’s advisor, said.
During Junior Ranger Day, those efforts come to life as the students lead crafts, games and dances aimed at making history accessible and engaging for children. There will also be mock archeological digs and performances of colonial era music.
“This program reflects a long-standing collaboration between Colonial National Historical Park and Jamestown High School. This collaboration has taken place since 2011 and continues to provide a meaningful, student-led learning experience that benefits both participants and the broader community,” Tawnya Waggle, a park representative, said.
Junior Ranger Day activities are included with National Park Service admission. Admission is $15 per adult, and children 15 years old and under are free. An additional fee applies for access to Jamestown Rediscovery.
For more information on the Jamestown National Park, visit nps.gov.