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BROTHERS ON A QUEST TO RECEIVE AN INVITATION TO THE WHITE HOUSE BY VISITING ALL 59 U.S. NATIONAL PARKS
Mission in action as the National Park Service turns 100; the boys will visit 34 by the end of the summer
Five years ago, fifth-grader Caleb Miller and his younger brother, Aiden (fourth grade) set out on a quest to be sworn into the Junior Ranger Progr of all 59 National Parks in the United States with the end goal of an invitation to the White House. As the National Park Service turns 100 this summer, the boys will celebrate visiting more than half of all the parks. By the end of this summer, Caleb and Aiden will have visited 34 national parks.
After learning about Mount Rushmore in his kindergarten class at Rosarian Academy in West Palm Beach, FL, Caleb Miller brought home ÒOne Hundred Best Vacations for Filies with ChildrenÓ from the school book fair, saw Mount Rushmore in the book, and told his parents he wanted to go there for summer vacation. CalebÕs interest and excitement spurred his parents, Jeff and Ruthann Miller, to MapQuest Mount Rushmore and the surrounding area and book a trip to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, along with Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons National Parks in Wyoming.
In 2011, while visiting their first National Park, the Miller fily was introduced to the Junior Ranger Progr at Mount RushmoreÕs education center. Each national parkÕs Junior Ranger Progr gives the child activities to complete based on his age. The goal is for Junior Rangers to help preserve and protect our national parks as they learn about nature and history and have fun exploring the parks. Upon completion of the required activities, children are sworn into the Junior Ranger Progr for that particular park and given a badge with a certificate of completion signed by a ranger. ÒDuring this first trip, we were told if you become a Junior Ranger in all 59 national parks, you get invited to the White House. This put Caleb and Aiden on a quest to reach the goal of visiting all the National Parks,Ó explained Mr. Miller who also said his boys are extremely proud of their accomplishment every time they are sworn into a park.
