Junior Rangers get hands-on history

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Third- through fifth-grade pupils will be able to take part in Junior Ranger Day by learning about possible aliens from other planets, bats' echo radar and viewing the moon, Venus, Saturn and spring nightly constellations on Saturday in Grants.

The event is being sponsored by the rangers and staffs of the National Park Service at El Malpais and El Morro, the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service from 6-9 p.m., at the Northwest New Mexico Visitors Center in southeast Grants.

Rick Best, spokesman for the visitors center, said from 6-8 p.m., all activities will be indoors at the center because it is not dark enough to view the planets and constellations.

"During this time, students will take part in several activities such as learning what kind of life might exist on other planets and what it might look like in a discussion held by one of the several agencies' rangers," Best said.

There will be a short film on meteorites and comets, and students will learn about bats and moths, he said.

"One of the rangers will demonstrate the echo location used by bats. Moths are one of the types of food bats eat," he said.

From 8-9 p.m., pupils will be allowed to look through telescopes, some of which are owned by the visitors center, others by private individuals and Mike Perrow, associate professor of astronomy at New Mexico State University-Grants campus.

Perrow, who will be on hand to lend his expertise and advice to students, said the spring constellations students will have an opportunity to see are Orion, Gemini and Taurus. The moon will be nearly full so it will be a big part of the viewing too, he said.

Perrow plans to bring a large map of the moon to the event so students can see closely what features they are going to be viewing and what names those features have.

The public is advised to wear appropriate clothing for the weather and this event is weather dependent.

Private individuals are encouraged to bring their own telescopes and Junior Ranger Pins and certificates will be given to those who participate.

This event is one of three on Saturday, which was proclaimed Junior Ranger Day by President Bush.

El Morro
At the El Morro National Monument, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., a trail hike will be offered and special activity booklets, when completed by students, will certify them in becoming Junior Rangers.

Kids will receive ranger badges and certificates upon completion of the activities. The booklet is aimed at 8-13 year olds.

El Malpais
At the El Malpais National Monument, from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. students will meet the ranger in the parking lot of the El Calderon area, 23 miles south of Grants, for a family adventure. There will be a hike on an easy trail to view the bat cave, observe lava flows and examine the collapses in the area.

Then, everyone will scramble through the light end of Junction Cave. Please wear long pants and tennis shoes or hiking boots.

Pins and certificates will be awarded upon completion of the activities.

In all of these events, at all locations, children must be accompanied by an adult, Best said. The three areas are not providing a baby-sitting service and will call area authorities for children not accompanied by a parent, he said.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.