Garrison Hendershot of Marietta at the Grayson Highlands in Virginia. Hendershot, 8, the son of Emily and Mark Hendershot, is in the finals for the National Junior Ranger competition sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation. (Photo Provided)

MARIETTA – A youth from Marietta is in the finals for the National Junior Ranger competition sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation.

Garrison Henderhot, 8, is among the 16 finalists competing for the most votes at tinyurl.com/yckc6kx. Voting ends at 10 p.m. Thursday, and Garrison is No. 4 in the tally so far.

The winner receives $20,000 and will be featured in the “Ranger Rick” magazine for kids.

Garrison enjoys the outdoors and camping. His favorite place is the Grayson Highlands, a picturesque area with much wildlife, according to Garrison. The highlands are south of West Virginia in Virginia near the border with North Carolina.

“There’s lots of wild horses there,” he said. “And the view.”

Garrison Hendershot, 8, of Marietta is one of 16 finalists competing in the National Junior Ranger competition sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation. (Photo Provided)

Garrison’s favorite wild animal is the elk.

“Because they make a cool noise and they’re really strong,” he said.

He enjoys exploring in creeks and finding crawdads and salamanders, along with backpacking for miles to camp under stars.

“I also love that nature gives wild game and I can hunt with my family to provide healthy meals,” he wrote for the Wildlife Federation. “I love nature and want to give back by teaching others to love it as much as me.”

Backpacking is his favorite outdoor activity, which gives him the opportunity to “hike up climbs, eat wild blackberries, find salamanders, see wild longhorns, meet wild ponies, drink fresh-fresh mountain water, sweat and work hard, set up camp under the stars, hang a hammock, explore deciduous forests, keep food in bear cans, sometimes roast marshmallows and have the best days and sleeps outside in nature,” Garrison said.

He hopes to be an advocate for nature and wildlife as the Junior Ranger.

“Getting to tell people about God’s creation,” he said.

Garrison is a member of Trail Life in Vienna and its Hawk Patrol for boys age 7-8. Garrison is the son of Emily and Mark Hendershot and the grandson of Kathy and Roger Bonnette of Marietta and Gary and Vickie Hendershot of Marietta. Garrison is named after Gary, his mother said.

His sister, Lilly, 10, also participates in the camping adventures.

Garrison was in an original field of about 100,000 participants in the competition and was chosen as a finalist after a survey by the National Wildlife Federation, Emily said.

“He’s gotten way further than we expected,” she said.