07/29/2026
Gems Along the Mohawk has some Junior Ranger Activity Booklets in preparation of the Erie Canalway Junior Ranger Day. It is Nearly Here!
Saturday, August 1, 10am to 4pm
Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day of exploration and discovery at 15 canal sites across the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Kids can pick up a free Junior Ranger Activity Booklet, complete hands-on activities, and earn a Junior Ranger badge.
Hosted by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the NYS Canal Corporation, Junior Ranger Day invites kids and families to discover New York’s canal heritage in a lively, memorable way. Enjoy time along the waterway with activities such as boating, fishing, picnicking, biking, and wildlife watching.
Activities and times vary by site.
Participating Junior Ranger Sites
(Listed west to east)
1. Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, Buffalo- Open 10am to 5pm. Tour the home where canal proponent Teddy Roosevelt was sworn in as President of the United States. Then visit the waterfront at Canalside, the original western end of the Erie Canal, to watch boats and ride the historic carousel.
2. Erie Canal Discovery Center, Lockport- Open 9am to 5pm. Visit the Discovery Center to pick up a Junior Ranger booklet and visit nearby Lock 34/35 and historic Flight of Five to complete activities.
3. Rochester by Water, Rochester and Pittsford- Free family-friendly cruise on the Sam Patch (Pittsford), 10am to 11:30am, SOLD OUT
4. Historic Palmyra, Palmyra- Open 10am to 2pm. Visit five museums in one visit including the Erie Canal Depot where you can imagine yourself as a traveler on the Erie Canal in the 1800s.
5. Seneca Falls Museum & Tourism Center, Seneca Falls- Open 10am to 6pm. Free Admission on 8/1. Learn how the canal spurred industries in Seneca Falls, take a photo onboard a replica tugboat, and step outside to explore the Cayuga-Seneca Canal.
6. Women’s Rights National Historical Park, Seneca Falls- Open 9am to 5pm. Free Admission on 8/1. 1-3pm: Drop in Mule Madness Ranger Table Talk; Make & Take Crafts available all day.
7. Old Erie Canal Heritage Park, Port Byron- Open 9am to 6pm. Free Admission. Walk through a massive stone lock used in the 1800s and visit the Erie House Saloon, Blacksmith Shop, and Mule Barn while completing the activities.
8. H. Lee White Maritime Museum, Oswego- Open 10am to 5pm. Regular activities and exhibits. Complete your Junior Ranger booklet while learning about maritime history along the Oswego Canal and Lake Ontario.
9. Camillus Erie Canal Park, Camillus- Open 12pm to 4pm. Free 45-minute boat tours at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm; lock demonstration and kid's activities along the Old Erie Canal.
10. Erie Canal Museum, Syracuse- Open 10am to 4pm. Free Admission on 8/1. Tour the museum and check out the kid's activity corner as you complete your booklet.
11. Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, Chittenango- Open 10am-2pm. Fun kid's activities and half-price kayak rentals.
12. Fort Stanwix National Monument, Rome- Open 9am to 5pm. Free Admission on 8/1. 11am and 2pm: Defending the Carry- See or participate in a demonstration and discover historic weapons that were used to protect the Oneida Carry. 1:30pm: Fortification Walk.
13. Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Fort Hunter- Open 10am to 2pm. Free Admission on 8/1. Erie Canal games and activities at the Visitor Center, Yankee Hill Lock, and Putman Canal Store.
14. Peebles Island State Park Visitor Center, Cohoes- Free Admission on 8/1, 10am: Bilingual Story Time; All Day: Great Hudson River Fish Count. Hike the park's trails and cross the Mohawk River to see Erie Canal Lock 2 in action.
15. Saratoga National Historical Park, Stillwater- Open 9am to 5pm. Free Admission on 8/1. 10am: Paper Marbling; 11am: Ranger Program.
