Junior Ranger program + accessible playgrounds
Plus, summer camp registrations are still opening up!
Sending a big heartfelt thank you to Nathan and Sarah with OC Parks for showing our little group how their newest Junior Ranger program works this past Saturday!
It was special to meet those of you who signed up in person! And I’m not just saying that. I am glad I was able to spend a few personal minutes with each of you and meet your imaginative kids who displayed their curiosity and wonder. Thanks for spending the afternoon with me at Mason Regional Park.
I hope I get to meet those of you who might have missed this one and wanted to go. Say “hi” if you think you see me at a park or when I’m out and about. Don’t be shy!
Michele
As a friendly reminder, make sure you ALWAYS check official sources when you are heading out to any of the locations I share. These are merely suggestions. Only you know what works for your family. Plus, your experience may not be the same as mine — and there can be changes to the hours or unforeseen circumstances or conditions at the suggested locations.
Poll: Just for fun!
I heard from some of you when we talked in person that you are off Instagram or trying to get off Instagram! Is this true?
Thanks for sharing! I’ll tell you my choice next week. These polls always satisfy my curiosity. Hope they do the same for you.
OC Parks Junior Ranger program
My goal is always: Empower OC families to prioritize play and outside time. This newsletter is all about helping make that happen!
EXPLORE YOUR OC PARKS and earn your Junior Ranger badge at 20 OC Parks locations. Badges for each park. A vest when you complete your first region. And a backpack when you complete all 20 parks in the program.
Go to the OC Parks Official Junior Ranger information page to get all the details about where to get your booklet or you can even download and print one!
You will get your badges faster if you participate in a way that is self-guided. Meaning, get your booklet and do the activities on your own with your kids. There are not enough staff to get everyone interested through all 20 parks on guided programs!
But if you want to find guided programs, go to letsgooutside.org and search “Jr. Ranger.” They fill up fast! The program is free, but not entrance fee to the park (usually $5 on weekends). Designed for 8-12 year olds, but totally works for younger if you lend parent help.
Here’s an idea! Make your own Junior Ranger friend group and do a Jr. Ranger activity at a different OC Park every other weekend! If you can all fit in one car, you can even share the cost of an annual pass ($55/year for the parks on the list and MORE!). Annual passes start on the date of purchase and expire in a year. You can get your pass in a park office when you pick up your first booklet.
Play ideas
I know I cover this a lot, but I always get families not knowing there is a list of accessible playgrounds out there!
Heritage Community Park in Irvine is one of the parks on that page with some inclusive features, although it’s not fully-accessible. I just visited a week ago for a blog update and it was a beautiful pick for after the rain!
Looking ahead . . .
I know it’s too soon! But registrations are open.
Play & Outdoor News
Thanks to the reader who let me know that O’Neill Regional Park playground is closed for repairs at the moment. Of course! Right after a few newsletters ago when I shared a whole Play Trip around a visit to this playground. The park is still fun to visit and you could try a stop at Concourse Park or Portola Park on your way to get the playground part of the Play Trip fulfilled!
Neat Coffee is going in at Lions Park in Costa Mesa near the library and community center also on site! You can read about it in this LA Times article. Thanks to Shayanne Wright for alerting me to this news with content created by her sister!
The first Grunion Run of the 2026 season (little fish who tend to spawn in large groups late typically on nights after a full moon) happens March 3rd. Here’s a little story from Doheny State Beach Foundation with more about it. If you want exact time windows, you might want to visit the small visitor center during the day and ask.
Bommer Canyon and Shady Canyon trails have re-opened in Irvine after the rain. As of Thursday, February 26th — Quail Hill trails are NOT open yet because they are still muddy!
Freebies in my digital bookshop
You might have visited my little Buy Me a Coffee bookshop last week to take advantage of my after-the-rain price markdown on the Paved Tiny Hikes created for you with Stroller-Friendly and After-Rain Routes to nature walks around Orange County. It’s back to a new regular price, but I just added a couple of free downloads to the shop!
Now you can get this sample mini trail guide (click the photo to go to the bookshop) in printable PDF format for FREE!
And I know I shared this inside the newsletter last week and that it’s available in the post, but I also added the Best Playgrounds in OC 2026 checklist into the bookshop for FREE.
Have fun with them and let me know what you think!
Below is the section for paying subscribers!
This week, you’ll get:
The 8th week of Noticing Nature in OC where you’ll find inspiration for what to look for when outside!
A mini trail guide download + a trail update.