A Teen's Quest to see our National & State Parks
While putting together our new Junior Rail Rangers program in 2015, the Midwest Rail Rangers came to learn about a then 14-year-old girl named Aida Frey.
There may be roughly 800,000 junior rangers nationwide, but only a rare few have visited so many national park sites and earned that many badges as Aida. She has gained national media attention for visiting hundreds of parks across the country and learning about them by participating in junior ranger programs. In a period of just seven years, Aida and her family visited more than 300 units of the National Park Service -- that's nearly three-fourths of all of them.
Until we contacted her parents, Aida had no idea that a child or teen could earn junior ranger badges by riding the train, too. To help promote the launch of the Rail Rangers program on July 20, 2015, Aida rode with our Interpretive Guides between Chicago and Missouri. Aida earned the first Junior Rail Rangers badge on this trip -- this was her 209th badge. Since then, she has made frequent appearances with the Midwest Rail Rangers at our outreach events. Aida says one day she would love to make park films for the National Park Service! We are proud to have Junior Ranger Aida as our official spokesperson for the Junior Rail Rangers program. By the way... her current park total is well over 300.
If you would like to learn more about Aida's adventures, you may want to check out her book -- yes, she's a published author too! "America, Can I Have Your Autograph?", released in 2016, focuses on Aida's quest to visit her first 200 National Park Service units. You can purchase a copy of your own by clicking on the "Order Aida's Book" link on the left. Many people have purchased Aida's book to inspire their children or grandchildren to go on a junior ranger quest of their own. Aida has spoken across the country about her experiences; in front of junior rangers, 4-H clubs, school classes and auditoriums filled with curious supporters.
Junior Ranger Aida Frey (left) poses with Midwest Rail Rangers Educational Officer Kandace Tabern (center) and Midwest Rail Rangers President Robert Tabern (right) at Trainfest in Milwaukee, WI. Aida is a big supporter of the Midwest Rail Rangers.
