The National Parks and Wildlife Service is inviting applications for the Junior Ranger+ Programme, which will take place in Killarney National Park from March 2026.

The popular programme is being hosted once again by staff at the Killarney National Park Education Centre and is aimed at teenagers aged between 14 and 17 who have an interest in the outdoors, wildlife and conservation. The programme will begin on Saturday, March 7, and will be based at Muckross School House, the Arthur Vincent Hostel and other locations throughout the National Park.
Junior Ranger+ runs one Saturday per month in March, April and May, with a final double session taking place on Friday evening and Saturday morning on June 26 and 27. Each session will run from 10.00am to 3.30pm, though some days may run slightly longer depending on activities.
The programme builds on the experiences offered through the regular Junior Ranger camps and gives participants a more hands-on role in caring for the National Park. Activities will include conserving plants, animals and habitats, exploring lesser-known areas of the park, map reading and navigation, footpath maintenance, guided hikes, invasive species management and ecological surveys. Participants will also have the opportunity to develop new skills while working as part of a team and making new friends.
The cost of the Junior Ranger+ Programme is €100, which can be paid on the first day of the course. Places are strictly limited and demand is expected to be high.
The closing date for applications is Friday, February 20, 2026. Applicants will be notified by February 28 if they have been successful.
Application forms are available online and can be accessed by following this link:
https://forms.gle/4Q6Rmzq2cHwtSSnj8
Further information is also available on the Killarney National Park Facebook and Instagram pages.

TY students from Killarney Community College attended the Killarney National Park Education Centre. The day started a little differently, as this course aims to promote all that our national park has to offer.

They made their way to the Muckross schoolhouse, their base for the day where they were warmly greeted by Chris, Tara, and Siobhán.

The morning began with a guided walk where the group learned how to identify a variety of tree species in the area.

The students were fully engaged and gained a deeper understanding of the woodland around them.

In the afternoon, they visited the three main woodland types found in this part of the national park.

Here, they measured light levels, humidity, soil depth, and soil pH, while also learning to recognise the defining features of each woodland type.

These ancient, naturally uninterrupted habitats have existed for hundreds of years, remarkably, just a short walk from the old schoolhouse in Muckross.