UTAH

5-year-old Utah boy could be the next Junior Ranger

Jul 9, 2025, 7:24 PM | Updated: Jul 10, 2025, 12:18 pm

A five-year-old who lives at Hill Air Force Base may be chosen as the National Wildlife Federation'...

(Don Brinkerhoff/KSL NewsRadio)

(Don Brinkerhoff/KSL NewsRadio)

Editor’s note: This story has been edited to correct the deadline for the contest.

SALT LAKE CITY — A five-year-old who lives at Hill Air Force Base may be chosen as the National Wildlife Federation’s next Junior Ranger.

Lucas McCarley has made it through several rounds of competition, according to his mom Alicia McCarley. If he receives enough votes in the round of voting that ends on Wednesday, there will be just two more rounds.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Alicia McCarley (@aliciamariemc)

“What mom doesn’t want the opportunity for their kid to just have amazing adventures? And to learn from Jeff Corwin would be so cool,” Alicia said.

“This Junior Ranger competition popped up first on Facebook. And the only thing that I knew about it in the beginning was that … it was hosted by (wildlife conservationist) Jeff Corwin. I remember growing up watching Jeff Corwin shows, so I thought that was really cool,” McCarley said.

“You could win $20,000 … And Lucas could have the chance to be on the cover of the Junior Ranger magazine and learn from Jeff Corwin.”

Lucas loves all kinds of animals like foxes, birds, frogs and spiders. But his favorite animal is the skunk, “because they spray stinky smells.”

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Alicia McCarley (@aliciamariemc)

He also likes to hike and find animals, but he said he doesn’t always like to hike to the very top of places like Donut Falls.

The quarter finals for the contest end Thursday at 8 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Click here to vote for Lucas.

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5-year-old Utah boy could be the next Junior Ranger