Jr. RangerLand began in the spring of 2009 when Jennifer Haywood and her family traveled to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While there, her kids participated in the Junior Ranger program. It was a terrific experience and they all learned many things about the park. Before leaving, they investigated a visitor center gift shop to purchase a souvenir from the trip, and they saw an opportunity for a series of games to continue the Junior Ranger experience at home. While returning to Michigan, their family worked together to create the first Jr. RangerLand board game. This first version was drawn in the backseat by their 8-year-old daughter. Over the following months, Jr. RangerLand was born. Today, Jr. RangerLand and its sister company, Junior Ranger Gear, offer a full line of outdoor educational products for children.