1

Submerged Resources Center

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior
Red colored boxes are 

activities to do at home.

This booklet is full of fun activities to 

help you discover what is underwater. 

Dive with us as we explore different 

environments, animals, and the 

people who work beneath the surface. 

The best way to use this booklet is 

by completing a few pages at a time. 

Everyone will get an Underwater 

Explorer badge, so complete as many 

activities as you can. Ask your parents 

or siblings to go through the booklet 

with you so they can learn also!

Welcome to the Junior Ranger 

Underwater Explorer Booklet!

*All images are by the National Park Service unless indicated otherwise.*

The National Park Service turns 100 on August 25, 

2016! The Centennial will kick off a second century of 

stewardship of America’s national parks and engaging 

communities through recreation, conservation, and 

historic preservation programs. Join the celebration 

to explore, learn, discover, be inspired, or simply have 

fun in over 400 national parks!

Look for the Junior 

Ranger logo on the page 

to learn more about a 

topic on the National Park 

Service’s WebRangers at: 

www.nps.gov/webrangers/. 

Remember to ask your 

parent’s permission before 

you visit the website.

To receive a Junior Ranger Underwater Explorer Badge and Park Ranger’s signature, 

please present your signed pledge in the back of the booklet to a participating 

National Park Visitor Center or mail it to: 

National Park Service, Submerged Resources Center: Junior Ranger, 

12795 W. Alameda Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80228.
The Junior Ranger Motto:

“Explore, Learn, Protect.”

1.Explore. Be adventurous! Go see and do all the 

exciting things that America’s National Parks 

have to offer.

2.Learn. Find the facts! There are a lot of 

really cool things that you can learn from our 

National Parks, including information about 

America’s history, culture, ecosystems, and 

national treasures.

3.Protect. Be a friend of the National Parks! Do 

what you can to make sure other people can 

enjoy the park after your visit.

Most importantly.......

The Junior Ranger Program is found throughout the National Park Service and 

online with WebRangers. You can be a park-specific Junior Ranger or a specialized 

Junior Ranger, like an Underwater Explorer.

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What Does a Park Ranger Do?

Park Rangers care for and protect over 400 National Park units all over the country, 

which include some of the most beautiful, interesting, and historically important 

places in the United States.

How many National Parks have you visited? _________

Maybe you will become a Park Ranger when you grow up. Listed below are just a 

few jobs that Park Rangers can do, but there are many more as well! 

Rangers 

plan fun 

activities 

for 

visitors.

Rangers 

study and 

protect 

ecosystems.

Rangers 

answer 

visitors’ 

questions.

Rangers 

keep parks 

clean and 

safe.

Rangers 

can be 

scientists.

Fun ‘Flat Hat’ Fact:

The hats that Park Rangers wear 

have a curved or pinched top. If 

a Ranger is caught in a rainstorm, 

the curved top helps keep the 

Ranger’s head dry.

Rangers 

interpret 

the past.

Rangers 

fight 

forest 

fires.

Rangers 

protect 

underwater 

resources.

Rangers 

protect 

historic 

buildings.

Rangers 

rescue 

people.

Rangers 

patrol parks 

with cars, 

boats, and 

horses. 

Rangers 

design 

web 

pages.

Rangers 

enforce 

the law.

Rangers 

help maintain 

hiking trails.

Rangers 

study 

shipwrecks.

Circle or color in the arrowheads with the jobs that you would like to do. Think of a job that is not listed here 

and fill in the empty arrowhead below.

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Circle two of the parks shown above that you would like to visit. Write a sentence below explaining 

why you chose those two parks.

 _____________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________.

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What Are Water Resources?

Water resources are bodies of fresh and salt water that have recreational, 

economical, environmental, household, farming, or industrial uses. The 

National Park Service manages its water resources to protect the environment 

and promote recreation. These water resources provide homes for many 

different organisms. They are also a major part of the history of an area and 

are found throughout the United States. All water resources play an important 

role in the water cycle. Even the streams or ponds around your house and 

neighborhood are water resources, which are a part of the water cycle. The 

map below highlights a few National Parks and their water resources.
Use a pen or marker to follow the watershed paths from the colored round dots representing 

river tributaries to the matching star marking the mouth of the river. The main river 

channel is where lines overlap towards the mouth of the river.

1. Which colored dot can take the most river pathways while staying in the same watershed?

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. How many individual watersheds (with tributaries and river mouths) are shown on this 

map? ______________________________________________________________________________

Answers: 1. Yellow 2. Five colored river watersheds. 

Fresh Water is an everyday necessity for things like drinking, growing plants, and 

raising animals. In fact, access to fresh water is one of the main influences on where people choose 

to live. For thousands of years, until the arrival of Europeans, Native American tribes lived all over 

the country and used the same freshwater sources we rely on today: springs, rivers, lakes, and 

groundwater. Fresh water forms rivers or natural highways that stretch across the continent. Native 

Americans used hand-made canoes and rafts to travel and trade goods along these waterways. 

River highways and the land around them make up a watershed. At the beginning of a river, or its 

headwaters, small streams combine to form rivers called tributaries. Eventually, tributaries come 

together making an even larger river that becomes the main river channel. The main channel ends 

at the mouth of the river where fresh water meets with salt water in the ocean. In America, the 

Mississippi River is largest watershed and is colored with yellow in the map. It creates part of the 

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail that connects over 11 states to each other by waterway. The 

National Park Service protects and studies watersheds making sure they are clean and healthy.

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Salt Water covers 70% of the Earth’s surface and is the reason it is called the Blue 

Planet. There are five major oceans interconnected around the world through currents. Currents 

are rivers in the oceans generated by differences in water temperature, amounts of dissolved 

salt (called salinity), and wind direction. Heat makes water less dense, which causes warm water 

to rise above cold water. Salinity makes water more dense. Water with more salinity will sink to 

the bottom. The direction and strength of the wind can push water in a certain direction. The 

combination of heat, salt, and wind keep the oceans constantly moving. 

Ocean currents flow on known pathways and have allowed travelers to explore the world. Currents 

also shape ocean ecosystems by carrying rich food sources to fish and other organisms. Different 

animal species follow the ocean currents into park habitats. For example, Channel Islands National 

Park in California is surrounded by several different currents ranging in strength and direction. 

These combine to create many habitats for a wide range of plants and animals. The arrows and 

colors on the map below indicate the direction and temperature of major currents worldwide. 

Current Activity!

Explore how currents work at home! Have your parents help you with these experiments.

Items needed:

1. Pie tin or container 3. Salt 5. Oregano (or other floating herb)

2. Straw 4. Food coloring 6. Small cup

Wind Experiment: 1) Fill the tin or container up to the brim with cold water. 2) Add oregano 

or similar herb to water. 3) In one location of the container, like the center or a side, use the 

straw to blow the herbs around the container. Notice the pattern of the herbs as they move.

Temperature & Salinity Experiment: 1) Remove a tablespoon of water from the wind 

experiment container. 2) In a small cup, mix together a tablespoon of warm or hot water, a 

tablespoon of salt, and a few drops of food coloring. 3) Pour the small cup of salt and food 

coloring into the container with cold water. Watch how the warm colored water mixes with the cold water and herbs. 

The yellow and green colors in the image on the right show how water is mixing in the ocean as warm water from the 

Gulf Stream Current (in red) mixes with cold water of the Labrador Current (in blue).

Courtesy of the US Government

Courtesy of NOAA

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8

Environment Matching

Draw a line from the numbered environment description to the 

lettered picture that represents it!

I am a flowing, natural waterway full of freshwater. 

I can be very big, like the Mississippi, or small, like 

something you could find in your neighborhood.

I am a mixture of both fresh and salt water, where 

rivers connect to the ocean. I can be called many 

things such as bay, inlet, sound, or wetland. I 

provide homes for many species of plants and 

animals.

A. Estuary F. Coral Reef

B. Glacier

C. Kelp Forest

D. Lake

E. Beach

G. River

H. Freshwater Spring

I. Mangroves

J. Hydrothermal Vents

I am created by colonies of hard skeleton animals 

and provide a great home for fish. I cover less than 

0.1% of the ocean and am threatened by climate 

change, but I am still a popular and beautiful place 

to visit.

I am a large body of freshwater that stays relatively 

still even though I am usually connected to a 

stream or river. I can be a great place to fish and 

always play a vital role in the watershed.

I am a group of trees and shrubs that live with my 

roots in salt water along the coastline, sometimes 

making small islands. Tides change the level of 

water around me. My roots provide protection 

for baby ocean fish.

I am a massive body of ice made from a large 

reservoir of frozen water. I can be found in the 

polar regions and in tall mountains around the 

world. When I melt, a process called calving, the 

pieces that fall off are called icebergs. 

I am made of tiny pieces of sand and rocks found 

on a shoreline. I make a great place for summer 

vacations and sand castles, but remember to wear 

a hat and use sunscreen!

I am a group of large seaweed plants that grow 

from the sea floor to the surface. Some plants 

have gas-filled bladders, like balloons, that help 

me grow towards the sunlight. Sea otters and sea 

lions like to play in my plant maze!

I am an underground aquifer full of crystal clear, 

blue water. I travel through caves and come out 

through rock openings. I provide drinking water 

for many people and a warm home for manatees, 

so it’s important that I stay clean.

I am a fissure in the earth’s crust and push out 

extremely hot water. I can grow in the shape of 

towers or spiress. I am found in both salt and fresh 

water. 

© Liquid Productions, LLC

Answers: 1.G; 2. A; 3.F; 4.D; 5.I; 6. B; 7. E; 8. C; 9.H; 10. J

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.
How Do We Know What’s Underwater?

Currently, we know more about the surface of the moon than we do about many 

of our water resources! The National Park Service along with many other agencies, 

organizations, and educational institutions actively work underwater to research 

and monitor different aquatic environments, organisms, and cultural artifacts. Because 

we are still learning about our water resources, there are endless opportunities for 

underwater research. Take a look at the page below and the rest of this Junior Ranger 

Booklet to find examples of what National Park Service scientists are studying. Maybe 

one day you will help the National Park Service conduct research underwater!

Scientists like those from 

Oregon’s Crater Lake 

National Park study 

water itself. They look at 

chemicals in the water to 

track the water quality 

in the lake. It is a very 

important job of Park 

Rangers and scientists 

to help keep all of our 

National Parks clean from 

unwanted chemicals and 

other possible pollutants.

Near coast lines, boaters 

accidently drive in the shallow 

areas and damage seagrass with 

their propellers causing prop 

scars. Biologists in Florida’s 

Biscayne National Park document 

and restore damaged seagrass that 

grow in the shallow water around 

the park. Seagrass is replanted in 

the scars and then monitored for 

health and density. Without the 

help of the scientists, the grass 

may not grow back. 

Archaeologists are scientists who study people from the past 

through artifacts or objects left behind. Some archaeologists, 

like those from the Submerged Resources Center, specialize in 

researching artifacts that are found underwater. These artifacts 

can be small like pottery, or big like a tank or shipwreck! 

Documenting and researching these objects can help us learn 

about the way people in the past worked and lived. Submerged 

artifacts act like a time capsule, preserving a moment in 

history, which may have otherwise been lost if on land.

Not everyone can go underwater to see what lies below 

the surface. Photographers help archaeologists and other 

scientists document submerged resources by taking 

photographs and videos including cool 3D video. This helps 

us see how things change over time such as how shipwrecks 

are impacted by storms or how corals are growing on a site. 

The work of underwater researchers, like archaeologists and 

photographers, helps the National Park Service share what is 

underwater with people across the country and the world.

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The National Park Service has scientists and researchers that use specialized 

equipment to work underwater. The most important equipment that people use 

underwater is called SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) 

equipment. It includes an air source, which is usually a tank full of compressed air (or 

a mixtures of gases), a regulator for breathing, and a buoyancy compensator device 

that will hold the tank and regulator in place. Take a look at the scientific diver and 

the SCUBA equipment that she uses to work underwater.

2. A Regulator- helps a diver breathe 

underwater. It is a series of valves that 

control the flow of compressed air 

from the tank into a diver’s mouth. 

3. A Tank- holds compressed air a 

diver breathes while underwater and is 

carried on a diver’s back. Also called a 

cylinder, a tank is the heaviest part of a 

diver’s equipment. 

4. A Buoyancy Compensator Device 

(BCD)- is a jacket or vest that helps a 

diver ascend or descend underwater 

when air is added or removed, and it 

keeps the tank on the diver’s back.

5. A Diving Mask-helps a diver to see 

clearly underwater. Masks include a 

nose pocket, so no water goes up a 

diver’s nose.

6. Fins- fit over a diver’s feet and help 

the diver swim and kick effectively 

through the water. 

1. A Wetsuit- keeps a diver warm in 

the water and can protect them from 

stinging jellyfish. Wetsuits come in all 

sorts of colors and sizes and are worn 

underneath all of the equipment.

Let’s get ready to dive! Write the 

equipment description number on the 

line next to its matching letter on the 

diver diagram.

Answers: 3.A; 5.B; 2.C; 4.D; 1.E; 6.E. 

____. C

____. D

____. B

____. F

____. E

____. A

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At times, archaeologists use metal 

detectors to reveal hidden objects 

beneath the sand. If metal is found, the 

detector gives off a sound to alert the 

scientist of its presence.

Cameras can go underwater when 

they are placed in an underwater 

housing (a waterproof case). Some 

housings have lights or strobes to help 

shine extra light on their subjects.

In addition to SCUBA equipment, National Park Service scientists use underwater cameras, 

metal detectors, and other cool gadgets to help find and document underwater resources!

Scientists use a regular pencil and 

special waterproof paper to document 

all types of submerged resources. Will 

you help park archaeologists map a 

section of this shipwreck located in 

Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park? 

Use the blank space below to draw the 

tugboat shown on the left. 

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Corals are tiny animals that grow together in colonies or groups to form 

beautiful coral reefs. Coral reefs provide homes for many other creatures, while 

protecting the coastline from big waves and storms. There are four coral identification 

groups: hydrocorals, gorgonians, stony corals, and black corals. 

Hydrocorals, pictured on the right, have stinging cells that protect 

them from animals that get too close. Gorgonians look like leaves 

or fuzzy, flexible plants with beautiful colors. Stony corals are hard 

like rocks and are the most recognizable corals, since their large 

structures act as building blocks for the reef. Black corals, named for 

their dark color, normally live in deeper water and grow slowly.

Each individual coral, or polyp, forms a skeleton 

as it grows. The structure of a reef is made up of millions of these 

coral skeletons. Some coral reefs, such as the Great Barrier Reef 

in Australia, are large enough to see from space. 

Inside most coral polyps are zooxanthellae 

(zoo-zan-thel-ee), which are tiny algae that 

give coral its color and food. Like plants on 

land, zooxanthellae harness energy from 

the sun to make food. Coral polyps need the 

food produced by zooxanthellae to survive, 

while the zooxanthellae need the protection 

of the coral’s hard skeleton.

During a visit to a beautiful coral reef, such as Buck Island Reef National Monument in 

the U.S. Virgin Islands or War In The Pacific National Historical Park in Guam, you can 

see colorful fish and other animals that call coral reefs their home. You never know what 

may swim by! 

Diagram of Stony Coral Polyp

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Mouth

Zooxanthellae

Tentacle

Body Cavity

Limestone Cup
___ ;

Use the decoder box to the left to find the hidden message above!

Make Your Own Coral Polyp

Use the Stony Coral Polyp diagram on the previous page to help with this activity!

Items needed:

1. Plate= limestone base 4. Cake frosting= limestone cup

2.Marshmallow= coral polyp body 5. Sprinkles= zooxanthellae

3. Red licorice= tentacles

1. Place the plate, or limestone base, on a table then put the marshmallow 

 in the center. 

2. Use a toothpick or something similar to help guide in the tentacles of red 

 licorice into the sides of the marshmallow. 

3. Cover the outside of the marshmallow and licorice with frosting as the 

 limestone cup and sprinkles as the zooxanthellae. 

4. Act like a parrotfish and eat your coral polyp!

Decoded answer: Help keep coral reefs healthy; put trash in bins.

.

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Kelp Forests are made up of different 

types of seaweeds, or algae. The largest type of algae 

in this forest is giant kelp. Giant kelp can live at depths 

below 100 feet and grow almost two feet per day! Like 

tropical rainforests, kelp forests are diverse and support 

over 1,000 different species! The kelp canopy offers 

protection for small organisms by slowing down the 

water movement and providing refuge from predators.

Kelp use holdfasts, which are root-like structures, to anchor 

themselves to the seafloor. From the holdfast, a stem-like structure 

called the stipe grows towards the surface and 

supports numerous blades that look like leaves. 

Gas-filled bladders called pneumatocysts (newmat-oh-sists), similar to small balloons, support 

the blades by floating them towards the surface. 

Kelp blades need to be close enough to the 

surface in order to absorb sunlight and nutrients. 

Kelp forests, such as those found in Channel Islands National Park, 

are unique since they experience both warm water currents from the south and cold 

water currents from the north. This mixing of currents creates a highly productive 

ecosystem supporting a diversity of organisms only found along the California coast. 

The next page highlights a few organisms that call kelp forests home. 

Diagram of Giant Kelp

Holdfast

Stipe

Pneumatocyst

Frond Blade

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Can you find the differences between the kelp forest residents below? Circle five differences 

between the right picture and the left picture. 

Residents of a Kelp Forest

Garibaldi Fish Sea Lions

Sunflower Star Bat Star

Sea Urchins

Pacific Electric Ray

Answers: No tail on sea lion; Garibaldi facing opposite direction; different sunflower star; extra sea urchin; sea star for sea urchin.

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 ACIDIFICATION CORAL POLYP LIONFISH SHIPWRECK

 ARCHAEOLOGIST GLACIER MANGROVES WATERSHED

 BEACHES HISTORY REEFS WETLANDS

 BLEACHING KELP RIVERS ZOOXANTHELLAE

 BIOLOGIST LIMESTONE CUP SHARKS 

The unused letters in the puzzle spell out a hidden message. Begin using the letters in the top left corner 

and go across, ending in the bottom right corner. After solving the puzzle, the message will be revealed by 

writing the letters in order below:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________!

R P B L E A C H I N G

I L E A G L A C I E R

V B M A N G R O V E S

E E S K E H C E L P Z

R A A E S A H V E A O

S C C L N D A P R L O

S H I P W R E C K I X

C E D O T E O C T M A

O S I O U R L S U E N

R B F M E R O G E S T

A B I O L O G I S T H

L W C L D R I E S O E

P O A U I R S C E N L

O R T T S O T B Y E L

L E I B E S N E C C A

Y E O O K R M F I U E

P F N R N G S A I P J

U S A N I O R H R S A

N H I S T O R Y E G H

S E R W E T L A N D S

Water Word Search

Hidden message: Please help save and protect our submerged resources by becoming a junior ranger.

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Color the Freshwater Fish

Sockeye Salmon

Oncorhynchus nerka

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Lepomis gibbosus

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

Salmon begin their 

lives in freshwater 

rivers, like rivers 

found in Olympic 

and Katmai National 

Parks in Washington 

State and Alaska. 

Eventually, they swim 

downstream and out 

to sea, living in the 

ocean for one to seven 

years depending on 

the species. Salmon 

return, swimming 

against the current 

of fresh water to 

reach their spawning 

grounds, which is the 

same place where 

they were born. After 

spawning, most male 

and female salmon 

die, providing food 

and nutrients for the 

river’s ecosystem. 

Helpful Hint:

Common Name

Scientific Name

Courtesy of USFWS

Courtesy of USFWS

Courtesy of Ohio Department of National Resources

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Palette Tang

Paracanthurus hepatus

Regal Angelfish

Pygoplites diacanthus

Elegant Dartfish

Nemateleotris decora

A Palette Tang is a type 

of Pacific surgeonfish 

and a popular movie 

character. There are 

over 80 species of 

surgeonfish! They can 

be found in numerous 

parks like the National 

Park of American 

Samoa. Surgeonfish have 

two hard spines at the 

base of their tail, one on 

each side. The spine lies 

in a groove until the fish 

feels threatened, then 

the spine sticks out like a 

small knife or surgeon’s 

scalpel to scare off 

danger. Surgeonfish like 

to eat algae that grows 

attached to coral.

Color the Pacific Ocean Fish

NPS-Bryan Harry

NPS-Bryan Harry

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Juvenile Queen Angelfish

Holacanthus ciliaris

Stoplight Parrotfish

Sparisoma viride

Scrawled Cowfish

Acanthostracion quadricormis

Color the Atlantic Ocean Fish

Parrotfish like to munch 

on coral polyps to get 

to the zooxanthellae

(zoo-zan-thel-ee), which 

are the tiny algae living 

inside coral. Eating 

coral is very loud! You 

can hear the parrotfish 

munching while you are 

snorkeling or diving in 

parks like Virgin Islands 

National Park. Parrotfish 

digest the coral and turn 

it into sand. Thanks goes 

to the hungry parrotfish 

for making some of the 

most beautiful sandy 

beaches we see around 

the world.

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Sharks are one of the most recognizable predators in 

the ocean. Unlike humans, sharks do not have bones for their 

skeletons; instead they have flexible cartilage skeletons, which 

give them the ability to withstand pressures at deep depths. Over 

the past 400 million years, shark bodies have become streamlined 

and built for speed. Sharks and rays have a special organ on their 

head called the ampullae of Lorenzini that senses other animals through an electromagnetic 

field. Low visibility in the water can make prey hard to find with eyesight alone, but with the 

help of the ampullae of Lorenzini, finding food is easier.

There are over 470 different species of sharks that live in our waters and there is still much to 

learn about them. Many shark species visit National Parks during part of their lives. Sharks 

tend to be misunderstood and are perceived as dangerous; 

however, shark attacks on humans are rare when compared to 

the millions of people swimming in the ocean. The National Park 

Service is studying sharks to learn new information and keep 

visitors safe.

Sadly, shark populations are dropping quickly because of 

by-catch (getting caught in fishing nets by accident) and the 

shark finning industry. Scientists all over the world are trying 

to learn as much as possible about sharks so we can better 

protect them.

This is an example of a left side spot 

patterning. The spots needed to identify an 

individual are behind the shark’s gills and 

above the pectoral fin. Look at the next page 

for shark anatomy.

© Ryan Eckert/ ECOCEAN © ECOCEAN

In the finning industry, thousands 

of sharks are killed each year for 

only their fins. Their fins are sold in 

stores as an expensive ingredient in 

shark fin soup. 

Background Image: © Jonathan Bird

For shark identification, scientists and researchers take pictures of different species of sharks with their 

unique scars and dorsal fins. Some researchers, like those working in California’s Point Reyes National 

Seashore and Florida’s Dry Tortugas National Park, place satellite tags on the shark’s first dorsal fin or its 

dorsal surface to track each of their movements throughout the ocean.

Courtesy of Stephen Sanchagrin

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Whale sharks are the largest sharks, averaging 40 feet in length 

and weighing around 33,000 pounds! These large sharks eat 

plankton, which are tiny, microscopic organisms in the water. 

Individual whale sharks can be identified by their unique spot 

patterns on their sides as shown in the red box to the right.

Identifying and Tagging Sharks
Shark Matching!

Match the shark silhouette and description with 

the correct shark picture on the right. Use the 

diagram on the right for shark anatomy. 

Shark images brought to you by:

© Jonathan Bird

© Jonathan Bird

© Jonathan Bird

© Jonathan Bird

© Jonathan Bird

© Jonathan Bird

Order of shark images from top down: Basking, Hammerhead, Tiger, Whitetip, and Blue.

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Scalloped Hammerhead Shark: 

distinctly curved, wide head with 

eyes located at each end; pointy fins; 

white ventral surface.

Basking Shark: second largest 

shark; wide mouth to filter water for 

plankton through gill rakers; pointed 

snout; grey/black in color; crescent 

shaped caudal fin.

Oceanic Whitetip Shark: rounded 

fins with white markings on each 

end; very large pectoral fins for fast 

swimming; thick snout.

Tiger Shark: thick, 

square head; blunt snout; light spots 

turn to stripes along its side as the 

shark ages; average 9-14 feet in 

length, but can be over 

20 feet long.

Blue Shark: slim, sleek body with 

long pointy snout; very blue dorsal 

surface and white ventral surface; 

pointed fins; small first dorsal fin; 

long, pectoral fins.
Scientists from Dry Tortugas National Park and Padre Island National Seashore in Texas 

are pictured here gathering information such as shell size, weight, and gender before 

placing tracking devices and numbers on each turtle’s back. The numbers and satellite tags 

are used for identification and tracking, similar to the devices scientists use to study sharks. 

Sea Turtles are air-breathing reptiles that spend 

most of their lives in the water. They can hold their breath for 

as long as five hours. Hawksbill turtles only come to shore to lay 

their eggs. Green turtles come to shore to lay their eggs and also 

to rest. Their eggs are laid in sandy beach nests like those found 

in Gulf Islands National Seashore located in Mississippi and 

Florida, and typically take about seven weeks to hatch. Sea turtles 

grow very slowly, and won’t breed until they are between 15 to 50 

years old. It is still unknown how long sea turtles live, but scientists estimate between 80-100 

years and maybe more. When they’re ready, the female travels back to the beach where she 

was born, digs a nest with her flippers, and lays up to 150 ping-pong ball sized eggs.

There are seven living species of sea turtles. All six species found in U.S. water are listed as 

endangered or threatened. The majority of sea turtles eat jellyfish, but they can mistake trash 

like plastic bags for food and become very sick or die. That is why it is very important to pick 

up trash and bring reusable bags to the grocery store. You could save a sea turtle’s life!

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Help this turtle find her way back to the beaches of Florida’s Cape 

Canaveral National Seashore where she was born. Beware of plastic bags, 

nets, and trash! Even though it may take many years, trash floating within 

inland water may eventually end up in the ocean. You can prevent turtle 

deaths by picking up trash in your neighborhood.

Courtesy of NOA

A

Courtesy of NOAA

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Invasive Species are organisms, like plants and animals, that are not native 

to a particular environment. These invasive creatures take resources such as habitat and food 

from the native species that need them to survive. Certain types of mussels, Asian carp, and 

lionfish are among the most prominent aquatic invasive species in the United States. They can 

grow fast, reproduce often, and adapt well to new environments. This means invasive species 

can quickly disrupt an ecosystem if we are not paying attention! 

The National Park Service is working hard to inform visitors of problems with invasive species 

and how each visitor can help keep them from spreading. Invasive species are extremely 

difficult to get rid of once they arrive, so Park Rangers need your help to keep them out and 

avoid new invaders from being introduced.

Quagga and Zebra Mussels are invasive species found in 

freshwater like Arizona’s & Nevada’s Lake Mead National Recreational Area and Michigan’s 

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Quagga and zebra mussels originated from parts of 

Europe and Russia. Both mussels are striped and about the size of an adult person’s thumbnail. 

Mussels are filter feeders,which means they pull water into their shells to eat algae or plankton 

and then push out the food-free water. They are so good at filtering water that other native filterfeeding animals do not have enough food to eat!

Both quagga and zebra mussels reproduce very quickly. Take a look at 

the brick experiment in the pictures below and see just how fast mussels 

grow! If you leave a boat in the water long enough, they will grow on the 

bottom of the boat as well. National Parks are doing their best to make 

sure boats and recreational vehicles are properly washed and cleaned 

when visiting park waters to avoid the spread of these invasive species.

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Image taken November 2007.

Image taken December 2009.

24
Asian Carp is a general name for a few invasive species of freshwater carp. The 

different types of Asian carp include the silver, bighead, black, and grass carp that are outcompeting 

native fish in lakes and rivers, mainly throughout the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United 

States. Asian carp were introduced to America during the 

1970s to help fish farmers filter and clean the water their small 

lakes and ponds, but floods released them into the wild. 

Asian carp have now taken over waterways, like the 

Mississippi River. Parks such as the Mississippi National 

River and Recreational Area are working hard to keep them 

from becoming permanently established. First, they love to 

eat: Asian carp can eat 20-40% of their body weight each 

day. Second, they reproduce very fast and, in some areas, are 

97% of the fish found in the water! Finally, Asian carp are 

dangerous. These carp can jump up to 10 feet out of the water! 

Watch out! The National Park Service and other agencies are 

using many different methods to keep from spreading.

Credit:U.S. Geological Survey

Can you jump like an Asian Carp?

Let’s see how high can you jump!

Items needs:

1. Pieces of tape 2. Tape measure 3. Pencil and Paper

1. Mark how tall you are by standing next to a wall and place a piece of tape at the top

 of your head to show your height before starting. 

2. Have your parents or a tall friend stand beside you to mark how high you jumped 

 into the air with another piece of tape. 

3. Jump as high as you can!

4. Use the tape measure, starting at the floor, and measure up to both pieces of tape. 

 Write down both numbers on your piece of paper.

5. Take your jumped height minus your standing height for your answer.

How high did you jump? _________________________ 

Background Images: Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

25
Lionfish are venomous creatures native to the South Pacific Ocean, but they have 

invaded the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico through the aquarium trade. 

For protection against predators, lionfish have venomous spines on their back and underside. In 

some areas, lionfish have been known to eat 90% of the other fish 

species on the reef and live up to 15 years! 

Female lionfish can produce over two million eggs per year. That’s 

a lot of lionfish! Here, lionfish do not have many predators to limit 

their population. As a result, you can find hundreds of lionfish in a 

single acre. Lionfish are a problem in National Parks like Biscayne, 

because they have big appetites and produce many offspring. Park 

Service divers are actively monitoring and removing lionfish. There 

is good news; lionfish tastes great! Some restaurants are now serving 

lionfish. By removing lionfish from the reef, native fish have a chance 

to survive and reproduce, which keeps our coral reefs healthy.

Can you help find all of the lionfish hiding on the coral reef below? Lionfish like to hide behind 

coral, and even float with their tails up towards the surface to help them ambush their prey. 

Circle all of the lionfish you see.

Answer: seven hiding lionfish.

Courtesy of REEF.org

26
Background Image Courtesy of REEF.org

Make Your Own Lionfish

Use the lionfish diagram above for the correct location of fins and spines. Have your parent or an 

adult help you on this activity.

Items Needed:

1. Potato = fish body 2. Toothpicks = spines 3. Parchment Paper =fins 4. Markers = stripes

1. Ask your parents to help you cook a potato. Make sure the potato is cooled before you begin.

2. With supervision, use a knife to shape the potato into the body of a lionfish. 

3. Color the ends of 18 toothpicks used for the venomous spines. This will identify which spines are

 poisonous. Begin sticking the toothpicks into the potato for the fins and spines. Remember to use 

 the diagram for help!

4. Color parchment paper with lionfish stripes before cutting into strips or fin-sized pieces, then weave

 the paper through the toothpicks.

5. Eat your potato lionfish! Eating lionfish is a great way to help remove this invasive species from the 

 reefs. Remember to carefully remove the fins and venomous spines before you eat it!

27
Sunk!

There are things underwater that we might not expect to find. People throughout history 

have used water for a variety of needs including travel and trade. Just like vehicles 

breaking down on highways, ships and boats ,as well as 

airplanes flying over the water, are occasionally lost. When 

they sink, many of the objects they carry go down with 

them. The result is a collection of items, including the ships 

themselves, that end up on the bottom providing homes for 

coral, fish, and algae, along with objects for National Park 

Service scientists to study.

K T H

L U C

H A

N I L

__NC__OR

A__R 

P__A__E

S__HOO__ 

B__S

S__ERMAN 

__AN__

Help archaeologists identify these sunken objects found within National Parks! Use the scrambled letters next to the 

pictures on the left to fill in the blank letters on the right. 

Courtesy of William Grimes

Courtesy of US Army

Courtesy of Warbirds/Wikipedia

Answers: Air Plane; Anchor; School Bus; Sherman Tank

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29

Trash! Litter! Marine Debris!

Trash can sometimes be left carelessly on the ground. That trash can end up in flowing 

through a watershed and eventually, into the ocean. The National Park Service works 

daily to pick up trash, but we could use your help both inside and outside each park. 

Help us keep all of our parks and surrounding environments clean and safe by picking up 

the trash you see. Visitor Centers at National Parks can provide you with a trash bag if 

needed. As you pick up trash, write down in the space below the kind and number of trash 

pieces you find. Be careful not to pick up sharp objects or unidentifiable trash unless an 

adult is with you. 

________ Food Wrappers/Containers _________ Fishing Line

________ Beverage Cans/Bottles _________ Plastic Bags

________ Cigarettes/Packaging _________ Other

Show you care by not littering. Thank you for your help!

You Can Help At Home!

Walk around outside your house and pick up 

any trash you see. You can use the activity space 

above to keep track of the trash you collect.

Can you do this each month for 6 months or 

longer? Try it! You will help the environment 

with this good habit.

Did You Know?

How long does it take your everyday trash to 

turn back into soil? Look at the chart below 

to see the length of time for those things you 

use most every day.

Paper Towel.......................... 2-4 weeks

Apple Core...............................2 months

Cigarette Butt.......................... 1-5 years

Plastic Bag............................10-20 years

Aluminum Can.................... 80-200 years

Plastic Soda Bottle...............450-500 years

Monofilament Fishing Line.............600 years

Glass Bottle.................... 1,000,000 years

Recycling one aluminum can will save enough 

energy to run your TV for three hours.
Climate Change refers to atmospheric imbalances occurring as the 

average global temperature rises resulting in altered weather patterns and extreme weather 

events. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are building in the atmosphere from 

burning fossil fuels, like gasoline and coal, and from deforestation (cutting down forests). 

Increased greenhouse gases cause the atmosphere to retain more of the sun’s heat resulting 

in rising temperatures. Humans around the world are responsible for causing these changes. 

In the past, these changes have occurred naturally, but much slower, giving the environment 

time to adapt. Big cities, factories, and technology have sped up this process and it is impacting 

the world, especially our water resources. For example, glaciers are melting causing sea levels 

to rise, the oceans are getting warmer, and extreme weather is causing droughts, floods, and 

stronger storms systems. 

National Parks across the country are researching and monitoring the changes to our climate 

so we can understand how it is affecting our parks and predict what may happen in the future. 

Even though climate change is occurring on a global scale, YOU can make a difference by being 

aware of the changes and understanding the impact of the decisions you make everyday! The 

next two pages have great ideas on how you can make a difference. 

Background Image Courtesy of Megan Cook

Climate change is warming ocean temperatures, which can cause 

coral bleaching. When the water is too warm, coral polyps force 

their zooxanthellae to leave, resulting in a bleached or discolored 

appearance. Climate change also impacts coral reefs through ocean 

acidification, which is increased amounts of carbon dioxide absorbed 

by the ocean. This can affect a coral’s ability to make their strong 

limestone cup. Monitoring programs are in place at parks, like Virgin 

Islands National Park, to document and study the health of the reefs. 

Rising water temperatures are also affecting fish that live in freshwater 

streams and rivers. In places such as North Cascades National Park in 

Washington State, trout and salmon need cool water to safely lay their 

eggs. Warmer temperatures are heating the water and it is becoming 

too hot for fish to breed or live there.

Courtesy of USFWS

Courtesy of NOAA

30
Make Your Own Reusable Bag

Ask your parents to help with this activity.

Items needed:

1. T-shirt 2. Scissors 3. A sewing kit or sewing machine

1. Take an old T-shirt: feel free to decorate with iron-on graphics, paint, or dye.

2. Lay the shirt flat and cut off the sleeves for bag handles.

3. Cut the neck out for the bag opening-make sure the opening is not too big! 

 You can make the opening square, rounded, or V-like.

4. Fold the bottom of the shirt together and have an adult sew the shirt closed 

 to seal the bottom of the bag.

Now you have a great reusable bag to take to the grocery and elsewhere!

How You Can Reduce Climate Change

Draw lines to connect the boxes that list the ways you can help National Parks by reducing 

climate change around your home. Do your changes form a circle around the Earth? 

Ask 

your parents 

to walk into a fast food 

restaurant instead of using 

the drive-thru.

Turn

off your TVs, 

computers, and lights 

when you aren’t activity 

using them.

Recycle. Plant 

a tree.

Create 

a compost pile 

in your yard for leaves, 

grass clippings, and plantbased kitchen waste.

Ask 

your parents about 

carrying reusable grocery bags. You 

can help them remember to take the 

bags into the store.

Save 

clean, fresh 

drinking water by drinking 

from the tap instead of buying 

bottled water. This way you 

save water and reduce 

plastic waste.

Turn 

off and unplug 

your electronic gadgets. 

Even if electronics are turned 

off, they still use energy unless 

they are unplugged from 

the outlet.

Ask 

your parents to help you 

plant a fruit or vegetable garden. 

Eating local food saves gasoline 

during food transportation.

31
12 Things You Can Do at Home & School to Save Water

By Jill Heinerth, Underwater Explorer and Documentary Director of We Are Water

1. Use a refillable water bottle for drinking. Not only can you take it with you to stay hydrated, but you

 can put cool stickers on them too.

2. Turn off water while brushing your teeth. This can save around 360 liters or 95 gallons per week.

3. Use your bathroom towel more than once after your shower.

4. Eat less meat. Animals use a lot of water for daily drinking and growing their food.

5. Drink tap water if it is safe in your area. The water from your faucet tastes the same as from the store

 and it reduces plastic.

6. Recycle or reuse glass, plastic, and aluminum. You can reduce trash or make great crafts at home by

 reusing these items. 

7. Donate your toys and clothes. This will help save the water used to make new ones.

8. Use less paper at home and at school. Remember to write and print on both sides of each piece.

9. Report leaking faucets and toilets to teachers at school. This could save 300 gallons of water!

10. Put up posters to remind other students to turn off faucets in the bathroom.

11. Learn how to read a water meter to see how much water is used each week at your school or home. 

12. Ask your teacher to help locate and learn more about your local watershed.

Can you think of two more ways that you could help save water?

1. __________________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________________________

Ask your parents if they can think of two more ways to help save water.

1. __________________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________________________

For more information, check out the documentary We Are Water by Jill Heinerth and Robert McClellan.

The water cycle is vital to our lives. Things we do to the water around us impact other stages 

of the water cycle. It is important to the National Park Service to understand how all of our 

environments are part of this water cycle. The water around a park or your home flows into your 

local watershed and eventually into the ocean. Keeping water around your house clean from trash 

and pollution will help keep water clean for others! 

32
33

Here is the National Park Service arrowhead symbol. Each item in the 

arrowhead represents a feature protected within national park sites. 

The sequoia tree represents all plants; the bison represents all animals; 

the mountain represents all land forms; the lake represents all waters; 

and the arrowhead outline represents culture and history.

If you were going to design 

your own patch just for 

Underwater Explorer, 

what would it look like? 

Use the blank arrowhead 

to design yours.

Protecting Our Saltwater and Freshwater Resources

•	 To better protect our water resources, we need to know more about them.

•	 We are all connected to water; water connects the world.

•	 Our lives depend on both fresh and salt water. 

•	 The health of our oceans and freshwater systems has declined, which 

means their future is threatened. 

•	 The ocean is vast, yet one person can make a difference.

•	 Fresh water is limited, so we need to conserve water when we can. 

•	 National Parks protect our water resources for future generations.

•	 The National Park System has more than 400 park protected units that 

play a vital role in local watersheds and water cycles.
As Underwater Explorers, we have discovered 

different environments, animals, and things we all 

can do to help save water and the environment. 

Even though our water resources are having a few 

challenges with invasive species and trash, there 

are great things happening at the same time like 

researching animals and investigating shipwrecks. 

Dedicated Park Rangers and Junior Rangers are 

helping National Parks everyday by exploring, 

learning, and protecting all of the resources. 

Courtesy of Dan Johnson

Take a look at your fellow Junior Rangers who are living by the Junior Ranger motto of explore, learn, 

and protect. What can you do to live by the Junior Ranger Motto?

 _____________________________________________________________________________

34
As a Junior Ranger, I ______________________, promise 

to:

1. Protect and preserve both natural and cultural 

resources underwater and on land for my generation 

and generations to come. 

2. Do my best to keep our environment free from litter 

and trash. 

3. Explore my National Parks and teach others what I 

have learned.

Congratulations! Junior Ranger ____________________ 

has successfully completed the Junior Ranger 

Underwater Explorer Program.

_________________________________________

Junior Ranger Signature

________________________________________________

Park Ranger Signature

______________________________________________ dive your america 1/14
To receive a Junior Ranger Underwater Explorer Badge and Park Ranger’s signature, 

please present your signed pledge in the back of the booklet to a participating 

National Park Visitor Center or mail it to: 

National Park Service, Submerged Resources Center: Junior Ranger, 

12795 W. Alameda Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80228.

Special Thanks to:

National Park Service; Submerged 

Resources Center; Ocean and Coastal 

Resources Branch; Women Diver’s 

Hall of Fame; Jill Heinerth & Robert 

McClellan; Jonathan Bird and Jonathan 

Bird’s Blue World; Naomi Blinick; 

Angel Lopez; Bonnie Toth; ECOCEAN 

Whale Shark Photo-Identification 

Library; LaTish Bonar Smith; Becky 

Kagan Schott & Liquid Productions, 

LLC; U.S. Geological Survey; NOAA; 

Lad Akins, Keri Kenning, and REEF.org; 

Megan Cook; and Stephen Sanchagrin.

Junior Ranger Underwater Explorer Booklet designed by Jessica A. Keller of the National Park Service’s Submerged Resources Center.