Cochrane residents are being called on to rally behind 10-year-old Nathan as he makes a final push to move on in the Ranger Rick Jr. Ranger competition, and time is running out.
The national contest, which encourages kids across North America to explore the outdoors and connect with nature, comes with a top prize of $20,000, a feature in Ranger Rick magazine, and a one-on-one wildlife experience with expert Jeff Corwin.
Nathan is currently in second place in his group, and while he’s made it to the top five, he needs to finish first in order to move on to the quarterfinals. There were about 83 kids in his original group, which has been narrowed down to 20, then 15, 10, and now five. The top vote-getter in each group will advance, but with multiple groups competing, this round is only one part of a bigger challenge.
“I’m in second place currently, which is kind of sad,” Nathan admitted with a laugh. “I was in first last time I checked, but then Mom checked last night and told me I was in second.”
Nathan has taken on a series of weekly nature-themed challenges to get this far, including wildlife photography and a “Trailblazer” task that had him dancing in cold water on a new trail. “It was cold, but worth it,” he said.
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He’s also been touched by the community support. “I just wasn’t expecting to be supported that much, it was really nice.”
If he does win the $20,000, Nathan has a thoughtful plan in place. “My mom is taking $18,000 of it away,” he said, noting it’s going into savings. “But she’s letting me keep $2,000. I’m donating $1,000 to Team Trees and Team Seas… and the other $1,000? I’m gonna waste it on toys, books, and video games.”
Tomorrow is the final day to vote, and votes now count for double. “If you usually give one vote to me, then it would be two instead of one,” he explained.
Let’s help Nathan reclaim the top spot and keep his Junior Ranger dream alive.
Head HERE to cast your vote and support a proud Cochrane kid.
Voting closes Thursday at 7 p.m.