The annual Junior Ranger program at the Kosciusko Visitor’s Center kicked off Saturday morning with a historical presentation by Linda and Guy Van Bloem who are from Washington state, but are serving in the Natchez Trace Park.
The program, for children aged 7 to 12, will continue at 9 a.m. each of the next three Tuesdays with Donna Holdiness, who 
champions Kosciusko tourism.
The children were each given an activity book and if they are able to complete and return it, they will be awarded their Junior Ranger badge on Saturday, July 29.
On Saturday, the children were shown how boatmen traveling the Trace in the 1800s dressed, ate and lived.
“I want to welcome you to a trip back in time,” said Linda Van Bloem. “We are going to pretend we are boatmen.”
She then regaled the children with items and stories about life travelling the Trace, showing them clothing, how people told time and the food items they had with them on the trail.
After a break for ice cream, Holdiness then took the children around the Visitor Center grounds, showing them native and 
invasive plants with the help of Bill Roos, and taught them about “Leave No Trace.”
Participating in the program were Felicity Burdine, Elizabeth Burdine, Tanner Pettit, Emory Hart Pettit, Allie Grace Gibson, Jack Gibson, Sydney Roos, James Thomas Cheek, AJ Cheek, Aaron Sims and Morgan Holdiness.
