New River Gorge National River

Gauley River National Recreation Area

Bluestone National Scenic River

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Junior Ranger

New River Gorge National River at Grandview. Photo by Leah Perkowski-Sisk

Photo by Jodi French-Burr

National Park Service photo

National Park Service photo

Photo by Eve West
 

2 New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger

Welcome to the Junior Ranger Program

There are over 400 National Park Service sites across America. Each one 

tells part of America’s story. New River Gorge National River, Gauley 

River National Recreation Area, and Bluestone National Scenic River are 

part of this park system. 

Junior Rangers care for these special places and help others learn 

about this rich heritage. As a Junior Ranger you will ...

•	 Explore: Discover fantastic places in parks that make these sites treasures of America. 

•	 Learn: Learn about the natural and cultural things that make these parks special places. 

•	 Protect: Help protect these parks for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Here’s how you can become a Junior Ranger (earn a badge) at New River Gorge National River:

Earn the Junior Ranger Patch:

Complete any two additional activities from any list above.

1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

If you are 5 to 9 years old:

Complete at least four red ribbon 

activities. Page

 Fun With Maps 3

 What’s for Lunch 5

 Sounds Like 6

 Life Down Under 7 

 Starry Starry Night 9

 Play It Safe! 12

 Take a Hike 15

 Whereizzit? 20

If you are 10 years old or older:

Complete at least four red ribbon and 

four blue ribbon activities. Page

 Leafy Green Tree Hunt 4

 Rockin’ Geology 8

 Time Travel 10

 Coal Mining Mix-up 11

 Search the Gauley 18

 The BLUE’s Clues 18

 Fun on the Job 21

Everyone: Complete at least four green ribbon activities. Page

 Leave No Trace and You 14 

 Visit the Visitor Centers 16

 Arrowhead Symbol 19

 Page

 Attend a ranger program 22 

 or watch the park film

 Interview a ranger 22
New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 3

Fun with Maps

Find your way around the park using a park map. Use the map below to answer 

these questions about New River Gorge National River. 

New River

ANSTED

FAYETTEVILLE

OAK HILL

MOUNT HOPE

BECKLEY

HINTON

Thurmond

Cunard

Grandview

Sandstone Falls

NEW RIVER GORGE 

NATIONAL RIVER

19

19

19

19

19

19

64

77

64

77

77

64

64

3

16 60

60

60

60

16

16

16

16

16

3

9 41

41

41

41

41

20

20

20

61

61

25

26

3

20

12

LITTLE BEAVER

STATE PARK

BABCOCK

STATE PARK

HAWKS NEST

STATE PARK

82

Glen Jean

National River

Headquarters

Stone Cliff

Thurmond Depot 

Visitor Center

Dunglen

Brooklyn

Canyon Rim 

Visitor Center

Fayette

Station

McCreery

Army Camp Grandview Sandbar

Glade Creek

Meadow Creek

Sandstone

Visitor Center

Grandview

Visitor 

Center

North

0

0

5 Miles

5 Kilometers

Map Key

Picnic area

Public river access

Primitive 

campsite

Ranger station

Campground

National Park

Service area

Brooks Falls

Hellems Beach

Tug Creek Beach

Camp Brookside

1. _____________________ Falls 

is a large waterfall on the 

New River just south of 

Sandstone Visitor Center.

2. What are the names of two 

park visitor centers, the ones 

farthest north and south? 

____________________________ 

and _______________________

3. The New River flows 

from the bottom of the 

map toward the top of 

the map. What direction 

does the New River flow? 

____________________________

4. Name two places you can 

have a picnic in the park. 

____________________________ 

and _______________________

5. Name one place where 

you can camp in the park. 

____________________________ 

6. Name one place where 

boaters can access the river. 

____________________________ 
4 New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger

Leafy Green Tree Hunt

__ __ __

A K O

 h __ __ __ __ r __

Y XR K I C XH O

 r h __ __ o d __ __ d __ __ n 

X

D O N XN XH E XD R XO O XR D

__ __ __ l __

E P M A XL

BACK OF

NEEDLE

X

 h __ __ __ __ c k 

M C O E L XH XK

There are over 1,400 types of plants that grow in the New River Gorge. Some trees are evergreen 

that keep their green needles and leaves year-round. Most trees are deciduous. The leaves of 

these types of trees change color in the autumn and drop to the forest floor as these plants 

prepare for the cold winter season.

Identify these common leaves below by unscrambling the letters of each tree’s name. 
3

acorns, fruit, & grass

2

fruit, baby insects, & 

dead critters

mice, squirrels, & snakes

1

Food Bank

New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 5

What’s For LunchPark

Everyone has things they like to eat. Don’t you? Animals have favorite foods, too. 

Serve up the best, most nutritious meal for each of the critters below. 

Find each animal’s favorite foods in the food bank, then put that food 

group number on each animal’s plate. 

Bear, deer, and owl illustrations © Zachery Zdinak

great horned owl

What did you have for lunch?

Draw a picture of a food you like to eat on the plate below.

white-tailed deer

black bear
 Illustrations © Zachery Zdinak

 “Rattle, rattle, rattle”

I’ll warn you when you’re 

too close for my comfort.

 “Bzzzzzzzzzzz”

I’ll try to whisper a 

secret in your ear.

 “Peep, peep, peep”

I say my name, plus X 

marks the spot on me.

 “Huff”

I’ll warn my friends with an 

airy puff when you’re near.

 “Who, who, who cooks for you?”

It sounds like I’m hungry in the night.

 “Meow, meow”

I sound like an animal 

that lives with people.

 “A hood, a hood, 

a hood on me”

Do you like my black hat?

 “Knock, knock, knock ...”

I work through wood to get

my insect food.

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

6 New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 

Sounds Like ... a Call in the Wild

Nature is amazing in so many ways, especially the sounds made on this living planet. 

Look through the Sound Bites clues below and match the critter to its sound number. 

Barred Owls

Catbird

Pileated

Woodpecker

Hooded 

Warbler

Mosquito

Spring Peeper

White-tailed Deer

Timber

Rattlesnake

Sound Bites
New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 7 

Life Down Under 

Flowing water is an important part of nature. Find it in a large river or a small 

stream. There is so much life to discover in the water and along the water’s edge. 

Follow the color-by-number code below to reveal who lives in a river habitat.

1=green 2=light green 3=blue 4=light blue 5=brown 6=orange 7=gray 8=tan or yellow 



 3

1

1

2

 2



 6



4

7

5

2

2

5



 3

8

7

7

7

7

7 7 7 7

8

8

7

4

7

8

7

7

7

7

7 7

swallow

raccoon

catfish

crayfish

diving 

beetle

mayfly

swallow
Rockin’ Geology

Don’t be fooled by its name, 

for the New River is one of 

the world’s older rivers. How 

do geologists tell the age of a 

river? Younger rivers usually 

contain rapids and waterfalls 

that carve deep, V-shaped 

gorges, while older rivers 

slowly meander across wide, 

flat floodplains. The New 

River has characteristics of 

both ages and continues to 

cut away at the land. This is a 

place of geologic change! 

Put these geologic events in 

the order they occurred. Mark 

1 as the oldest event in time 

and 5 as the youngest (today).

Geology Illustrations by David Bieri 

8 New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 

Then the mountains 

started to grow again, 

building the Appalachian 

Mountains we know now. 

This happened so slowly 

that the Teays River was 

able to cut across the 

emerging ridges.

The first Appalachian 

Mountains uplifted when 

the African and North 

American plates collided.

Even after the swamps formed, 

water still carved away the 

first mountains. All that sand 

and rock (sediment) finally 

covered the swamps, but 

water still moved here. 

The Teays River flowed 

north across the now 

flat bottom lands.

After the first 

mountains rose, 

streams flowed down the 

mountainsides. Water 

collected in the bottom 

lands. Rich in plants, swamps 

formed here. (Millions of 

years later, the remains of 

these swamps became the hard 

layers of coal people use today.)

Today known as the 

New River, this powerful 

waterway continues to 

carve one of the largest 

and deepest gorges in the 

Appalachian Mountains.
New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 9

Cygnus,

the Swan Lyra,

the Harp

Delphinus,

the Dolphin Hercules,

the Strongman

Bootes,

the Herdsman

Serpens,

the Serpent

Corona

Borealis,

the Northern 

Crown

Ophiuchus,

 the Serpent

 Bearer Libra,

the Scales

Scorpius,

the Scorpion

Sagittarius,

the Archer

Aquila,

the Eagle

Cassiopeia,

the Queen

Cepheus,

the King

Ursa Minor,

the Little Bear

Ursa Major,

the Great Bear or 

the Big Dipper Polaris

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1

2

4 3 5

6

7

1

2

4 3

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

4

4

4

3

3

2 2 1 1

1

2

3

5 5 5

5

6

6

6

7

7

5

5 6

7

NORTH

SOUTH

EAST

WEST

Milky Way

Starry Starry NightPark

One of the park’s best shows is the night sky. Look for patterns in the stars, 

called constellations. A planisphere, a star map, is a useful tool. 

Connect the numbered stars below to discover 

common summer constellations (just like connect 

the dots). The numbers for each 

constellation are a different color. 

Summer Star Map Use this 

page to see 

star patterns in the night 

sky. Once outside, hold this page over your 

head so you can see the map. Turn the page 

so the direction you are facing is at the 

bottom of the page. Match the stars on this 

planisphere with the real stars in the sky! 

Watching Tips

•	 Find a clear view of 

the night sky. 

•	 Turn off all lights. 

Your eyes will adjust 

to the darkness in 

about 30 minutes. 

•	 Use a red-filtered 

flashlight to keep 

your night vision. 

White light will ruin 

your night vision.
10 New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 

Time Travel

How people traveled through the New River Gorge has changed over time. The 

area’s earliest people traveled by foot or on horseback, but machines have aided 

our locomotion for over 100 years now. 

Figuring out how long it takes to get from one place to another can be useful as you plan your 

next park adventure. Use the equations below to see if you can calculate the average time it 

took these New River Gorge travelers of the past to get from one place to another.

Note Pad for Your Calculations

(It’s OK to use a calculator if you want.)

1755

Walk Home Through Wilderness

Frontierswoman Mary Draper Ingles escaped 

from Shawnee captivity and made her way 

home by following the major rivers. How 

many miles a day did Mary likely walk? 

400 miles ÷ 30 days = ________ miles per day

1980

Raft the Lower New River

How long did it take to raft the river from 

Thurmond to Fayette Station in the spring?

(This is an average time, as water speeds 

vary with water levels.)

15 miles ÷ 3 mph = ____________ hours 1925

Drive Fayette Station Road

How long did it take to drive across the 

New River Gorge in a Model-T Ford? 

8 miles ÷ 10 mph = _________ hour X 

60 minutes per hour = __________ minutes

1837Ride a Stagecoach

How long did it take to ride across the wild New 

River Gorge area in a stagecoach? (Travel time 

between White Sulphur Springs and Charleston 

along the Midland Trail / James River & Kanawha 

Turnpike.)

115 miles ÷ 5 miles per day = _________ travel days

1947Ride a Passenger Train

How long did it take to ride a passenger 

train from Thurmond to Hinton? (This 

time does include the 30 minute stop at 

the depot in Prince.)

34 miles ÷ average train speed of 32 mph 

= _________ hours

Present Day

Cross the New River Gorge 

Bridge in a Car

Speed limit on the New River 

Gorge Bridge (WV Route 19) is 65 

mile per hour, which is equal to 95 

feet per second. How long does it 

take to drive across the New River 

Gorge Bridge in a modern car? 

3030 feet 1 second

 1 95 feet = 

____________ seconds

Bonus

 *
New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 11 

Decoder Key

Coal Mining Mix-up

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

For many years the ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ was a major 

supplier of the primary ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ source for the industrial world, 

___ ___ ___ ___ . With the completion of the ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ & 

___ ___ ___ ___ Railway in 1873, over sixty ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ sprang up 

in the New River Gorge, including ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ , ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ and 

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ . The heyday of coal mining along the New River 

lasted half a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ and provided ___ ___ ___ ___ for thousands of 

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ and ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ .

14 5 23 18 9 22 5 18 7 15 18 7 5

 5 14 5 18 7 25

 3 15 1 12 3 8 5 19 1 16 5 1 11 5 

15 8 9 15 3 15 1 12 20 15 23 14 19 

11 1 25 13 15 15 18 19 5 23 5 12 12

14 21 20 20 1 12 12 2 21 18 7

 3 5 14 20 21 18 25 10 15 2 19

1 13 5 18 9 3 1 14 19 9 13 13 9 7 18 1 14 20 19

Coal was “king” in the New River Gorge for over eighty years. People came from 

near and far to work in the coal mines and build area communities around 1900. 

Use the Decoder Key below to discover more about the park’s rich coal mining history.
12 New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger

Exploring parks is exciting! To keep the fun in these adventures it is smart 

to think safety first. Smart choices ensure adventures remain enjoyable and 

lessen impacts on natural and historic resources protected at the site. 

Pick out the smartest safety tip for each adventure below by circling the best choice for each 

activity. There is only one safe choice listed per topic; the other actions should not be taken.

A. It’s OK to touch and feed 

wildlife if they are gentle anim

B. If you see a baby animal all alo

been abandoned by its parent

critter home to care for it your

C. Touching or feeding wildlife ca

frightening –– for the critter. It

alone and watch them from a 

Play It Safe!Park

A. It’s OK to walk on the railroad tracks if no train is 

coming down the tracks. 

B. You’ll always hear a train coming down the 

tracks, so there should be time to get off the line.

C. Never walk on or near the railroad tracks. This 

is private property, plus you can’t always hear 

trains coming ‘round the bend.

Railroad Tracks & Trains

Wildlife Encounters
New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 13 

A. When near a cliff edge, be sure to hold someone’s hand 

if you lean over the edge. 

B. Always keep at least two body lengths between 

you and the edge of any cliff.

C. It’s OK to sit on the edge of a cliff and 

dangle your feet over the edge.

mals. 

one, it has likely 

ts. Take the young 

rself.

an be dangerous and 

t’s best to leave animals 

 distance.

A. Always wear a lifejacket when you are on or near the water. 

B. The river has swift currents, rapids, and even waterfalls, so this is a 

great place to swim.

C. Always wear a lifejacket when in a boat on the river, but this is not 

needed if you’re fishing from shore.

A. Crawling in or around historic buildings (even if it’s only 

part of a wall), can be dangerous, as well as damaging 

to the site. Look at these places from a distance, leaving 

history’s stories for others to enjoy.

B. If the building looks sturdy, it doesn’t hurt it to climb on 

the structure.

C. When visiting a historic site, it is OK to take a very small 

piece of building rubble if there is lots of it on the ground.

History’s Stories in Place

River Hazards

Near the Edge
14 New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger

Leave No Trace and YouPark

We each visit national parks for different reasons. People hike, 

boat, camp, explore nature and history, and more in these parks. 

With so much to see and do at each site, all of us can take easy steps to help 

care for these special places by practicing Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics. 

Take the smartest outdoor ethics action for each activity example below. 

Trash Your Trash 

(Dispose of Waste Properly)

You and your family have

a picnic in the park, but 

there isn’t a trash can at 

that site. What is the best thing to do with you picnic 

food scraps and trash? 

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Respect Wildlife

You see a fawn (baby deer) in the park. No adult deer seems 

to be around. What should you do? Check the best choice 

for this young animal. 

 Take the fawn home.

 Leave the fawn alone.

 Feed the fawn and hold it until the mother deer comes back.

Learn more about outdoor ethics techniques at the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics www.LNT.org 1-800-332-4100

Leave What You Find

You see a beautiful wildflower along a park trail. Circle ALL the best ways to share this plant with others, 

ways to “take it with you” without really taking the wildflower away from its natural habitat. 

Take a photo Pick the flower Draw a picture Take others to it

These seven guiding principles of 

outdoor ethics can help us take wise 

actions when playing outdoors.

• Know Before You Go 

 (Plan Ahead and Prepare)

• Choose the Right Path 

 (Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces)

• Trash Your Trash (Dispose of Waste Properly)

• Leave What You Find

• Be Careful With Fire 

 (Minimize Campfire Impacts)

• Respect Wildlife

• Be Kind to Other Visitors 

 (Be Considerate of Other Visitors)
New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 15 

Take a Hike

Choose one of the trails in the park to hike with your family. 

Keep track of cool things you see along the way, plus draw a 

picture of one of nature’s wonders. Have a great hike!

Trail Name: ____________________________________________

Photo by Jodi French-Burr

Nature Sketchbook

Draw a picture of a plant or animal that 

you saw on your hike.

Discovery Journal

Make your hike a discovery adventure. Check 

off the things you see on your walk, plus add 

more details if you like.

 historic building 

___________________

 bird _____________

 animal __________

 insect ___________

 tree _____________

 flower __________

 ________________

 ________________

 ________________
16 New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger

1. Thurmond depot was once one of the busiest passenger 

train stops in the New River Gorge. In the booming year 

of 1910, this Chesapeake & Ohio (C & O) station served 

how many passengers? (circle one) 

A) 21,000 B) 15,000 

C) 75,000 D) 120,000

2. The C & O Railway carried freight and passenger trains. Some used 

the tracks in secret, like hobos. Draw a line to match the codes left 

by hobos to send messages to one another: 

Canyon Rim Visitor Center

(open year-round) *See exhibits inside the visitor center.

Thurmond Depot Visitor Center

(open summer) *See inside and outside exhibits near the visitor center.

Visit the Visitor Centers 

Kind 

Lady

Freshwater

Safe Camp

Beware Police

of Dog

Hit the 

Road Quick

Good Place to 

Catch a Train

Stop by at least one New River Gorge National River visitor center. Explore the area 

and answer that site’s questions below. Get the passport cancellation stamp too. 

National Park Service photos.

Site Passport Cancellation

Site Passport Cancellation

1. List two pieces of equipment used for a safe river trip? 

 A) ____________________________________________ 

 B) ____________________________________________

2. The flat-topped plateau of the New River Gorge is part 

of what eastern U.S. mountain range? (circle one) 

A) Appalachian B) Rocky 

C) Sierra-Nevada D) Cascade 
New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 17 

Sandstone Visitor Center 

(open year-round) *See exhibits inside the visitor center.

1. The eastern hemlock tree is facing challenges throughout 

the region. This evergreen tree is being attacked by invading 

insects, a type of aphid. What invasive insect is killing 

hemlock trees in the New River Gorge? (circle one) 

A) woolly adelgid B) Asian longhorned beetle 

C) emerald ash borer D) gypsy moth

2. Great and catawba rhododendrons grow at Grandview. These large 

shrubs have showy blooms in the spring and early summer. Great 

rhododendron is the state flower of West Virginia. (circle one) 

True or False

1. Go to You Are Here on the visitor center floor map. The 

Bluestone River runs through a nearby national park, 

Bluestone National Scenic River. Which direction is the 

Bluestone River from You Are Here? (circle one) 

A) north B) south 

C) east D) northwest

2. Each of us can help protect our watersheds by being careful with 

how much water we use. How much water would a person waste if 

they left the faucet running while brushing their teeth? (circle one) 

A) 3 gallons B) 5 gallons 

C) 1 gallon D) 10 gallons 

3. Many people have made these mountains their home over time. Who 

were the earliest people to live here? (circle one) 

A) pilgrims B) American Indians 

C) Italian immigrants D) Irish immigrants 

Site Passport Cancellation

Site Passport Cancellation

Grandview Visitor Center 

(open summer) *See outside exhibits near the visitor center.
18 New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger

Search the Gauley

Gauley River National Recreation Area is a nearby National 

Park Service site. The Gauley River is well known as one of 

America’s most challenging rivers for whitewater boating, 

with a six week season each autumn. Find exciting elements 

of a local whitewater adventure in this word search.

I L O S T P A D D L E K S T A

T O I N S I G N I F I C A N T

A S R G A U L E Y K Z O N E H

K O O N T Z F L U M E R K R R

E F N A N I T U P I G C A R O

O E R A F T S A N B A A Y U W

U D I P A R D U T J R N A C B

T D N F I D F I E A R O K U A

P Y G S L L A F S T E E W S G

L I N E S P I L L O W R O C K

Z O O H E L M E T A C C E S S

Find names of river rapids:

Insignificant Lost Paddle

Iron Ring Pillow Rock

Koontz Flume Sweets Falls

Find this river gear:

helmet paddle

lifejacket raft

kayak throw bag

Find these river features:

current rapid

eddy rock

put-in take-out

BONUS: find this river’s name

The BLUE’s Clues

Bluestone National Scenic River is another nearby National 

Park Service site. The Bluestone River Gorge is home to many 

different animals. Each critter may leave a clue to their presence, 

like tracks, scat (poop), nest, and more. Draw a line to connect 

the animal to its tracks. National Park Service photo.

hind foot

2.2” x 1.9”

front foot

1.5” x 2.1”

hind foot

1.8” x 1.9”

front foot

1.7” x 1.8”

hind foot

5” x 5.5”

front foot

3” x 2.75”

hind foot

4” x 2.3”

front foot

2.5” x 2.5”

Opossum

Mink

Beaver

Raccoon

TIP:

hand-like with 

opposable 

thumbs, just 

like people TIP:

big back feet 

are webbed 

for swimming

TIP:

little webbing 

on all four feet 

for swimming

TIP:

toes bulbous 

on the ends

Mink, opossum, and raccoon illustrations © Zachery Zdinak

 Photo by Gary Hartley
New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 19 

arrowhead = people stories

Arrowhead: National Park Service Symbol

What things are protected in New River Gorge National River? What are some of your favorite parts of this 

park? Think about this and design a symbol for this National Park Service site, something that would let 

others know what is special about this park. 

Wherever you see this symbol in America, know that 

you are in a special place, a National Park Service site. 

This symbol shows what is preserved in parks. See the 

parts of the arrowhead below. 

bison = animals lake = water tree = plants mountain = land

My New River Gorge National River Symbol:
Cape Hatteras 

National Seashore 

North Carolina

2

20 New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger

 What park is where 

 one of the largest 

battles of the Civil War 

took place? Lincoln gave a 

famous “address” here.

Whereizzit?

National parks protect America’s scenery, natural and historic objects, and wildlife. 

These parks are places to have fun, yet protect these resources so people of the future 

can enjoy these special places too. There are over 400 National Park Service sites in America. 

Use the clues below to see what is special about these parks. Put the park number in its clue box. 

 Photos by Dave Bieri, Bill Dowling, and National Park Service staff.

Park Clues

What park is home 

to the world’s 

biggest trees? 

Some trees measure over 

100 feet in circumference 

at the base.

What park has a 

statue that welcomed 

immigrants to America? 

It was a gift from the people 

of France.

 What park 

 celebrates life on the 

country’s eastern shore?

It has lighthouses, sea turtles, 

water birds, and more.

What park was home to 

 the ancient Anasazi 

 people? They built and 

 lived in cliffside houses.

What park has 

America’s deepest 

canyon?

the Colorado River.

It is cut by 

What park has North 

America’s highest 

mountain? It has grizzly 

bears and caribou too.

Sequoia National Park 

California

7

Gettysburg National Military 

Park Pennsylvania

6

Statue of Liberty 

National Monument 

New York

5

Grand Canyon National Park 

Arizona

3

Denali National Park 

Alaska

4

Mesa Verde National Park 

Colorado

1
Fights wildfires 

in the park 

and manages 

prescribed burns.

Administration

New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger 21 

Park staff at New River Gorge National River have different jobs. They all work 

together to protect and preserve park resources for present and future generations. 

Draw a line to connect the National Park Service employee to their job. National Park Service photos.

Fun on the Job

Patrols the river, 

ensuring that 

park visitors are 

being safe and 

assist boaters 

who need help.

Studies the 

park’s people 

history and 

determines ways 

to best protect 

cultural sites.

River Ranger 

Cultural Resource Management

Maintenance

Fire Management 

Interpretation 

Natural Resource Management 

Visitor Protection

Identifies and 

studies the 

park’s natural 

resources and 

determines ways 

to best protect 

these resources.

Maintains the 

park’s structures, 

roads, and trails, 

and keeps the 

park clean.

Enforces 

regulations 

and ensures 

visitor safety by 

administering 

first-aid and 

handling search 

and rescue 

operations.

Educates visitors 

about park 

resources through 

guided hikes, talks, 

school programs, 

publications, and 

displays.

Performs the 

administrative 

duties of 

running a park 

(personnel, 

budget, etc.).
22 New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger

Interview a Ranger

Attend a Ranger Program

Attend a ranger-led program or activity. Write

down three things that you learned. If a program

is not scheduled during your visit, watch the park 

movie at either Canyon Rim Visitor Center or 

Sandstone Visitor Center and write down what 

you learned about the park from the film.

Name of the program: ________________________________

Ranger signature: ________________________________

Three things I learned during this program:

1. _______________________________________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Name of ranger: _____________________________________________

Question #1: _______________________________________________________________________________

Ranger answer: _____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Question #2: _______________________________________________________________________________

Ranger answer: _____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Question #3: _______________________________________________________________________________

Ranger answer: _____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

 National Park Service photo.

Talk with a park ranger. Ask questions about their job, their school 

background, or the park. Write down the questions answers 

below. Who knows, you may become a park ranger some day.
Junior Ranger

New River Gorge National River

This certifies that

__________________________________________

has successfully completed all the requirements to become 

a New River Gorge National River Junior Ranger and pledges 

to protect all national parks for future generations.

_________________________________

Park Ranger signature Date

Junior Ranger PledgeAs a Junior Ranger, I promise to:•	

Learn about parks and share what I‘ve learned with others. 

•	 Help keep parks clean.•	 Leave all natural and historic 

things as I find them. 
Place

Stamps

Here

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA

National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the InteriorNew River Gorge National RiverP.O. Box 246Glen Jean, WV 25846

Name: __________________Address: 

________________

________________________________________________________________________

Vers. 2015