National Park Service Launches Expanded WebRangers Site With Help From Best Buy Children's Foundation

The National Park Service launched an expanded version of its WebRangers website with a fresh new look, made possible in part by the National Park Foundation with support from the Best Buy Children's Foundation. The site is designed to give all children access to the National Park System, even if they are not able to visit a park.

The new site is designed for children ages 6 and up. In order to make the site accessible to as many children as possible, a number of activities are offered in Spanish and in text-only versions.

Online, children can solve mysteries, play games and live the stories of their national parks. Participants choose from nine "tours" and complete as many as 45 activities along the way to earn the title "WebRanger." As they complete activities and earn rewards, they learn more about America's natural and cultural heritage. The site was launched on Founder's Day, the 89th anniversary of the National Park Service.

"Our goal for WebRangers was to design a program that was accessible, educational and fun -- one that would provide opportunities for children to make emotional and intellectual connections to their national parks," said Fran Mainella, director of the National Park Service. "We think parents, teachers and — most of all — children will be happy with the result."

For more information, visit the National Park Foundation's Web site.

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