Erie Canalway Junior Ranger Day to be Held on Saturday, August 1, 2026

WATERFORD, N.Y. — Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the NYS Canal Corporation invite youth and families from across New York State to participate in Erie Canalway Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, August 1, 2026 from 10am to 4pm. Free events and activities are being hosted at 15 canal sites and museums throughout the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Participants will receive a free Junior Ranger Activity Booklet and can complete a variety of activities to earn a Junior Ranger badge.

“Junior Ranger Day is a terrific opportunity for kids to discover New York’s canal heritage while having fun along the waterway today. From boating, fishing, and picnicking to biking and wildlife watching, we hope families come out to enjoy the canal on this special day,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Participating Junior Ranger Sites:
(Listed west to east)

• Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, Buffalo
• Erie Canal Discovery Center, Lockport
• Rochester by Water, Rochester and Pittsford
• Historic Palmyra, Palmyra
• Seneca Falls Museum & Tourism Center, Seneca Falls
• Women’s Rights National Historical Park, Seneca Falls
• Old Erie Canal Heritage Park, Port Byron
• H. Lee White Maritime Museum, Oswego
• Camillus Erie Canal Park, Camillus
• Erie Canal Museum, Syracuse
• Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, Chittenango
• Fort Stanwix National Monument, Rome
• Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Fort Hunter
• Peebles Island State Park Visitor Center, Cohoes
• Saratoga National Historical Park, Stillwater

New York State Canal Corporation Director Ben Walsh said, “The Junior Ranger program is a wonderful way to show our youngest citizens just how dynamic the Canal System is. With sites participating across the corridor on August 1, there are activities in reach for anyone who is interested in learning more about the waterway. I encourage families to stop by a site – or two – on August 1. Completing activities together to receive a Junior Ranger badge is a great way for families to bond, and to keep the history, culture and spirit of the Canal Corridor alive for years to come.”

Junior Ranger Day activities and information about the Erie Canalway Junior Ranger Program, which helps children to get to know the National Heritage Corridor and the importance of the NYS Canal System, is available at:
https://eriecanalway.org/learn/junior-ranger

ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR

After 200 years of continuous service, the Erie Canal remains an iconic symbol of American ingenuity and determination. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor works to preserve New York’s extraordinary canal heritage, promote the Corridor as a world-class tourism destination, and foster vibrant communities connected by more than 500 miles of waterway. It achieves its mission in partnership with the National Park Service, New York State agencies, non-profit organizations, residents, and more than 200 communities across the full expanse of upstate New York. Visit www.eriecanalway.org for more information.

ABOUT NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION

The New York State Canal Corporation, a subsidiary of the New York Power Authority, oversees the operation and promotion of the New York State Canal System. The Canal Corporation’s mission is to operate and maintain a premier waterway and trail system that honors the historic legacy of the Erie Canal and offers unique recreational and tourism opportunities, while also promoting sustainable economic development throughout the canal corridor.
Visit www.canals.ny.gov for more information.