Youth Conservation Club
Junior Naturalist Club
Inspiring a new generation of environmental stewards ready with the knowledge and passion to protect our changing world.
Become a Junior Naturalist
Are you a 7th – 12th grader interested in nature, science, and giving back to the community? Read more about how you can venture outdoors with other kids, meet scientists and conservationists, participate in community science, and give back to our natural world.
Who?
Pickering Creek’s Junior Naturalist Club is for 7th-12th graders who have an interest in nature and the outdoors, gaining a deeper understanding about our environment, meeting science and environmental professionals and a desire to become leaders.
What?
Junior Naturalists stay connected to nature throughout the year, and meet 1-2 times a month after school during the school year for professionally-led expeditions at Pickering Creek. Junior Naturalists learn and practice outdoor skills like wildlife tracking, plant identification, nature observation, canoeing, fire-building and more. The teen program includes occasional off-site field trips and service-learning opportunities.
In the summer months, Junior Naturalists become a key part of our Summer EcoCamp program as student leaders, practicing skills in leadership, mentoring, and problem-solving – all while mentoring and playing with younger children while also earning service-learning hours! Serving as a volunteer at EcoCamp is a perk of full participation in the year long program, and is not a stand alone option for students entering 8th grade and over.
SIGN UP TODAY!
Junior Naturalists commit to all of the following:
Attending
3-10 after school/weekend club programs during the school year (2026-27 schedule coming soon)
Volunteering
for at least one Pickering Creek volunteer event during the school year (families are strongly encouraged to join in)
Serving*
as a Junior Camp Counselor for 1-3 weeks during summer (as long as the Attending and Volunteering requisites above and attending 2 required training dates in May and June are fulfilled)
* NOTE: To serve as a Junior Naturalist at EcoCamp, you must be entering 8th grade the following Sept, after having attended at least 3 JN meetings and 1 volunteer event. This means, that JNs are eligible to JOIN the JN program as 7th graders, but will not serve at EcoCamp until they have completed 7th grade. Serving as a volunteer at EcoCamp is a perk of full participation in the year long program, and is not a stand alone option.
Schedule Coming Soon!
ATTEND After-School/Weekend Programs (attend 3 or more)
VOLUNTEER Programs (participate in at least 1)
SERVE as a Junior Camp Counselor (attend 2 trainings)
Why Become a Junior Naturalist?
It’s a good Resume Builder – for your part-time jobs and college application
Earn Service Learning Hours – collect hours for high school graduation and scholarships
Gain Leadership Skills – become a leader by gaining confidence through public speaking
Learn more about possible careers – learn about STEM careers & opportunities
Meet people with similar interests in nature and the outdoors
and
It’s Fun!! – spend time doing outdoor activities you like, and learn new ones
How to apply:
Fill in the Junior Naturalist Application
SHARE THIS FLIER with your friends and family in case they want to join you!
Print out, sign, and email the Release of Liability & Use of Image to Jessica at jelliott@pickeringcreek.org
After we have received your completed application and liability form, we will email with the schedule of upcoming programs and registration links for programs.
QUESTIONS? Contact Patrick Carney at pcarney@pickeringcreek.org