Zion National Park National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

An Activity Guide for Ages 4 and Older
Olivia Owl

Become a Zion National Park

Junior Ranger!

What is a Junior Ranger?

A Junior Ranger explores, discovers, and 

enjoys our national parks. They help take 

care of plants, animals, and their homes, 

so that Zion remains a special place for 

visitors to enjoy for many years to come.

How to become a Junior 

Ranger:

Attend a Ranger-led program, and: 

. If you are 4 to 5 years old, complete

activity one and any other two Tara 

Tarantula activities.

. If you are 6 to 8 years old, complete

all of Tara Tarantula’s activities.

. If you are 9 or older, complete both

Tara Tarantula’s and Lewis Lizard’s

activities. Olivia Owl’s pages are not

required to earn a badge. You can

complete those whenever you want

just for fun.

Bring your completed booklet

to the museum or visitor

center desk. A ranger will

review it and award you

your badge!

Tara Tarantula, Ages 4 to 8

Lewis Lizard, Ages

9

and l o red
ACTIVITY

1 Let a Park Ranger Be 

Your Guide!

To become a Junior Ranger at Zion National Park, 

you must attend one ranger-led program. There 

are scheduled programs on a variety of topics 

listed in the park newspaper.

Ranger-led Program

Title:

Date:

Park Ranger:

What did you learn about Zion that surprised you?

Draw something that you liked in the program.
ACTIVITY

2

Adaptation

BINGO!

Definition: Ad•ap•ta•tion

An adaptation is a physical feature or behavior that helps living 

things survive in their environment. Much of Zion includes desert 

habitats. Many plants and animals have adaptations to help survive 

the extreme heat and limited water in the park.

Directions: During your visit, look for these plants and animals and think about ways that they 

survive in the desert. Mark what you find below. Try to get four in a row!

YUCCA WILD TURKEY RAVEN SPIDER WEB

CACTUS MULE DEER BEETLE BIGHORN SHEEP

ANIMAL HOLE

DRAW YOUR 

OWN! ROCK SQUIRREL DATURA

FROG OR TOAD ANIMAL TRACK ANIMAL SCAT LIZARD
ACTIVITY

Animal Tracks 3

Every track you find tells a story. A coyote hunting mice along the river 

might leave tracks in the wet mud. A lizard running across the sand 

to sun itself on a warm rock may leave marks as well. While you are 

visiting Zion, look for tracks or other signs of wildlife. They can be as 

exciting as seeing the animal itself.

Directions: Choose from this list and write the name of the animal next to each track.

cougar skunk lizard toad deer coyote ringtail

Beware of this animal’s 

spray!

This reptile drags its tail 

when it runs.

This amphibian hops

to get around.

This large feline hunts deer

This animal has large ears for its dinner.

and eats plants.

This nocturnal animal has a 

ringed tail.

This animal may howl or yip at night.
ACTIVITY

4 Buddy System

Zion National Park has many habitats, or homes for plants and animals, 

from pinyon pine and juniper forests on the hillsides to cottonwood

trees near the river. Within these habitats there are plants, animals,

and non-living material that work together to create a complex system

of survival. 

Just as you might rely on the “buddy system” for safety during a hike, 

some members of these habitats rely on a buddy for their success. 

Directions: Using the clues below each picture, draw a line from 

buddy to buddy.

I need a buddy to spread my pollen so 

that I can produce my seeds.

I am a busy pinyon jay looking for some 

seeds to eat and store.

I rush and roar during spring floods. The 

roots of my buddy keep me in line.

I will trade a few pinyon pine seeds for 

help growing more trees.

I am a thirsty cottonwood tree. Without 

my buddy I would perish.

Sphinx moths fly at night in search of 

high energy nectar to drink.
Keeping the Scene

 CLEAN!

ACTIVITY

5

Zion National Park helps visitors recycle many items. With the 

help and permission from an adult, list five pieces of litter that 

you found and removed during your adventure in the park. Tell 

us where you found it and if you recycled it.

1.

Where did you find it?

Did you recycle it? 

2.

Where did you find it?

Did you recycle it?

3.

Where did you find it?

Did you recycle it?

4.

Where did you find it?

Did you recycle it?

5.

Where did you find it?

Did you recycle it?
ACTIVITY

6 Zion Rocks!

The rocks in Zion are found in layers like a cake. Most layers in 

the park are made up of sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks are 

formed when pressure slowly turns sand, shells, or dirt into rock 

over time. Scientists use clues in the rocks to find out what the 

environment was like when the rocks were made. Sometimes the 

material that makes up the rock gives us clues, and sometimes there 

is evidence of ancient life called fossils in the rocks.

Directions: On the left is a picture of some of the rock layers you 

can see in the park. Using the clues in the rock layers, draw a line 

from the rock layer to the past environment in which it was formed.

Rock Layers

NAVAJO SANDSTONE LAYER

KAYENTA LAYER

MOENAVE LAYER

Environments
The Past Comes Alive ACTIVITY

Native Americans living in this area in the past left symbols chipped into 

rock called petroglyphs. Sometimes they painted pictures on rocks called 7

pictographs. Many archeologists have studied rock art, but still do

not know the exact meaning of these symbols.

As a Junior Ranger, you can help protect this important part of history. It is impossible to fix rock art 

once it is damaged. The most important rule when visiting any archeological site is to look without 

touching. Do not climb near rock art, enter any ruins, or remove any material.

What do you think the symbols on the rock mean?

Do you see anything wrong with this picture?

Why is it important to protect rock art?
ACTIVITY

8 Go Team!

Park rangers work as a team. There are many types of rangers. 

The uniform they wear and the tools they use may give you a clue 

as to what they do.

Directions: Match each riddle with the type of park ranger

pictured below.

I’ve got the hottest job in town.

I work from the air and on the ground.

When flames get out of hand I frown.

I help keep healthy habitats around.

Who am I?

My job is to build the trails.

I put in steps, bridges, and rails.

Making sure nothing is in the way,

so that you can hike safely today.

Who am I?

Don’t break rules or I’ll get on your case.

I help keep Zion an orderly place.

Look at that flower—please don’t pick it, 

or I will have to write you a ticket.

Who am I?

All day long I answer questions for you.

I will take you on a guided hike too.

My job is to observe, learn, and share.

And to help visitors relate and care.

Who am I?

Interpretation

Law Enforcement

Fire

Trail Maintenance
Design a Patch

ACTIVITY

9

You may have noticed

the arrowhead patch worn 

by park rangers in Zion and 

other national parks. This is 

the emblem of the National 

Park Service. Let’s take a closer 

look at the meaning of this 

important symbol.

The arrowhead was authorized 

as the official NPS emblem by 

the Secretary of the Interior on 

July 20, 1951.

• The arrowhead shape stands

 for history and archeology

• The sequoia tree and bison

 stand for plants and wildlife

• Mountains and water stand

 for scenery and recreation

Directions: Think about what you have seen and 

experienced in Zion. Create your own unique patch 

below for Zion National Park with drawings of wildlife, 

plants, scenery, recreation, and history.
ACTIVITY

10 Signs of Our Park

Signs are important for our safety and the protection of the park. You 

should read them and recognize their meanings.

Directions: Below are some signs you will see in the park. 

Match the pictures with their meanings in the middle column.

Don’t feed the wildlife.

No campfires.

Stay on the trail.

Warning! Steep cliffs.

Drink more water and rest.

Thunderstorm and possible 

flash floods.
Junior RangersRULE! ACTIVITY

The rules in national parks are in place for a number of reasons. Many 11

rules are for your safety and the safety of others. Remember that 

everything in a national park is protected, including the rocks, plants, 

and wildlife. As a Junior Ranger, it is important to know the rules and 

share them with others who are not aware of them.

Identify the rules being broken in the following picture:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.
ACTIVITY

12 Zion Poetry

The beauty of Zion National Park has inspired many poets and 

artists. Follow the steps below to write your own poetry about 

Zion.

Write the name of something you like or found in Zion.

Write one word or more that describes how it looks.

Write one word or more that describes something it does.

Write a sentence about how it makes you feel.

Fish

Silver

Splash

I feel cool and wet when I watch you.

First Line:

Second Line:

Third Line:

Fourth Line:

Here is an example:

Have fun! I bet you’re a poet and don’t even know it.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Draw a picture to go along with your poem.
ECO-HUNT

Visitor Center

Eco-hunt!

ACTIVITY

13

The Zion Canyon Visitor Center was designed as a climate-friendly 

building that reduces heating and cooling costs by 74% and CO2

 emissions by 155 tons a year. In the 

visitor center plaza, there are Eco-hunt signs that identify and explain the earth-friendly features. 

Directions: See if you can find the signs with the Eco-hunt logo (pictured above left) and write 

the name of the feature and what it does in the blank space next to each one.

Feature:

What does it do?

Feature:

What does it do?

Feature:

What does it do?

Feature:

What does it do?

BONUS! Feature:

What does it do?

Feature:

What does it do?
ACTIVITY

14

Zion Canyon

Scenic Drive“I SPY!”

There are many things to discover at each 

stop on the scenic drive. Use your powers of 

observation to find the special things at each 

stop and answer the questions below. Place a 

« beside each stop where you spy a ranger!

Visitor Center: Find four animal sculptures 

and list them. 

Human History Museum: Find the bronze 

plaque. Who is on it?

Canyon Junction: Which trail begins here?

Court of the Patriarchs: How many 

patriarchs are there? Name them.

Zion Lodge: Can you find the big tree on 

the front lawn? What kind of tree is it?

Grotto: Can you find the first museum which 

was built in 1924? What is the building made 

of? Name a trail that begins from here.

Temple of Sinawava: Can you find the 

river? What is its name?

FUN FACT:

Pa‘rus is a Paiute 

word which, loosely 

translated, means 

“bubbling, tumbling 

stream.”
Animals of Zion

Word Search ACTIVITY

15

Directions: Circle the animals from the list below in the puzzle. The 

words are hidden up, down, sideways, backwards, and diagonally.

BAT

TARANTULA

OWL

MULE DEER

EAGLE

RACCOON

STINKBUG

FOX

COUGAR

LIZARD

BIGHORN SHEEP

RATTLESNAKE

COYOTE

SCORPION

SKUNK

T F E L M D R A Z I L N F

R A G U O C U F V R I O P

A C B E D O P E A G L E U

X M L F K Y A B A L E P M

E U R S S O F J O H I S S

K L E K X T Y R S L D O C

A E O U G E T N Y K M R O

N D A N O W R B E Q S O R

S E U K X O W L C O T I P

E E J M H Y A T I B I E I

L R P G R A C C O O N H O

T U I H Q O N E W A K O N

T B I S O F Y K N I B C R

A Y J Y T A R A N T U L A

R O H X O F V I D H G E V
ACTIVITY

16 Do You Hear 

 What I Hear?

National parks like Zion offer more than beautiful 

landscapes, wildlife, and ancient rock art. Parks offer 

an opportunity to hear a unique sound environment, 

or soundscape. Exercise your listening skills and find 

out why Zion might sound different from your home.

You may think you hear 

a bird laughing at you . . .

The sound of the wind rustling 

through the cottonwood trees 

might make you sleepy . . .

Or, you may be certain 

you hear a goat while 

hiking along 

the trails . . . 

As you explore the park, find a place to close your eyes 

and listen to the sounds. Where did you stop and listen?

What did you hear?

How are the sounds different at home?

Why should natural sounds be protected?
Suggested Reading List

A Naturalist’s Guide to Canyon Country. David 

Williams. Guilford, CT: The Globe Pequot Press, 2000.

101 Questions About Desert Life. Alice Jablonsky. 

Tucson, AZ: Western National Parks Association, 1994.

Rangers Activity and Sticker Book. Greer Chesher, 

illustrated by Guy Porfirio. Ft. Washington, PA: Eastern 

National, 2005.

The Redrock Canyon Explorer. Irene Brady. Talent, OR: 

Nature Works Press, 1998.

A Seed Is Sleepy. Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long. 

San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2007.

Watching Desert Wildlife. Jim Arnosky. Washington, 

DC: National Geographic Society, 1998.

When Clay Sings. Byrd Baylor, illustrated by Tom Bahti. 

New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1972.

Winging It. Catherine, Cynthia, James, and Vivian 

Coulter. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico 

Press, 2004.

Become a WebRanger!

The National Park Service WebRangers website is filled with

activities for kids of all ages. 

www.nps.gov/webrangers

Credits

Designed by Sandy Bell

Illustrated by John Aardema

Published by Zion Natural History Association, in cooperation with 

the National Park Service

Copyright © 2012, Zion Natural History Association

Zion Natural History Association

Springdale, Utah 84767

www.zionpark.org

Zion Natural History Association (ZNHA), is a nonprofit corporation 

working in cooperation with Zion National Park. Publishing is 

just one of the functions we perform to enhance the quality of 

your visit to National Park Service areas. The association also 

funds interpretive projects and scientific research, produces 

free publications, aids in museum and library activities, awards 

scholarships, and helps with many other National Park Service 

programs.

To purchase additional copies of this publication, or any other

Zion-related publication, visit our website at www.zionpark.org,

or call (800) 635–3959.

Thank you for your support of the Zion National Park Junior

Ranger Program.
Junior Ranger 

Oath

I am proud to be a Zion 

Junior Ranger. I promise 

to help take care of and 

protect Zion National 

Park and all national 

parks. I also promise 

to continue to explore, 

learn about, and respect 

the natural world 

wherever I go.

Name: 

Date: 

Witnessed by: 

 Park Ranger Signature