Learning Materials

Annual Theme

Every year, North Carolina State Parks has celebrated an annual theme in all of our state parks. Programs, festivals, and events throughout the state support the annual theme.

The Interpretive and Education Council, a diverse group of park staff members from across the state, selects the theme each year based on suggestions and nominations.

Our Annual Theme resources pages have a list of interpretive programs, classroom resources, field resources, and other materials to help staff and educators join the celebration.

Junior Ranger Program

Becoming a Junior Ranger gives kids the opportunity to learn about and explore North Carolina's beautiful state parks with their families or scout, school, and homeschool groups through self-led educational activities and programs. Junior Rangers may also have the opportunity to help park rangers protect the health of the park through short community service projects.

Kids visiting the park for the day can complete activities in the guide, attend park-led programs, complete small community service projects given by park staff, participate in the EcoExplore program, and hike in the park. Doing these activities earn acorns. Upon caching 20 acorn points, Junior Rangers can receive the park's unique Junior Ranger patch.

Pick up a Junior Ranger Activity Guide at the visitor center or print your own from the documents list:

NC Culture Kids

This video series takes students for quick tours of state parks, where they can learn about the parks' unique natural and cultural resources. With each 3- to 10-minute video, there are "Discover More" reading pages and "Explore Outdoors" activities that correlate with NC teaching standards. The series for Carolina Beach State Park focuses on rare plants with unusual adaptations.

NC Culture Kids main page