Made possible thanks to support
The Junior Ranger Program at Wildnispark Zurich receives financial support from the Canton of Zurich’s Nature Conservation Office.
Junior Ranger at Wildnispark Zurich
Are you interested in animals and plants, do you enjoy being outdoors, and do you want to explore nature with all your senses? Then the Junior Ranger Program is the perfect fit for you!
Together with a park ranger, you’ll explore the Sihlwald Nature Discovery Park and the Langenberg Wildlife Park. As part of a fixed group of about 10 children and teens, you’ll go on exciting discovery tours about once a month during the school year—with plenty of time to explore, observe, and experience nature.
What are the Junior Rangers?
The Junior Rangers at Wildnispark Zurich are part of the nationwide Junior Ranger network and are affiliated with the Swiss Rangers Association. The program aims to inspire children and teens to appreciate nature and show them why it’s important to preserve natural habitats and protected areas.
There are currently 13 areas in Switzerland with a Junior Ranger program. The Wildnispark Zurich is one of them.
The Junior Rangers at Wildnispark Zurich
During their activities, the Junior Rangers are accompanied by a ranger and another supervisor. The rangers know the Sihlwald like the back of their hand and enthusiastically teach children and teens about the fascinating world of plants and animals.
The activities take place mainly in the Sihlwald Nature Discovery Park.
What do the Junior Rangers do?
No two outings are the same for the Junior Rangers. Depending on the season, there’s always something new to discover at Wildnispark Zurich.
In the spring, for example, you can learn how to observe and identify birds. In the summer, you’ll explore the Sihl River: How clean is the water? What small creatures can you find along the banks? And of course, you’ll get to splash around too.
When it gets cold in winter, you’ll head to the forest cabin, for example. After a cup of punch and some group games, you’ll learn practical skills like starting a fire with a fire steel or safely carving fire starters. You’ll also learn in a fun way how different forest animals survive the winter.
The outings take place in all kinds of weather. So when it rains, things can get a little muddy. That’s when animal tracks are especially easy to spot in the softened forest soil.
The Junior Rangers also regularly support the Wildnispark Zurich at events. For example, they set up an information booth at the Wilderness Days.
The activities are regularly documented on our blog, where you can get a glimpse into the Junior Rangers’ diverse experiences.
Good to Know
The Junior Ranger program is designed for children and teens between the ages of 7 and 15 who are interested in nature.
- The language in which the program is conducted is German
- The group consists of about 10 children and teens.
- There are 12 spots available per school year.
- There are about 10 outings per school year.
- The outings take place approximately once a month.
- Meetings are usually held on Wednesday afternoons from 1:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and begin and end at the Sihlwald train station.
- Registration is valid for one school year.
- Participation costs CHF 170 per school year. This includes a Junior Ranger T-shirt.
- The outings are led by a ranger and another supervisor.
Demand for spots is high. Currently, all spots for the 2026–2027 school year are filled. A waiting list is maintained.
Would you like to become a Junior Ranger?
Then your parents can contact us by email at annemarie.brennwald@wildnispark.ch. We’d be happy to arrange a trial afternoon. During this time, you can spend a Wednesday afternoon with the Junior Ranger group and find out if the program is right for you.
