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President’s Park National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Washington, D.C.

JUNIOR

RANGER

ACTIVITY 

GUIDE
INTRODUCTION

Explore, 

 Learn, 

 Protect

Be a Junior Ranger!

Welcome to the President’s Park Junior Ranger Program. Young people 

will learn about the history and resources of an urban national park in 

Washington, D.C.

What is President’s Park?

President’s Park is a national park in the middle of Washington, DC, the nation’s 

capital. President’s Park includes the Ellipse, Sherman Park, Lafayette Park and First 

Division Monument. All of these are parklands that surround the White House, which 

is also part of the National Park System. You can learn all kinds of facts about the 

White House, Presidents and First Families, and America’s history when you explore 

President’s Park and when you visit the White House Visitor Center. 

There’s a good reason the White House is known as “the People’s House.” Through 

its architecture, stories, paintings and objects, the White House is an example of the 

continuum of the country’s history, as well as being a home, an office, and a museum.

What is a Junior Ranger?

Junior Rangers are important people because they help park rangers protect and take 

care of the resources of President’s Park, as well as other national parks. This is a big 

job because there are more than 400 areas in the U.S. National Park System! A Junior 

Ranger also learns about the buildings, objects, plants, animals and history of the 

national parks, and shares that knowledge with their friends and family. 

Hello Friends! 

I’m a President’s Park Ranger. 

Watch for us and our Fun Facts 

throughout this book! 

RANGER FUN FACTS

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How to Become a President’s Park Junior Ranger

1 First, complete at least TWO of the activities available to do in the 

Visitor Center and/or the park.

a. We encourage you to do at least ONE activity inside the 

 Visitor Center and ONE activity outside in the park.

b. Take a look at the next page for a guide to the many activities 

 that you have to choose from.

2 Attend a ranger-guided program such as a tour; watch the film 

The White House: Reflections from Within in the theater; or do the 

Interview with a Park Ranger or Volunteer activity.

3 Present your booklet to a ranger after you complete steps 1 and 

2 to be sworn in as an official Junior Ranger and receive your 

badge and certificate.

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2 3 It’s as easy as

Did you know . . . Rebecca was the unlikely name 

for one of the more unusual White House pets— 

a raccoon that was the companion of President 

Calvin Coolidge and his wife Grace?

RANGER FUN FACTS

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Activities in the Visitor Center ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

A Day with the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Champions for Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Art Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

LIVE on Stage! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

One Big Family: The White House Staff . . . . . . . . . . . 7

President’s Park Word Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Arrowhead Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Activities in the Park ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The ABC’s of Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Who Am I? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Mapping President’s Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Picturing President’s Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Stepping Into History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Interview a Park Ranger or Volunteer . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Honoring the “Indianhead Division” . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Answers on pages 18–19 White House Visitor Center Map

Use this map to find exhibits in the Visitor Center activities.

White House as Office

Restrooms

Information

White House

Architecture

White House as Museum

White House as Home

President’s Park Exhibit

Retail Shop

Stage and Ceremony

Temporary Exhibit

Entrance

Theater
A Day With the President

As the leader of the most powerful nation in the world, the President works hard 

every day to serve the pressing needs and demands of the United States, and of the 

international community. Look at the schedule below, outlining one possible day in the 

life of the President. You can also go to The Daily Schedule exhibit in the White House as 

Office section to see some actual Presidential schedules.

6:00 a.m. Fitness program 

7:00 a.m. Reads the newspapers

9:00 a.m. Meets with Cabinet advisers

10:30 a.m. Goes to the Capitol to talk to 

lawmakers about an upcoming 

program

12:00 p.m. Working lunch meeting with 

the President of France

3:00 p.m. Meets and greets Super Bowl 

winners in the Rose Garden

5:30 p.m. Working at his desk in the Oval 

Office — signs a bill into law

6:30 p.m. Dinner with family

8:00 p.m. Gives a speech to the nation on 

television

9:00 p.m. Returns to the Oval Office to 

make some business calls

Presidential Schedule: 

If you were the President and had to schedule your day, what would you do?

6:00 a.m. __________________________________________________________________ 

7:00 a.m. __________________________________________________________________ 

9:00 a.m. __________________________________________________________________ 

10:30 a.m. __________________________________________________________________ 

12:00 p.m. __________________________________________________________________ 

3:00 p.m. __________________________________________________________________

5:30 p.m. __________________________________________________________________ 

6:30 p.m. __________________________________________________________________ 

8:00 p.m. __________________________________________________________________ 

9:00 p.m. __________________________________________________________________

Suggested At-Home Activity: Write a letter to the President telling him your 

suggestion(s) about an important issue that you think he should work on. Send your 

letter to: The President, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20500. (You 

can also see sample letters to the President and submit ideas for changes you would 

like to see in the What Would You Do? exhibit in the White House as Office section.) 

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Champions for Change 

Unlike the President, the first lady’s duties and responsibilities are NOT outlined in 

the United States Constitution. This provides a unique opportunity for each first lady 

to support a cause or pursue an interest of her choice. 

Go to the First Ladies section of the White House as Office exhibit to find the 

answers. Write the matching number of each first lady’s description in the circle 

next to her picture. 

Did you know . . . that First Lady Ellen Louise Axson 

Wilson, married to President Woodrow Wilson, saw 

two daughters married in the White House?

Who Am I?

1. This forthright first lady spoke openly and 

candidly about her own breast cancer at a time 

when it was seen as a subject not fit for public 

discussion, thus launching the first national 

campaign for breast cancer awareness. 

2. Known for her charm and also as a renowned 

hostess, this first lady made the White House 

the center of Washington society. 

3. While first lady she took on the challenge of 

childhood obesity and launched the “Let’s 

Move” program to promote family health 

and activity. 

4. This first lady helped to transform the role by 

actively participating in national affairs through 

radio addresses, newspaper columns and 

speaking tours.

5. This first lady and wife of our 40th president 

campaigned to “Just Say No” to drugs. 

6. Critics of this first lady called her “Mrs. 

President” to express their disapproval of her 

activity in political affairs.

Nancy Reagan

Abigail Adams

Dolley Madison

Michelle Obama

Eleanor Roosevelt

Betty Ford

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Art Hunt

Can you find it?

In addition to being a home for the President and the First Family, the 

White House is also a living museum of American history. It includes 

many gifts from leaders of other countries. It also has important American 

paintings, sculpture, furniture, and other art objects that represent the 

geographic diversity of the nation. 

Every first family gets to choose paintings and objects to display in the 

White House during the President’s term in office. Do you have a favorite 

piece of art? What would YOU display in the White House if you were the 

President?

Find at least three of the following five art objects in the White House as 

Museum exhibit. Check off each item in the circle next to the illustration 

when you find it.

Find the 

white dog 

in the 

portrait 

of First 

Lady Grace 

Coolidge .

Find the 

gypsy girl 

holding a 

bouquet of 

flowers .

Find the baby 

sitting on the 

mother’s lap .

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Find the 

American 

eagle on the 

mahogany 

bracket clock 

on display .

Find the 

American 

eagle on the 

mahogany 

bracket clock 

on display .

Find the 

statue of an 

American Indian 

on horseback .
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LIVE on Stage !

It would be great to live at the White House, 

and — oh! — the parties I would throw ... 

As well as a home, an office, a park, and a museum, the White House is also a stage for many 

important ceremonies and events. Most presidents, while living in the White House, have 

hosted many State Dinners, medal ceremonies and artistic performances, just to name a few 

possible events, according to their and the nation’s interests. 

Take a look at the National Stage exhibit in the Stage and Ceremony section to see some 

of the many events that have taken place on the White House grounds, both inside and 

outside. Then think about what kind of event YOU might want to host at the White House.

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Guest List

Guest of Honor:

Other Guests:

Menu

Who would you choose as a 

guest of honor?

Who else would you invite?

What entertainment would you have?

What would you 

serve for dinner?

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One Big Family: The White House Staff

“They are what make the house a home.” 

— Susan Ford Bales (Daughter of President Gerald Ford)

The White House workers embody the “People’s House” as they make a home for the 

First Families through their loyal service. Enslaved workers, free African-Americans, 

European-born Frenchmen, Irishmen and Belgians, as well as Filipinos are among the 

many who have given their service in the White House. Their diversity has long reflected 

the diversity of the nation.

Go to the White House Workers exhibit in the White House as Home section and 

match the illustration to the staff member described. Write the number of the 

matching worker(s) in the circle next 

to the illustration.

1. 1941–45: Seamstress who made 

blackout curtains for White House 

windows during WWII

2. 1877: First posed photograph of White 

House staff members

3. 1901: Worked at White House for more 

than 30 years as butler, cook, doorman 

and footman

4. 2005: First female Executive Chef at 

the White House

5. 1980s: Used special chocolate molds to 

emboss White House chocolates with 

the Presidential seal

Lillian Rogers Park

White House Staff

Jerry Smith

Cristeta Comerford

Roland Mesnier

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Did you know . . . 

that to prepare for 

thousands of visitors 

daily, the staff rolls up 

the carpets and places 

mats on the floors?
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Find the following words hidden in the word search.

NPS Ranger Statues Rose Garden

Lafayette Fountain Ellipse Sherman

White House President Jackson Pennsylvania

Patentees

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1 . Arrowhead A . Wildlife

 2 . National Park Service B . Vegetation

 3 . Mountain C . U .S . Government Agency

 4 . Sequoia Tree and Grass D . History and Archaeology

 5 . Lake E . Land Formations

 6 . Bison F . Clean Water

Draw a line 

to match each 

part of the 

Arrowhead 

with what it 

stands for . 

Suggested At-Home Activity: Design your own arrowhead for President’s Park. 

What do you think should be represented?

Arrowhead Activity

National Parks are managed by the National Park Service, which is part of the federal 

government.  But who owns the national parks? All Americans, even YOU! As a Junior 

Ranger, you have an important responsibility to help take care of your national parks.

National park sites are located throughout the United States, including in the middle 

of our nation’s capital! The entire park system includes over 80 million acres of land. 

Individual sites come in all shapes and sizes, such as national parks, monuments, 

memorials, battlefields, historic sites, recreation areas, rivers, lakeshores, seashores, 

scenic trails, preserves, military parks, and parkways.

All of our national parks have one thing in common, though; they 

are set aside “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic 

objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment 

of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them 

unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

The National Park Service arrowhead is a symbol of 

stewardship — it reminds us of the reasons we protect park 

resources for the future.

Arrowhead Activities

Can you find these items in the arrowhead above?

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THE ABC’S OF ARCHITECTURE 

on the North Side of the White House

What style of architecture is the White House? Built between 1792 and 1800 the 

White House reflects the preferences of George Washington, the first president. 

Large and small architectural pieces came together to create a building that is 

personal as the home of the president and his family; and national, as the office of 

the Chief Executive of the United States.

The House is an expression of the new American democracy, and was modeled on the 

Irish and English homes of the mid-18th century in the Georgian architectural style. 

Look closely at the drawing below of the north side of the White House. Take 

a walk from the Visitor Center going two blocks north, then turn left (west) on 

Pennsylvania Avenue and view the White House from the sidewalk. See if you can 

find the following architectural elements, and write the letter of each element in the 

correct circle below. This activity may also be completed by using the scale models of 

the White House found in the Visitor Center.

A. Balustrade: a rail and row of posts that support it. 

B. Column: a vertical support that is usually cylindrical.

C. Fanlight: a window, often semi-circular, with sash bars 

arranged like a fan placed above a doorway. 

D. Pediment: the triangular area under the roofline. 

E. Portico: a walkway or porch supported by columns.

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Who Am I? 

This man, our 38th president, was born in 1913. He played 

varsity football throughout college and graduated from 

the University of Michigan in 1935. He began working at 

Yale University as an assistant football coach and also 

taught cheerleading.

During the summer of 1936, he worked as a seasonal park 

ranger at Yellowstone National Park. He recalled his time 

as a park ranger as “one of the greatest summers of my life.” 

He graduated from Yale Law School in 1941, and served four 

years in the United States Navy. He served as president from 

August 9, 1974 to January 20, 1977. During his time in office 

he added eighteen new areas to the National Park System. 

Instructions:

When unscrambled, the following four words — all found in 

the above text — will name the president! 

LOTBLAFO __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (1st letter) 

LENOSTYLOWE __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (5th letter) 

REGNRA __ __ __ __ __ __ (1st letter) 

IDENTPRES __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (6th letter) 

I AM PRESIDENT __ __ __ __ .

Did you know . . . of the eighteen new areas this 

president added to the National Park System, eleven 

are east of the Mississippi River and seven are 

west of it, with battlefields, fossil beds, forests and 

swamps among the resources being protected?

T L L

N R

R T

Y N

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Mapping President’s Park

Take some time to explore President’s Park. Walk out of the White House Visitor 

Center and make your way north on 15th Street to Lafayette Park or straight down 

Pennsylvania Avenue South to E Street and the Ellipse. Find as many of the following 

items as you can on either the North side OR the South side of the White House and 

identify where you found them by placing the item numbers in the circles by the map. 

(If you have time, look for all the items on the map.)

North Side:

1. Jackson Statue — Look for the statue of General Andrew Jackson on a rearing 

horse, raising his hat in the air. 

2. Lafayette Statue — Look for the statue of a man that has a female figure in the 

front, symbolizing America, turned towards him and lifting a sword.

3. Baruch’s Bench of Inspiration — Look just northwest of the statue of General 

Andrew Jackson on a horse for the bench, marked with a plaque, commemorating 

the “Park Bench Statesman,” Bernard Baruch.

4. Urns — Look for the large bronze urns on granite pedestals, which were cast at the 

Navy Yard in Washington using melted cannon from the Civil War.

South Side:

5. Sherman Park — Look for the statue of Civil War General William Tecumseh 

Sherman, on horseback.

6. Second Division Memorial — Look for the flaming gold sword in the middle of 

a granite gateway, located just off the Ellipse near the intersection of Constitution 

Avenue and Seventeenth Street. 

7. National Christmas Tree — Look on the Ellipse for the Colorado blue spruce. 

8. Zero Milestone Marker — Look for the vertical rectangle of pink granite with a 

compass on the top. 

9. Boy Scout Commemorative Tribute Memorial — Look east of the Ellipse for a 

statue depicting a man, a woman and a Boy Scout with a round pool in front of it. 

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10. First Division Monument — Look west of the White House for the large 

granite shaft with a winged female figure atop it. Most times of the year, the 

monument has a garden of red flowers in front of it in the shape of a Big Red 

One, to commemorate the First Division.

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President’s Park

Lafayette Park

Ellipse

Constitution Avenue

E Street E Street

F Street

Penn Ave.

G Street

NY Ave

Pennsylvania Avenue

17th Street

15th Street

The 

White House

Pavilion

Points of Interest

Fountain

White 

House

Visitor 

Center

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Picturing President’s Park

In the space below, capture your favorite view in President’s Park by 

drawing a “snapshot” of what you see.

Give your drawing a title: ______________________________________________________
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Stepping Into History 

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the 

free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the 

people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” 

—First Amendment, U.S. Constitution

Look at the 1922 photograph, to the right, 

of citizens exercising their First Amendment 

rights in Lafayette Park, located on the 

north side of the White House. 

Parents and children appeal to the President 

for the release of political prisoners.

How many years ago was it taken? 

Today’s Year - 1922 = _______

Stand at the X in the picture facing the 

White House. How has this place changed?

List one or two things 

that are the SAME .

List one or two things 

that are DIFFERENT .

Do you think it’s important to have First Amendment rights?

Is there a demonstration in the park today?

of citizens exercising their First Amendment 

X

Stand Here!

Did you know . . . that the 18th century 

uses of Lafayette Square included a 

family graveyard, an apple orchard, 

and a market?

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Interview a President’s Park Ranger or Volunteer

Park rangers, whose gray and green uniforms and Stetson hats make them easy to find, 

volunteers, and other President’s Park employees have many different jobs at the park. 

They do things such as: take care of the statues and buildings, collect trash, answer 

questions at the Visitor Center, patrol the park and answer visitors’ questions, or give 

guided walks and talks through the park area surrounding the White House.

Here are a few questions to get you started. Add two questions of your own.

1 . What is your name and job title?

2 . How long have you worked at President’s Park?

3 . List 3 things you do:

4 .

5 .

National Parks 

are staffed by park rangers. 

Along with you, the Junior Ranger, this 

group of men and women is entrusted with 

caring for these wonderful places. The most 

identifiable symbol the rangers wear is 

the arrowhead shown above. 

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TO OUR DEAD

TOULON

TROYON

BOIS 

DE 

BELLEAU

VAUX

SOISSONS

1917-1919

THE SECOND DIVISION

MARACHE

S T. M I H I E L

BLANC MONT

MEUSE

ARGONNE

THE RHINE

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Did you know . . . that outdoor bronze sculptures, 

which are subject to corrosion, dirt and grime, have 

to be regularly power washed and then coated with 

wax to protect them from the elements?

Honoring the “Indianhead Division”

President’s Park contains more than 

simply the White House. It is also a 

park, filled with gardens, trees, flowers, 

and open green space. In addition to 

these natural elements, many statues 

and monuments that mark significant 

aspects of American history are a 

mainstay of the park. 

One of these monuments is the Second 

Division Memorial that honors the 

17,669 dead who served in the Second 

Division of the US Army during three 

wars —World War I, World War II 

and the Korean War. The distinctive 

insignia of the Second Division is also 

found on the monument. The design of 

an American Indianhead within a star 

portrays the All-American traditions of 

the division, as well as its place of origin.

Go to the southwest section of the park 

below the Ellipse to find the Second 

Division Memorial. When you get to 

the memorial, find the Second Division 

patch. Draw a star on the illustration 

below to show where the image of the 

patch is located.
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Answers

Champions for Change (pg. 4)

1. Betty Ford, 2. Dolley Madison, 

3. Michelle Obama, 4. Eleanor Roosevelt, 

5. Nancy Reagan, 6. Abigail Adams 

White House Staff (pg. 7)

1. Lillian Rogers Park, 2. White House Staff, 

3. Jerry Smith, 4. Cristeta Comerford, 

5. Roland Mesnier

Who Am I? (pg. 11)

1. Football = F, 2. Yellowstone = O, 3. Ranger = R, 4. President = D

Arrowhead Activities (pg. 9)

1. Arrowhead = D. History and Archaeology 

2. National Park Service = C. U.S. 

Government Agency 

3. Mountain = E. Land Formations 

4. Sequoia Tree and Grass = B. Vegetation 

5. Lake = F. Clean Water 

6. Bison = A. Wildlife

B C

D A

E

The ABC’s of Architecture (pg. 10)

President’s Park Word Search (pg. 8)
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Mapping 

President’s Park 

(pg. 12-13)

1

2

4

5

6

3

7

8

9

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President’s Park Second 

Division Memorial (pg. 17)

TO OUR DEAD

TOULON

TROYON

BOIS 

DE 

BELLEAU

VAUX

SOISSONS

1917-1919

THE SECOND DIVISION

MARACHE

S T. M I H I E L

BLANC MONT

MEUSE

ARGONNE

THE RHINE
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Want to Learn More?

Junior Ranger Programs

Are you interested in exploring? Do you like art, science, history or nature? 

How about animals, sailing ships, dinosaurs or trains? Would you like to 

learn more about the national parks that belong to YOU? Find out more 

about National Park Service Junior Ranger programs at: 

www.nps.gov/kids

WebRanger Programs

As a WebRanger you will have one important job: to have fun while learning 

new things. You will solve mysteries and puzzles, play games, take part in 

stories, and gather secret works while exploring some of the greatest places 

on earth! Find out more about National Park Service WebRanger programs 

at: www.nps.gov/webrangers

Contact

President’s Park 

White House Visitor Center 

1450 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20230

(202) 208-1631 

Website: www.nps.gov/whho

This Junior Ranger Booklet is made possible 

through the generosity of the White House 

Historical Association, a private, non-profit 

educational organization, and the National 

Park Service.

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Did you know . . . that Theodore 

Roosevelt’s children once smuggled 

their pony Algonquin upstairs in the 

White House elevator to visit their 

brother, Archie Roosevelt, 

when he was ill?

Credits

GFL: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library GWBL: George W. Bush 

Presidential Library LC: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs 

Division RBHC: Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, Ohio 

WHC: White House Collection WHHA-WHC: White House Historical 

Association (White House Collection) 

Page 4 LC (first ladies) 

Page 5 WHHA-WHC (Coolidge portrait by Howard Chandler Christy); 

WHC (Gypsy Girl with Flowers by Robert Henri); WHHA-WHC (Young 

Mother and Two Children by Mary Cassatt); WHC (mahogany bracket 

clock); WHC (Appeal to the Great Spirit by Cyrus Edwin Dallin) 

Page 7 WHC (chocolate molds); LC (Jerry Smith); WHC (sewing 

machine); GWBL (Cristeta Comerford); RBHC (1877 White House staff) 

Page 11 GFL (Gerald Ford)

Page 15 LC (demonstrators)

Writer Kathleen Grathwol

Graphic designer Ann Silberlicht
JUNIOR RANGER PLEDGE

I, ______________________________, am proud to be a National Park Service Junior Ranger. I promise to appreciate, respect, and protect all National Parks. I also promise to continue learning about the landscape, plants, animals, and history of these special places. I will share what I learn with my friends and family.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! 

Great work!

Junior Ranger SignatureRanger/Parent Signature Use President’s Park Passport Stamp here!

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President’s Park

Junior Ranger Activity Guide

PRESIDENT’S PARK

White House Visitor Center

1450 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20230

(202) 208-1631

www.nps.gov/whho