How old are you? Do 

that many activities 

to earn a Jr. Ranger 

badge!

2

Is a River Like a Road?

Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve protects the plants, animals, history, 

water and landforms along the Yukon River and the Charley River. These rivers 

have been pathways for transportation and a source of survival for people and 

wildlife. The descriptions below are ways to travel on or near the rivers: 

1. Alaska Native people have traveled on the rivers by boat in the summer and 

by sled or snow shoe in winter for thousands of years and still do today. 

2. Peregrine Falcons nest in the bluffs above the Yukon River and fly above the 

waterway while they hunt for food. 

How would you visit the rivers? How would you visit ver?

3. Moose and other wildlife like to feed in flood plain areas, near the edge of 

the rivers, where there are plants to eat in summer and in winter.
3

What’s Along the River? What’s Along the Rivers?

If you are going on a boat trip or a walk in the Preserve, you have the chance to 

experience some of the sights and sounds of the rivers and nearby boreal forest. 

Find the items below to check off the box and try for a bingo!

Something Soft Something Soft A Leaf Smell a Flower Smell a Flower

Animal Track A Bird A Seed

Loud Sound Something Rough

Free space! 

What else did you find?
How does weather affect travel?

4

What Will You Need to Travel Safely?

A trip on a river requires lots of gear. Being prepared includes knowing water 

safety, wildlife safety and being ready to experience all kinds of weather! Circle 

the items you will need to be prepared and safe while traveling on a river!

Bear Spray Burger Hiking boots

Water Tent Stove

Sandals

Boots

 Flotation 

Device

 Bear Resistant Paddle Food Container

Free Space!
5

What Makes the Charley River Special?

The Charley River is protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This protects 

the special features, nautral cycles and cultural history of the entire river. Draw 

your own Wild and Scenic River below incorporating different examples of 

special features that would be protected in or near your river. 

Special Features

Wildlife

Landscape

History

Culture

Recreation
6

What Plants are Used to Survive Here? What Plants are Used to Survive Here?

The Han Athabascan people are one group of Alaska Native people who have 

lived along the Yukon River for thousands of years and still do today. Collecting 

resources from the land to survive is still practiced. Look for these plants during 

your visit, but don’t pick or eat unless you know how to identify your find!

Blueberries Low bush Cranberries Fireweed

Prickly Rose Crow Berries Labrador tea

Have you noticed if 

any of these plants 

grow near each other?

Which ones?

For an extra 

challenge, use a tally 

mark to count the 

number of times you 

see each plant!

Depending on the 

time of year, some of 

these berries might 

not be ready yet. 

Look at the leaves or 

needles and try an 

extra challenge of 

finding these plants 

before berry season!
7

How Do You Catch a Fish?

Many tools can be used to catch fish along the Yukon River. Alaska Native 

people have used many of these tools traditionally and many are still used 

today. Check out some of the examples below. Have you caught a fish? Tell 

someone what tools you used and your fish catching story!

Fish Wheel Fish Trap

Gill Net or Dip Net Fishing Rod
8

What is Here in Winter?

Though much of Yukon-Charley’s wildlife are sleeping in the winter, there is 

still a lot to do and ways to travel in the Preserve. Sled dog teams are great at 

traveling over frozen rivers, snow and ice! It can be hard work, but these sled 

dogs have the muscle, warm fur and the excitement to get out and run! 

Caring for many dogs can be a big 

job on a long journey. What are two 

things you would do to make sure 

your dog team is happy and safe?

Sled dog litters often have themed 

names. What would you name your 

sled dogs if the theme was “river”?
9

What Was the Gold Rush? What Was the Gold Rush?

The quest for gold brought many miners from all over the world to Interior 

Alaska about 100 years ago. Towns like Fairbanks and Eagle were established on 

rivers near miners’ claims. There miners could buy supplies, and find other ways 

to spend their gold “dust”. Find your way through the mining maze below.

Start

End
10

How Old Are Those Rocks? How Old Are Those Rocks?

The rocks along the Yukon River are unique because they span more than 700 

million years of geologic time and many have fossils! Each picture below is a 

plant or animal that lived at a certain time in the past. Put the geologic periods 

below in order starting with the oldest (6) and ending with the youngest (1). 

Brachiopod

__ Permian. 

300 million years ago, 

sea creatures were 

bountiful! 

Stromatolite

__ Precambrian. 

longer than 542 

million years ago, 

early life appeared!

Alder

__ Cretaceous. 

145 million years 

ago, flowering plants 

spread across the 

land!

Mammoth

__ Quaternary. 

2.5 million years ago, 

Ice Age mammals like 

the Wooly Mammoth 

were abundant!

Dinosaur

__ Jurassic. 

200 million years 

ago, dinosaurs were 

everywhere!

Trilobite

__ Cambrian. 

540 million years ago, 

trilobites (plated sea 

creatures) lived in the 

ocean!
11

What Was Th ssil? What Was That Fossil?

The rocks of Yukon-Charley contain many interesting fossils, ranging from 

animals that once lived in the ocean to the large mammals of the Ice Age. 

Paleontologists can make 3D models of these fossils to study, like the examples 

below. Observe these fossils and list three things you notice. 

Top of tooth

Mammoth tooth Bivalve (shell)

Fossil Questions 

What is the shape? What is the 

texture? What does that tell you 

about the animal when it was alive?

The Oldest Fossil The Oldest Fossil 

Fun fact: The oldest fossil 

discovered in the Preserve was 

found to be about 700 million years 

old! It is a type of tiny jellyfish.
12

What Role Do Wolves Play?

The National Park Service has studied wolves in the preserve for over 20 years 

because they are a key species in the local ecosystem. The wolf numbers will 

affect how many caribou there are, and the size of the caribou herd will impact 

the plant species they feed on. Draw lines to label what each animal eats!

Caribou

Wolf

Snowshoe Hare

Willow

Ptarmigan
13

What is a Habitat?

Every animal in Yukon-Charley has a favorite habitat, a home that has all the 

things the animal needs to survive. Draw a picture below of an animal habitat 

and label the food, water, shelter and space the animal would use to survive. 

Some animal examples: wolf, bear, squirrel, fish, bird, moose.
14

What is the Best Peregrine Falcon Habitat?

Yukon-Charley is home to one of the largest breeding populations of peregrine 

falcons in North America. Certain areas of the Preserve are an ideal home for 

these falcons because they like to nest on cliffs near rivers far away from people 

and pollution. Which habitat below would a falcon like best?

Protect Protect

What can we do to protect 

peregrine falcon habitat?
15

What is Permafrost?

The Preserve, like much of Alaska, contains soil that is frozen all year round 

called permafrost. Permafrost helps plants and animals by keeping water close 

to the surface, but a layer of plants need to grow on top of permafrost to keep 

it frozen. Try the experiment below to simulate how permafrost stays frozen!

1. Gather the following items: 

• one water glass

• one insulated mug 

• four ice cubes

• one timer or clock 

2. Place two ice cubes in each 

 container and time how long

 it takes the ice to melt in each.

3. In which container did the ice 

 melt faster?

The soil and plants on top of 

permafrost are like that mug, 

keeping the ice underneath cold.

This is why it is very important to 

not disturb or kill plants that have 

permafrost below, because without 

those plants the permafrost will 

thaw.

When permafrost thaws it can 

cause trees to slump and die, and 

the animals that relied on those 

trees like birds will no longer have a 

habitat. This shows how everything 

in an ecosystem is connected. 

Protect

How can we do our part to make 

sure permafrost stays frozen?
Special thanks to Ellen Devine for illustrations, 

Naomi Morris for content development, Kris Fister, 

Rachel Jencks and Adia Cotter for consultation on 

content and editing.