Junior Ranger Program

"No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own..." H.G. Wells War of the Worlds During the month of October, the park will mark the anniversary of the 1938 broadcast of H. G. Wells adaptation of "War of the Worlds" at the Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center. Each day the visitor center is open, at 1:00pm (EST) the park will play the original broadcast on the 1930s reproduction Tavern radio. Come and enjoy this well-known broadcast in honor of the Halloween Season. Program is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

Join us for a month-long Junior Ranger adventure this October! Every Wednesday from 3:30 - 4:30 pm, kids will explore a different Junior Ranger activity book—learning about wildlife, conservation, and the stories of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. Together, we’ll tackle puzzles, games, challenges, and discovery activities that build curiosity, confidence, and stewardship skills. Throughout the month, Junior Rangers will work toward earning four different Junior Ranger badges, one for each themed booklet. Junior Rangers will receive guidance and encouragement as they complete activities, share what they’ve learned, and connect with the park in meaningful, kid-friendly ways. Schedule: Oct 7 – Become a Bering Land Bridge Junior Ranger! Oct 14 – Become a Junior Angler! Oct 21 – Become a Junior Paleontologist! Oct 28 – Become a Junior Ranger Night Explorer! Parent/guardian must sign permission slip. Healthy snack provided courtesy of Alaska Geographic.

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled if the heat index is at or above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. A shortened 10 minute Ranger talk will be offered at the normal tour times. Visitors will have a brief period of access to the main part of the mill. For the latest weather information, call 401-725-8638.

Join a Park Ranger on a tour of the Mill that started the American Industrial Revolution. These 30 minute guided tours investigate the historical significance of Slater Mill, and what valuable lessons the building still teachings us. Tours begin at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM in front of the mill. Please arrive a few minutes early. Please Note: For visitor saftey, tours of Old Slater Mill will be modified or cancelled if the heat index is at or above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. A shortened 10 minute Ranger talk will be offered at the normal tour times. Visitors will have a brief period of access to the main part of the mill. For the latest weather information, call 401-725-8638.

Learn about Pawtucket's colonial settlers and the community's early ironworks during a free walking tour this fall. The 1670 Jenks Settlement Walking Tours are hosted by Old Slater Mill Association. Over the course of 1 mile, participants will walk for approximately one hour on paved surfaces, with some small hills and steps. Meet in front of the yellow mill at 67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI. Free parking onsite.

Since the 1980s, one of the most popular programs offered at Congaree are our Owl Prowls. Owls are viewed by many cultures as creatures of mystery, as they are often heard but seldom seen. One of the park’s iconic wildlife residents and featured on the park’s logo, Barred Owls are the most commonly seen of the 3 owl species that can be found in the park. Join us for a guided evening hike to look for and learn about these nocturnal natives and their unique adaptations that allow them to hunt and be active after dark. Things to Know - Registration is required for this program. Registration for this guided hike will be available beginning two weeks prior to the program date. - This hike will last approximately 1 1/2 hours and will take place primarily on the Boardwalk Trail - Participants should wear or bring clothing appropriate for the day’s forecasted conditions and temperature - Sturdy, closed-toe footwear, such as hiking boots are recommended - Pets are not permitted on this program. Service animals are welcome. - Participants should bring water - Participants may bring a flashlight with a red-mode for use after dark; Red-light flashlights will be available to borrow for the program

Congaree National Park is turning 50! Join the park on the weekend of October 17-18, 2026 to celebrate 50 years of Congaree National Park and learn more about the "Green Heart of South Carolina, including the efforts of local conservationists to establish the park in the 1970s, how the park has evolved over the past half-century, protecting the natural and cultural resources of the largest remaining old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. Over the weekend, numerous opportunities will be available for park visitors to learn about the establishment and history of the park through interpretive ranger talks, guided hikes, and the Voices of Congaree series, featuring speakers presenting talks about the legacy and history of the park. A schedule of events is listed below, and more detailed descriptions and locations where each will be taking place will be available on the event listings for each event. Saturday, October 17 9:30 - Ranger Talk - Congaree Action Now! The Effort to Preserve the Green Heart of South Carolina 10:00 - Congaree National Park 50 for 50 BioBlitz 11:00 - Ranger Talk - The Green Heart of South Carolina: Congaree National Park at 50 11:30 - Voices of Congaree Speaker Series 1:00 - Carolina Wildlife Center 2:00 - Ranger Talk- Tall & Stately as the Trees: Congaree & the Enduring Legacy of Harry Hampton 2:30 - Voices of Congaree Speaker Series 3:30 - Ranger Talk - The Green Heart of South Carolina: Congaree National Park at 50 5:45 - Owl Prowl (sign-up required) Sunday, October 18 9:00 - 50th Anniversary Big Tree Hike with John Cely (sign-up required) 9:30 - Ranger Talk - Congaree Action Now! The Effort to Preserve the Green Heart of South Carolina 11:00 - Ranger Talk - The Green Heart of South Carolina: Congaree National Park at 50 12:15 - Celebrating of Congaree National Park's 50th Anniversary 12:45 - Voices of Congaree Speaker Series 2:00 - Ranger Talk- Tall & Stately as the Trees: Congaree & the Enduring Legacy of Harry Hampton 2:00 - Riverbanks Zoo 3 :00 - Voices of Congaree Speaker Series 3:30 - Ranger Talk - Congaree Action Now! The Effort to Preserve the Green Heart of South Carolina

Beginning in 1970 local citizens who had come to know and care about the old-growth forest in the bottomlands along the Congaree River, then known as the Beidler Tract, grew concerned about its long-term survival if it was not protected. Formed in 1974, the Congaree Swamp National Preserve Association, with support from conservation organizations like the Sierra Club and Audubon Society, began an advocacy campaign calling for the preservation of the largest remaining tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. Join a park ranger for an interpretive talk on how the efforts of local citizens was able to attract nationwide attention and lead to the establishment of the park on October 18, 1976.

Discover the many layers of history caputured in stone carvings along the Inscription Loop Trail. Join a ranger for this easy, half-mile guided walk. Bring water, a hat, and sun protection.

Local journalist and conservationist Harry Hampton spent a great deal of time exploring the old-growth forest in the bottomlands along the Congaree River and became enthralled with the majesty of a landscape unlike any other he had experienced. Beginning in the 1950s, Hampton began actively advocating for the preservation of the landscape that is today Congaree National Park, while using his platform as a journalist to help introduce others to a place he saw as worth protecting. His efforts in the 1950s and 1960s would help to inspire the advocacy campaign in the 1970s that would result in the establishment of the park in 1976. Join a park ranger for this 30 minute interpretive talk on the legacy of the man who helped to spark a movement and is today the namesake of the park visitor center.

The establishment on October 18, 1976, of Congaree Swamp National Monument, began a 50-year legacy of protecting one of the most unique and diverse natural landscapes in the nation for present and future generations to experience and enjoy the Green Heart of South Carolina. From the arrival of the first staff in the early 1980s to today, the park has grown over the past half-century, both in size and visibility. Join a park ranger for an interpretive talk to highlight some of the key moments of park history over the past 50 years. From the opening of the first visitor center in 1985 and the designation of Wilderness in 1988, to the opening of the Harry Hampton Visitor Center in 2001 and the park’s redesignation in 2003, learn about how the park has grown over the years!

The establishment on October 18, 1976, of Congaree Swamp National Monument, began a 50-year legacy of protecting one of the most unique and diverse natural landscapes in the nation for present and future generations to experience and enjoy the Green Heart of South Carolina. From the arrival of the first staff in the early 1980s to today, the park has grown over the past half-century, both in size and visibility. Join a park ranger for an interpretive talk to highlight some of the key moments of park history over the past 50 years. From the opening of the first visitor center in 1985 and the designation of Wilderness in 1988, to the opening of the Harry Hampton Visitor Center in 2001 and the park’s redesignation in 2003, learn about how the park has grown over the years!