Stones River National Battlefield Plans Junior Ranger Day, Bike Tours

On Saturday April 3, 2010 park rangers and volunteers invite young visitors and their families to Stones River National Battlefield to celebrate Junior Ranger Day. From 10 AM to 4 PM all children ages six and up will have the chance to participate in special programs and earn Junior Ranger Day patches, pins and certificates. We hope visitors will share a Junior Ranger Day cake with us at 1 PM. This program is free and open to everyone.

Young visitors and their families should start their day at the visitor center. There they will receive a Junior Ranger activity book and a Junior Ranger Day activity card. You will have to get your card signed at each Junior Ranger Day activity to earn the Junior Ranger day prizes. While touring the park, kids can also complete activities in the park activity booklet.

In addition to activities at the park visitor center, young visitors and their families will stop in the Slaughter Pen and listen to soldiers describe their experiences during the battle and watch as they fire their muskets. They will also have the chance to visit the park’s fragile cedar glades and learn how plants and animals survive in those unique habitats. When young visitors complete all of the Junior Ranger Day activities they will receive their special prizes and be well on their way to earning their Stones River National Battlefield Junior Ranger badge and/or patch.

Numerous National Park Service sites have Junior Ranger programs. These self-paced activities teach young visitors about the unique natural and cultural resources of each park, and encourage them to continue exploring and protecting our national parks. Junior Ranger Day celebrates the importance of fostering a bond between our children and their national parks.

These programs are a part of a series of interpretive programs offered at the battlefield during the year. Stones River National Battlefield is
located on the Old Nashville Highway northwest of Murfreesboro. Additional information is available at the visitor center, by calling (615) 893-9501
or at the park website (http://www.nps.gov/stri).

BICYCLE TOUR OF STONES RIVER NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD

Stones River National Battlefield will present ranger guided bicycle tours of Stones River National Battlefield on Saturdays from April 3, 2010 through October 30, 2010 at 9 AM. Get healthy exercise, reduce your carbon footprint, and learn about the major Civil War battle that occurred here in late 1862 and early 1863. This program will take visitors through the battlefield using the tour road and the Stones River Greenway. The tour is limited to 15 participants per program.

At several points during the ride, the ranger will stop to discuss the major military actions that affected the outcome of the Battle of Stones River. Some of the stories included are the fighting in Slaughter Pen, the desperate stand of the Union army along the Nashville Pike, and the terrible climax to the battle that bloodied the banks of the Stones River.

Participants will meet at the visitor center at 8:45 AM with their bikes. Children, ages 16 and under must wear safety helmets, and all other participants are encouraged to wear them as well. The tour will begin at 9 AM. The ride will travel up to five miles and last an hour.

This program is a part of a series of interpretive programs offered at the battlefield during the year. Stones River National Battlefield is located on the Old Nashville Highway, northwest of Murfreesboro. Additional information is available at the visitor center, by calling (615) 893-9501 or at the park website (http://www.nps.gov/stri).