We call this child "Wild Man". He can name more bugs, birds, and trees than most adults. He is his most joyful and confident in nature!
You decide who will appear in a Ranger Rick magazine and take home $20,000
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Receive Text Updates"It's HUGE." He loves finding new paths and trails, new creatures, new hide-and-seek spots, new ponds and puddles, and says everywhere you can go, "you can discover something you've never even seen"!
Wilder says, "It depends." When we used snowshoes in the woods to collect Maple Sap, his favorite animal was a Moose, because of how tall they are, and they share a name with our dog. When we went canoeing, his favorite animal was a wood duck because their feet are just like our paddles, and they have "fancy heads". When we went hiking, his favorite was a deer because we saw deer poop. And most of the time he just answers "jumping spiders, because they're AMAZING".
Wilder's daddy is a Forester and shares his passion for native plants with Wild Man, so naturally Wilder loves to "hunt" invasive plants wherever we go, and he's quite good at it now! He loves "finding insects, playing, and looking to find dinosaur fossils"! He and his dad have found some small fossils hidden in the rocks in the river. "I love to go on all my adventures outside! And play, a lot, like in the mud."
Vote for Wilder to become the 2026 Jr. Ranger while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote below, or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation—supporting the National Wildlife Federation in their mission to protect wildlife and preserve wild places for future generations.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like Jr. Ranger, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
