This book belongs to:
Happy Birthday

to the

National Park Service

We’re having a birthday! In 2016, the National Park Service 

turns 100 years old. Life was pretty different in 1916. Back 

then, most Americans still traveled by horse and buggy! And 

 even though there were fewer people here, they wanted to 

 preserve America’s amazing natural wonders and historic 

 places and share their stories with everyone.

In 1916 there were 35 national parks and monuments. 

Today there are over 400, and like you, the National Park 

Service is still growing! National Park sites are found all 

over the country, in places you might never expect, and 

 we are still adding more. In fact, there may be 

 one in your community.

How do you celebrate your birthday?

A “centennial” is a 100th 

birthday or anniversary. 

How is the park you are visiting 

celebrating this centennial?

What would you miss if there were no national parks? 

By becoming a Centennial Junior Ranger you are helping us celebrate! But this 

book is only the beginning of your adventure. Junior Ranger programs are found 

at most national parks. Ask how you can earn badges and patches all across 

our country. Junior ranger programs are also available online at 

http://www.nps.gov/kids/jrRangers.cfm

To learn more about the National Park Service go to www.nps.gov
Although the National Park Service takes care of these special places, we all own them together – that means 

you, too! And, just like you help care for your home or pets (think chores), we need your help to care for our 

national parks. Imagine what parks would be like in another 100 years if no one helped protect them. You can 

start by completing each activity below to become an official Centennial Junior Ranger!

Attend a ranger led activity or watch a film in a park or one of the 

many Youtube videos at youtube.com/user/NationalParkService

Name of program:

Something that I learned: 

Go for a hike on a national park trail, a trail near your home 

or visit an exhibit at a park visitor center. 

Name of trail or exhibit: 

Complete at least the following number of activities in this book:

Ages 6 and under: 5 activities

Ages 7-10: 7 activities

Ages 11 and older: 10 activities

Care for this park and others by following the park rules 

and teaching others to do the same.

Become a Centennial Junior Ranger

Bring your completed booklet to any national park visitor center to receive your official Junior Ranger 

Centennial Badge! You can also send your completed booklet to the National Park Service, National 

Junior Ranger Program Coordinator, 1201 Eye Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. 

Completed booklets will be returned so make sure to include your address.

Illustrations Copyright 2015 

Jennifer Johnson Haywood.
Each element of this symbol represents something that is 

protected by the National Park Service. Use the words on 

the right and below to fill in the blanks.

Let’s start today to help make sure the 

National Parks are in great shape 100 years 

from now. Draw your own symbols on the 

arrowhead to the left showing things that 

you think need to be protected. 

How do you know you are in a place that is 

cared for by the National Park Service?

How many arrowheads can you 

find as you explore the park today?

National Park Service Symbols

The __________________________ represents wildlife.

The __________________________ represents plants.

The __________________________represents geology.

The _________________________ represents natural 

 resources such as water and air.

The _________________________ represents the 

 history of our country.

Arrowhead

Mountain

Bison

Tree Lake

National

Park

Service
Jammin’ Journal

Park rangers write their observations and park experiences in journals. 

What has inspired the hidden author in you 

during your visit to a park?

Date:

Location:

Weather Observation: temperature, 

precipitation and cloud cover:

An interesting thing I learned today is:

My favorite part of the park is:

I am happy this place was saved because:
Become a Modern Day John Muir! 

1. For an area to become a national park, more 

 than half of the members of Congress need 

 to vote yes.

2. Using a special power called the Antiquities Act, 

 presidents can designate and protect areas such 

 as national monuments and memorials.

There are two ways that an area can become 

part of the National Park System:

Think of your special place. What 

would you say to Congress to 

convince at least half of them 

that it is worth saving?

It has value in teaching people about science, preservation or our nation’s history.

It brings outdoor recreation to residents of our cities.

It offers places for people to relax and heal.

It tells the story of a national hero or other person who helped make America great.

It helps protect native cultures.

I marked these things because: ____________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Sometimes a big difference can be made by just one person or a small group of people. 

John Muir helped preserve Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, and many more 

people throughout history have worked hard to convince others that a place is special 

enough to be protected and preserved. Think of a place that is special to you. Now 

imagine that someone else wanted to build something over it, or tear it down. How would 

you convince them it was worth saving? Here are a few reasons why people might 

create a new park. Mark the things that apply to your special place and explain why you 

marked them in the space below.
Congratulations! Congress has decided 

to make your special place a new 

national park! Write its name on the sign. 

Now draw a picture of it in the white space 

and tell us why it’s so special.
Past and Present Native Cultures

Before the United States became a country and long before National Parks were 

established, there were many people who lived on this land. You might know them as 

American Indians, Alaska Natives or Hawaiians. Although they may not live in the park you 

are visiting now, you can figure out what type of Native American might have been here.

Think way back, way before the United States was formed. Who lived 

here? What type of native cultures lived where you are today? Look at 

the map and find where you are in the country. 

What type of native people were from here? 

 __________________________________

When the United States 

became a country many of the Native 

Americans were moved far from their homes so 

that cities and farms could be made. Have you ever 

had to leave your home and community? America still 

has many native peoples, some may even live in your 

neighborhood. Today you can learn about and honor native people 

by visiting national parks that teach about their life-ways and cultures.

Do you think they would 

have lived here year round?

__________________________

What is the weather like? 

_______________________________

What plants would 

they have eaten?

__________________________

__________________________

What would they have 

hunted to eat?

____________________________

____________________________

What would these 

people use to make 

their homes?

___________________

___________________

___________________

Go outside and find a place on the grass 

or dirt, look around you, what do you see? 

 ______________________________

 ________________________

 _____________________

Subarctic

Arctic

Subarctic

Northern

Great Plains

California

Southwest

Southeast

Southern

Great

 Plains

Woodlands

Great

 Basin

North

 West

 Coast
Write a Cinquain Poem

A Cinquain Poem is a five line verse that does not rhyme. 

It was created by Adelaide Crapsey about 100 years ago. 

Find a quiet place and use your senses to create a poem about 

something you see at the park you are visiting. 

Title (person, place, animal, or thing)

Two adjectives to describe title

Three verbs (action words) to describe title

Four-word phrase to describe how you feel about the title 

Describe the title using a similar word

Parks

Peaceful Protected

Welcoming Discovering Relaxing 

Every State Has One

Monument

Below is an example. 

Now you can make 

your own!
National Park Crossword

Across

5. The animal that represents wildlife in the NPS

8. The US President’s program to get kid every 4th grade student in a park

9. Folded papers that help you find places.

10. A promise to teach others about the National Park Service

11. The book that rangers take notes in about their experiences

13. The type of park that is on the coastlines of America

Down

1. The symbol of the National Park Service

2. The places that protect the stories and places of history

3. Those that lived here before National Parks were established

4. Who owns the National Parks?

6. What is the word for a 100 year anniversary?

7. The person that can use the Antiquities Act to make a National Monument

12. The person who helped to save Yosemite and Sequoia national parks

Use the clues below and 

those throughout the book 

to solve the crossword.

Answers: 1.arrowhead 2.historic sites 3.native people 4.us citizens 5. bison 6.centennial 7.president 

8. every kid in a park 9.maps 10.pledge 11.journal 12.John Muir 13. seashore

1

4

2 3

5

7

8

10

9

12

13

11

6
To:

____________________

____________________

____________________

Dear

Sincerely,

To:

____________________

____________________

____________________

Dear

Sincerely,

My Space – Your Space

Have you had a great visit? Are there things you saw, learned or did that you are 

excited to share with others? Then go for it! Help spread the word about our 

wonderful national parks so others will want to visit and help care for them too.

Use this page to tell us what 

you liked about your visit. Do 

you have a favorite photo you 

took? Paste it here. Share what 

you’ve discovered on your 

favorite social media site or at 

http://findyourpark.com/share

Always ask a parent before

sharing photos and 

information on the internet.

What hashtags might 

you use? For example: 

#Ilovenationalparks, 

#hike, #bisonarecool, 

#wishyouwerehere

Dear,

To:

Sincerely,

My name:

My Name:

Here is a picture from the park I visited today!

Send to:

Picture of me

Today I visited:

I made a picture of what I saw
1872 1900

1950

1975

1950-53

Korean War 

1901- 1909 

President 

Theodore 

Roosevelt protects 

the Grand Canyon 

and other parks 

and monuments

1872- Yellowstone is 

rst area in the world 

to be designated a 

national park

1954-75

Vietnam 

War

1950 – Yearly visitation to 

national parks reaches 32 

million a year

1964 – 

Wilderness Act is 

signed into law 1972 – 

More city (urban) 

parks are added 

to the national 

park system

1978 – Female rangers 

allowed to wear same 

uniform as male rangers 

1980 – Largest national 

park (Wrangell-St. Elias 

National Park and 

Preserve) is established

1981 – Mammoth Cave, the 

world’s longest cave system, 

becomes a World Heritage Site

1994 – A park celebrating the 

origins and evolution of jazz is 

created (New Orleans Jazz 

National Historic Park)

Draw the 

arrowhead logo

1951- National 

Park Service 

develops the 

rst version of 

the arrowhead 

logo

Write Yourself into National 

Park Service History! 

Timelines tell a story and help us understand 

history. They also tell us what happened 

when and how much time went by between 

events. Follow the timeline to see examples 

of how the National Park System has evolved 

since 1872. Complete the drawing activities 

and those below to learn more about some of 

these places.

You too are a part of this history. 

Mark your birthday on the timeline.

Think about two special 

accomplishments in your life. 

Add those dates to the timeline. 

Find one significant date from the park that 

you are visiting and add that to the time line.
1925

2000 2016

2016 - 100th anniversary of 

the National Park Service

1941-45

World War II

1941

Mount Rushmore

National Memorial

completed

1903

Wright 

Brothers

rst ight

1914-18

World War I

1920 

Women earn full

voting rights

1926 – Last remaining native 

wolves die in Yellowstone

1930 – George Melendez 

Wright, American Latino 

biologist, conducts rst 

scientic survey of park 

wildlife

1916 – President 

Woodrow Wilson 

creates National 

Park Service 

(Organic Act)

1941 – Ansel Adams hired to 

photograph national parks

1943 – Roosevelt 

signs executive order 

establishing Jackson 

Hole National 

Monument

2008 – Sites along a 300 mile 

trail that commemorates the 

War of 1812 and the writing of 

the Star Spangled Banner is 

designated (Star-Spangled 

Banner National Historic Trail)

2011 – Flight 93 National 

Memorial honoring the 

victims of 9/11 attacks 

is dedicated

Draw a Birthday Cake

Draw a Wolf

Help preserve 

our parks for 

another 100 

years and 

beyond!
Healthy Parks, Healthy You

National parks are places to relax, learn, exercise and become healthier. 

Find a quiet place, inside or outside, that you most enjoy. 

Take some time to really look and listen to 

everything around you. Use the space 

above to draw what you see or make a map 

of the area you are visiting. Do you think that 

 this place will look the same 100 

 years from now? Why?
Our parks will always need people to care 

for, protect, and preserve our national parks. 

You can help!

What type of National Park Service 

employee or volunteer would you like to be? 

Rappin’ with a Ranger

Have you heard the expression, “It takes all kinds?” Well, when it comes to running a national 

park – it’s true. Not all park service employees are out chatting up the visitors or hanging with the bears! 

There are law enforcement rangers, architects, historians, computer specialists, accountants. But all of 

them hope to make our parks better for the future. Find a park ranger, a volunteer, or a staff member 

and ask them these questions about their job.

What type of work do you do?

What is your favorite part of your job?

Draw a picture of you or your new ranger friend. 

Don’t forget your smile and your badge.

Why did you decide to work (or volunteer) for the National Park Service?

How are you helping to make your park better for the future?

The Next Generation 

of Park Caregivers

Why?
Complete the following map activities:

Put a square around the state where you live.

Circle three national parks you have visited 

and write them on the lines below. If you can’t 

find the names on the map, write them in. 

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

Draw a star on the parks that you would most 

like to visit.

In the box below, draw something from 

the park you are visiting and a line to its 

location on the map.

Wrangell-St. Elias in Alaska 

is the largest park, covering 

13.2 million acres, and has 

a glacier as big as the state 

of Rhode Island.

If you could hold your breath that 

long, it would take you about an 

hour to swim to the bottom of the 

deepest lake in the country - 

Crater Lake, found in Crater 

Lake National Park.

More than 400,000 people 

volunteer in national parks. 

The nation’s deepest cave 

is 1,593 feet deep in New 

Mexico at Carlsbad Caverns 

National Park.

Hawai’i

Volcanos

USS Arizona

Grand Canyon

Sequoia

Lava

Beds

North

Cascades

Denali

Sitka Katmai

Kobuk

Valley

Lewis 

& Clark

Oregon Caves

Channel

Islands

Golden

Spike

Nez

Perce

Casa

Grande

Guam

American

Samoa
Like the kids in your school, national parks come in all shapes and sizes. In addition 

to famous ones like Yellowstone National Park, there are monuments, historic homes, 

native sites, seashores and scenic trails. Even the home of the US President – 

the White House - is a national park. 

One thing all of these sites have in common is that they want kids to explore them. 

In fact, the President is offering every fourth grader a free pass to a park! 

Get the scoop at www.everykidinapark.gov

The President is Calling You

The smallest park is 

Thaddeus Kosciuszko 

National Memorial in 

Pennsylvania, is .002 

acres - no bigger than 

your typical classroom.

Casa Grande (“Great House”) 

Ruins in Arizona is the site of one 

of the largest prehistoric structures 

ever built in North America.

N

NW

SW SE

NE

S

W E

Acadia

Sleeping

Bear 

Dunes

Flight 93

Women’s Rights

Saint-Gaudens

Washington

Monument

Voyageurs

Fort 

Union

Trading 

Post

Effigy

Mounds

Mammoth 

Cave Tallgrass

Prairie

Scotts

 Bluff

Big Bend

Guadalupe

Mountains

Tupelo Chickasaw

Gulf

Islands

Everglades

San

Juan

New

Orleans

Jazz

Fort Sumter

Cumberland

 Island
Protecting Special Places

As a Junior Ranger, I promise to teach others about what 

I learned today, explore other parks and historic sites, and 

help preserve and protect these places so future generations 

can enjoy them for the next 100 years and beyond.

Junior Ranger Centennial Pledge

Our parks and our earth need you! 

Caring for our national parks and our 

earth takes everyone. Use the sign 

language symbols in the box to break 

the code and find out some of the 

things that you can do to help.
This is to certify that 

has completed the requirements and is an official

Centennial

Junior Ranger

Ranger Signature

Date

Cut Here Cut Here
Illustrations Copyright 2015 Jennifer Johnson 

Haywood. This booklet and its contents may 

be used by the National Park Service, its 

partner associations, and other educational 

entities in its original printed or digital form for 

educational and publicity purposes relating 

to the 2016 National Park Service Centennial 

Celebration. All other rights reserved.

This book is geared for 4th graders but all are welcome to enjoy.