VIDEO: Smithtown Boy Advances In $20K National Jr. Ranger Competition

SMITHTOWN, NY — Seven year-old Smithtown resident River Scuderi's love of nature has earned him a chance of winning $20,000, but he needs the community's help.

Last Thurday River advanced to the quarterfinal rounds of continues advancing through Colossal’s Jr. Ranger Competition, a nationwide contest supporting the National Wildlife Federation.

As of Tuesday River ranks eight placing him among a shrinking field of young outdoor explorers competing for a $20,000 grand prize, a feature in Ranger Rick magazine and a wildlife adventure experience with conservationist and television host Jeff Corwin.

“All I heard was stomping and screaming and cheers from the top floor and the bottom floor because everyone was monitoring it,” River’s mother, Jillian Scuderi, told Patch. “To be one of the quarterfinalists out of 128,000 children nationwide is an incredible feat in itself, but to say we were ecstatic is an understatement.”

The top five will move on to the next round after voting closes Thursday at 10 p.m. EST. Voting can be don on the website link here.

The family discovered the Jr. Ranger Competition through social media and magazine subscriptions before deciding to enter simply for fun. They never expected River would advance through multiple elimination rounds against tens of thousands of contestants nationwide.

River entered the competition after submitting a video of himself exploring Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown. The video helped launch him into a competition that now includes thousands of children nationwide.

“We never in a million years expected he’d get this far," Jillian said. "It’s been a total honor and an overwhelming sense of love and community.”

For River’s family, however, the experience has already become about far more than rankings or prizes. River’s passion for the outdoors, his family said, has existed almost since birth.

“When you come out with the name River, I feel like it was just a given,” Jillian said. “He truly gravitated toward being outside and I was never the mom to shoo him away from that. Jump in the puddle, explore, get your hands dirty.

The family said River’s favorite nature site remains Sweetbriar Nature Center, which sits only a short distance from their home and has become central to his love of wildlife and conservation.

“That’s our little nature haven, our little secret escape that we have,” Jillian said. “We’ve been there almost every week since he was a baby. They are huge advocates for wildlife. I barely had any toys when he was young because we have an entire playground outside that we were born with and given. To watch my son absorb and experience all the wonders that the world and Earth have to give us — it’s such a privilege honestly.”

She said one of the most meaningful outcomes has been the confidence the experience has given River.

“Even if he doesn’t 'win', I won, and River won," Jillian said. "To see the confidence that this competition has given him — I saw a change in him this past week, so to me it’s all worth it.”

The competition involves weekly assignments connected to nature and conservation, including visits to parks and nature centers, volunteering with animals and outdoor exploration activities.

“Every week they give us 'homework',” Jillian said. “But it’s the easiest homework we’ve ever gotten because he already does all this stuff.”

As River has continued progressing through the contest, his family says they have become increasingly convinced there is something unique about the way he connects with wildlife.

“He’ll stop and say, ‘frog,’ and you really have to look because it’s so camouflaged in the greenery,” his frandmother Denise Scuderi said. “Sure enough, there’s a frog.”

Denise said those moments are part of what makes exploring with River so memorable.

“Even before the competition assignments, I’d walk outside and River’s got baby bunnies or frogs,” Jillian said. “It’s almost like they’re attracted to him.”

River and his family say he has learned about wildlife, and engaging with rescue and rehabilitation programs, thriugh Sweetbriar. If River ultimately wins the competition, the family said they hope to donate a portion of the prize money back to the center.

“We definitely want to give back to Sweetbriar Nature Center just as a show of gratitude for all the amazing memories they’ve given me with my son and all the work they do rehabilitating local wildlife,” Jillian said.

The family is also considering supporting the Tomorrow Scholar Foundation, which provides educational assistance for children of single mothers, like Jillan.

River's family said he is most excited about the wildlife adventure portion of the grand prize package, which could involve exploring jungles, safaris, or wildlife destinations around the world.

“I think he’s most excited about going on a wildlife adventure,” Jillian said. “Maybe a jungle, a safari, or seeing the penguins in Antarctica.”

For now, the family is focused on the remaining voting rounds and continuing to rally community support as River attempts to move closer to the finals.

“We’re in the home stretch now,” Jillian said.

To vote for River visit the site link here.