Park Rangers with Glen Canyon National Recreation Area are holding fun activities for the Junior Ranger Program at the Carl Hayden Visitor Center each Friday during the month of June. The Solar Viewing and Junior Ranger Night Explorer activities are to help all Jr. Rangers upgrade their knowledge of the sun and stars in the area, which rangers say is a fun part of their duties as ambassadors of the National Park Service.
One of the duties as a Jr. Ranger is learning and teaching others about their natural surroundings including the sun and earth’s position in the universe. Ranger Cindy Stafford is helping the Jr. Rangers learn about the sun’s function as the largest and most important star to planet earth.  
“Without the sun’s light we wouldn’t have life”, she emphasized. “I am teaching them about the cycles of the sun and how sunlight travels 93 million miles in eight minutes so we can feel the heat of it on our skin.”
Stafford has set up a special telescope that filters out the ultra-violet rays which allows people to safely view the sun.
“Right now, we are not seeing too many flares coming off the sun because due to the current cycle of the sun it’s at its farthest position from earth, so flares are difficult to see.”
She also added that the cycle does not affect the temperature which is a hopeful thought for many visitors.
She worries at the thought of the Jr. Rangers going home and trying to look at the sun without protection so she includes a demonstration to help them look at the sun without harming their eyes using pinholes on cardboard.
Using charts about the current intensity of the sun, Jr. Rangers and all guests are able to learn about how sun rays affect the earth’s atmosphere. Stafford also impresses guests with photos of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) seen in the Alaskan sky, which is a phenomenon of the sun that many have trouble describing.

Stafford also has hands on activities about ultra-violet rays using solar bead bracelets that react to sunscreen lotion when applied. With the use of the simple activities many Jr. Rangers have been able to take the oath of duty and gained their badge for their families to be proud of.
Because the sun is a star, Stafford concludes the presentation with a star map activity so Jr. Rangers can stargaze year-round and be able to name the constellations they find. The presentation also includes a discussion of city lights and how too much of it can make stars more difficult to see.
Ranger Stafford promotes the awareness of bright city light pollution including how Page is in transition to change the city lights ordinances to become Dark Sky City.
“We as humans need the night as well. All creatures need it just like we need the sunlight.” Stafford stressed to visitors.
Junior Ranger Evan Lembach, who was visiting Glen Canyon Dam with his family n Las Vegas, Nev., was excited to get his map of the stars.
“I know where the Big Dipper is,” said the five-year-old Junior Ranger proudly. He told Stafford that his family had been looking at the stars the night before.
His mother Linda told Stafford, “We live in Vegas and there will never be a Dark Sky Ordinance there, but here in Page we could see so many stars from the motel.” The Lembach family was excited to receive the star map so they could spend another night finding constellations together.
Seeing Evan and his family working together with the knowledge he had learned displayed the entire foundation of the program’s mission. Stafford announced to Lembach that the he would receive his badge for taking two courses.

“I got my badge already,” he said holding up his first booklet.
Stafford then announced because he displayed knowledge of the stars and how to build the star map that he would then receive a patch to add to his Jr Ranger uniform. He was then presented with the Night Explorer patch, which he proudly accepted.
Once a Jr. Ranger has completed the booklet or has displayed the knowledge of the booklet and how to use the star map they will be issued the new upgrade to their Jr. Ranger badge. The one-of-a-kind patch can be sewn on to a jacket or shirt and can be the start of a fun hobby. The Patch has the Bear and Arrow constellations.
The Park Service will be holding the presentations on the lawn of the Carl Hayden Visitor Center every Friday morning from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. over the summer. Stafford will be on site to answer any questions about the Jr. Ranger Program and the night sky campaign series.
The International Dark-Sky Association’s website can also answer questions about how to reduce light pollution in your home. The National Park Service also has more information on dark skies and the importance of maintaining a healthy balance of both night and day at www.nps.gov/glca/learn/nature/night-skies.htm.
Other activities  include the Evening Ranger Program held every Friday night 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Waheap Campground Amphitheater. On Friday June 15, the Waheap New Moon Star Party will be held on Waheap Beach at 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. More weekend activities could be found at the NPS’s Plan Your Visit link. Includes a telescope.