BOOKLET FOR AGES 11-UP

Welcome to Montezuma National 

Wildlife Refuge!

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge was established on September 12, 1938 as a 

refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.

The refuge contains over 10,000 acres of protected lands and managed wetlands 

that provide resting, feeding, and nesting habitat for waterfowl and other migratory 

birds. Montezuma is situated in the middle of one of the most active flight lanes in 

the Atlantic Flyway.

The activities in this booklet offer you an opportunity to explore the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. You and your family can 

learn more about the history of the refuge and about the role of the refuge in preserving the natural resources needed for 

migratory birds.

Use the informational displays in the Visitor Center, the one-mile long Seneca Trail, and the observation tower. If you 

find anything in this booklet difficult, please ask someone in the visitor center for assistance. 

The Junior Refuge Manager certificate and badge will be earned upon successful completion of the activities in this 

booklet. When you are done with all of the activities bring the booklet to a Visitor Center Volunteer. The volunteer 

will discuss the activities with you and then you will be awarded your certificate and badge.

Enjoy your visit to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge!

Role of Adults: This booklet is a family activity. Please allow the child to answer the questions in their own words. 

After the activities are completed, an adult should review the activity with the child. 

 NAME __________________________________________________

Activities booklet created by Nancy Stocker 

 
DIRECTIONS :

The National 

Wildlife Refuge 

System was created 

to provide a chain 

of stepping-stones 

for birds along 

their migratory 

path. Using the 

key, label the 

migratory paths 

of the bald eagle, 

the cerulean 

warbler, and the 

wood duck.

KEY:

Bald Eagle = = = = = = = = = = = In blue

Cerulean Warbler - - - - - - - - - - In red

Wood Duck In black 

ACTIVITY 1 -Using the interactive 

map located in the visitor center, complete 

this activity to learn about the flight paths 

of three migratory birds.

Bald Eagle Cerulean Warbler

Wood Duck 1
2

ACTIVITY 2 WOOD DUCK FACTS OR FICTION

Decide if each statement is a fact or if the statement is fiction. Write the words fact or fiction on the lines before 

each statement. Use the displays in the visitor center to answer this section.

_________________ Wood ducks only live in man- made boxes.

_________________ Wood ducks cannot bring food to their young.

_________________ Wood duck moms push their babies out of the nest.

_________________ Wood duck babies can “bounce” because they are lightweight and covered with fluffy down.

_________________ Wood duck babies jump to the ground 24 hours after hatching.

ACTIVITY 3 Use this CODE to solve (decode) the statement on the following page.

Robin

A

Blue jay

B

Cardinal

C

Duck

D

Eagle

E

Gold finch

F

Goose

G

Heron

H

Owl

I

grasshopper

J

dragonfly

K

ladybug

L

mosquito

M

ant

N

bee

O

fly

P

Japanese 

beetle

Q

butterfly

R

daffodil

S

tulips

T

rose

U

violet

V

daisy

W

marigold

X

petunia

Y

sunflower

Z

iris

&
Use the code on the previous page to find the Purpose of a National Wildlife Refuge.

 

 

 

 

 

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ACTIVITY 4 

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Using the displays in the visitor’s center, learn about the naming of Montezuma 

National Wildlife Refuge. Connect the eggs that contain the correct information 

about the history behind the naming the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

THEODORE

ROOSEVELT

PETER

CLARK

PAUL 

KROEGEL

HILLTOP

MARSHLAND 

ESTATE

FOREST

HOME

LAKE

PROPERTY

LATE

1800’S

EARLY

1900’S

EARLY

1800’S

COMPARED TO 

PALACE OF 

AZTEC

EMPEROR

NAMED AFTER 

THE CITY OF 

MONTEZUMA IN 

IOWA

NAMED AFTER 

MONTEZUMA 

CASTLE IN 

ARIZONA

New York 

 City

 lawyer

New York 

City doctor

Manhattan 

teacher

WHO

JOB

WHERE

WHEN

WHY

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ACTIVITY 5 

Using the display boards in the visitor center, complete the following activities.

Fill in the blanks on the arrows to find a cause and effect relationship that led to the 

development of the national refuge system.

History of the Refuge System

What fashion craze 

caused concern about 

protecting an animal?

________________________________________

EFFECT

German immigrant,

________________________________, 

wanted to preserve 5 acres on

___________________________________.

On _______________________________, 

President Roosevelt named 

Pelican Island a 

____________________________________.

NOW

__________ Refuges

and

__________ million acres

in all 50 states and 

territories

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ACTIVITY 6

Walk the Seneca Trail and complete the following activities. 

Stop at the Centennial Viewing Platform (next to the tower) to answer the following questions.

1. Why are the water levels regulated at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge?

2. How are the grasslands cared for or managed at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge?

**********************************************************************************************

ACTIVITY 7

Look through a birding scope on the deck to locate a bird in the viewfinder.

Sketch what you see.

What type of bird do you think 

you are sketching? 

Compare your drawing 

to pictures in a bird 

guidebook to see if you 

made the correct 

identification. 

(books are located at the 

visitor center desk)

Based on your picture 

and the guidebook, what 

bird did you see?

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ACTIVITY 8 

Take a walk on the Seneca Trail

Play Tic Tac Trail

Put an X over each of the natural wonders that you see as you walk the loop trail.

Use your observational skills!

(Get three is a row – diagonally, vertically, or horizontally, or as many as you can)

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CERTIFICATE

OF ACHEIVEMENT

Awarded to

For successfully completing the requirements to become a

Volunteer signature Date