Ranger Ralph childrens club

Written by Amanda Williams, Learning Support Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority
awilliams@dartmoor-npa.gov.uk

Join the discussions on education and interpretation

In 2000 the Dartmoor National Park Authority began a club for young people aged between 5 and 12 called the Ranger Ralph Club (RRC). There are however both younger and older members as there is not a policy to stop young people being  members; it is up to them whether they want to re-new their interest in the club whatever their age.

The RRC began as a development from the “Moor Care Less Wear” Campaign in1998 and the introduction of the character “Mr Big Boots” played by one of the Ranger Team. These methods of informally educating young and old alike was instigated by a small team of people from the DNP, which included the support and drive of the Ranger team, of which there are now thirteen.

Their main aim was to informally and environmentally educate young people in an enjoyable way. There was no master plan but an instinctive mutual idea of how to put environmentally sound ideas and interesting facts across in a fun and Ranger led way. The team itself were surprised how quickly the idea of RRC took off and grew.

Current Ranger Ralph Club summary

• There are now about 600 members.
• Membership costs 4 large letter second class stamps.
• Members are asked to renew annually.
• They all receive four newsletters per year.
• In 2007 there were 12 Ranger Ralph events as part of our events programme each led by the Ranger staff themselves.
• About 300 young people were involved in these events.
• There are special fun days held exclusively for members.

In 2003 the whole Ranger Ralph club idea was reviewed and clarified. Research was commissioned to inform the discussion.

• Ranger Ralph activities remain as part of informal education and are not to be confused with our service aimed at schools.
• All events remain Ranger led and therefore within what their time and energies will allow.
• The use of the Ranger Ralph logo/ image is limited to where it is appropriate and not for general propaganda or retail.
• The administration and organisation time was calculated and allocated to the Education section.
• A cross departmental coordinating group was created to plan future activities.

Most of the reviews discussions centred on containing what had become a very successful idea. Limiting the Authority it to what is sustainable rather then letting it grow out of  proportion to what it was designed to achieve.

If there have been any changes it is a gradual drift away from direct messages (educating for the environment) towards more purely enjoyable and playful activities (educating in the environment).   

A list of some of 2006-07 events

• Den building
• Dartmoor discovery trail
• Junior navigation
• Tin Mines & Whortleberries
• Pond dipping
• Meet the ponies
• Halloween Walk and Story Telling