Junior Ranger

Activity Book

O le Tusi Lenei a

(This Book Belongs to)

______________________________________________

National Park of American Samoa

Paka Fa’asao o Amerika Samoa

Tausaga (Age)

P A K A F A ’ A S A O O A M E R I K A S A M O A | J U N I O R R A N G E R A C T I V I T Y B O O K | 3

Talofa! (Hello!)

This Junior Ranger Activity Book is a great way to have fun and 

learn about the National Park of American Samoa and the National Park 

Service. It’s also a way that you can help park rangers take care of this very 

special place.

Ages 5 and under: Complete 3 Activities

Ages 6 to 9: Complete 6 Activities

Ages 10 and up: Complete 8 Activities

When you finish, take your activity book to the visitor center in the park 

to get your certificate and badge. If you don’t finish your book while you’re 

here, you can mail it to us. We’ll check it and send your book back to you 

along with your certificate and badge. 

Mail it to:

Junior Ranger Program

National Park of American Samoa

Pago Pago, AS 96799 

Don’t forget to include your return address!

Ia manuia ma fiafia e fai! (Have fun and enjoy it!)

Become a Junior Ranger 

Printed on 

recycled paper 

using soybased ink.
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The Arrowhead

Here is the National Park Service arrowhead symbol. Each item in the 

arrowhead represents a feature protected within national park sites. The 

sequoia tree represents all plants; the bison represents all animals; the 

mountain represents all land forms; the lake represents all waters; and 

the arrowhead outline represents culture and history. 

The National Park of American Samoa protects the fruit bats (flying 

foxes), coral reefs, tropical rainforests, and the Samoan culture. 

ACTIVITY

If you were going to design your 

own patch just for the National 

Park of American Samoa, what 

would it look like? Use the blank 

arrowhead to design yours.

Did You Know

There are over 390 areas 

in the United States that 

the National Park Service 

preserves and protects.
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Where is American Samoa?

ACTIVITY

1) Where do you live?

City/State or Village

_______________________

Country

_______________________

2) Mark an X on the map 

near where you live.

American

Samoa

The National Park of American Samoa is the only United States national 

park south of the Equator. There are seven islands: Tutuila, Aunu’u, Ofu, 

Olosega, Ta’u, and Swain and Rose Atoll. Most of these islands 

have steep mountains with tropical 

rainforests and coral reefs along their 

shores with colorful fish and other 

sea life.

Distance to American Samoa from

Hawaii ..................2,600 mi / 4,184 km 

California .............4,700 mi / 7,564 km

New York............7,200 mi / 11,587 km

Japan....................4,700 mi / 7,564 km

Europe............. 10,000 mi / 16,093 km

Asia.....................6,700 mi / 10,783 km

South America ....6,300 mi / 10139 km

Africa............... 10,000 mi / 16,093 km

Australia...............2,500 mi / 4,023 km

Tutuila Island

Aunu’u Island
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Raccoon Butterflyfish 

(Tifitifi laumea)

Regal Angelfish

(Tu’u’u moana)

Coral Reef Fishes

Picasso Triggerfish

(Sumu uo’uo)

There are over 900 reef fish species in American 

Samoa’s reefs. The colors and patterns of reef fish 

help keep them safe. Red colors appear black under 

water, helping a fish to go unseen. Stripes allow a 

fish to camouflage itself against the coral. Spotted 

patterns can confuse a would-be predator.

Did You Know

Fish breath oxygen. As water 

passes over their gills, fish absorb 

the water’s oxygen content.

ACTIVITY

Color these reef fish. 
P A K A F A ’ A S A O O A M E R I K A S A M O A | J U N I O R R A N G E R A C T I V I T Y B O O K | 7

ACTIVITY

Sometimes sea turtles 

mistake trash in the water 

as food. Plastic bags look 

like jellyfish, sea turtles’ 

favorite food. If swallowed, 

debris can block digestion 

or remain in the turtle’s 

stomach, causing the turtle 

to feel “full” and eat less 

than it needs to survive. 

Help this turtle swim 

away from the trash.

Help all ocean life—put 

your trash in bins.

Sea turtles are air-breathing reptiles. Hawksbill turtles only come to shore to lay their 

eggs. Green turtles come to shore to lay their eggs and also to rest. Their eggs are 

laid in a sandy beach nest and typically take about seven weeks to hatch. They grow 

very slowly, and won’t breed until they are 30 to 50 years old. When they’re ready, 

the female travels back to the beach where she was born on (which could be up to 

2,000 miles / 3,219 km away) and lays up to 150 ping-pong ball sized eggs.

Sea Turtles
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ISLANDS / PLACES

Tutuila

Ofu

Olosega

Tau

Mount Alava

Tumu Mountain

Siu Point

Lata Mountain

CULTURE

Talofa (hello)

Fale (house)

Siapo

Samoans

Fishing

Breadfruit

Taro

Coconut

Fine Mat

OCEAN

Coral Reef

South Pacific

Sea Turtles

Butterflyfish

Surgeonfish

Parrotfish

Whales

Sharks

RAINFOREST

Tropical Rainforest

Honeyeater

Fruit Bat

Pacific Pigeon

Fruit Dove

Starling

Blue Crowned Lory

Frigatebird

Reef Heron

TREES

Pandanus

Tava

Asi

Maali

Matalafi

Talafalu

Tavai

Mamalava

Word Search

O C O C O N U T A B T I U R F R H I M T

L E V H S I F Y L F R E T T U B I U A A

O H G N K A I R A F E E R L A R O C T L

S F A O R T A O T B S N A O M A S T A A

E Y V E A N V L A U C I P D S U E A L F

G T A G H U A D M Z T A L O F A A M A A

A N L I S O T E O E I U U I R R T E F L

D O A P P M N N U S U T I W I B U N I U

G R M C A U I W N R H I U L G C R I V H

N E A I R M O O T P Y I L A A M T F T C

I H M F R U P R A T M O U N T A L A V A

L F G I O T U C I G R E T A E Y E N O H

R E Z C T E I E N Y I J R U B C S D H F

A E L A F F S U R G E O N F I S H I N G

T R O P I C A L R A I N F O R E S T M J

S S W C S D T B O F R U I T D O V E J T

S E L A H W X L B B S U N A D N A P B W

ACTIVITY

Find and circle the words (forward, backward, or diagonal) that are important about the National Park of 

American Samoa. 
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Coral Reefs

Did You Know

Many of the world’s coral reefs are disappearing 

because of global warming, pollution, and overfishing. 

Coral grows in warm tropical oceans. Many coral colonies grow 

together to form reefs that provide homes for many different 

animals and plants. If you visit a coral reef, you’ll see a lot of 

colorful fishes, sea cucumbers, and other animals living there. 

Coral reefs also protect the coast from big waves and storms.

ACTIVITY

Decode the message below for a secret message. 

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ 

 _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ 

 

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____;

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ 

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
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Fruit Bats

Fruit bats (also known as flying 

foxes) are common in the rainforests 

of the National Park of American 

Samoa and throughout American 

Samoa. They are very large with up 

to 3 ft / .91 m wing spans. 

They are very important seed 

spreaders. They may fly 31 mi / 50 

km each night, visiting tree tops 

in search of fruit. The fruit passes 

quickly through their gut. Their 

droppings are full of seeds. The 

bats spread them when they poop, 

allowing more fruit trees to grow. 

ACTIVITY

Connect the dots to see 

the fruit bat in flight.

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Did You Know

Fruit bats are the 

only native mammals 

in American Samoa.
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Bingo

ACTIVITY 

Mark off each park feature or creature that you see in the National Park of American Samoa or on the park’s website 

at www.nps.gov/npsa. When you get 4 across, up and down, or diagonally, then you’ve got BINGO! If you look very 

carefully and have a little luck, maybe you can get them all.

Hiking Trail

Park Entrance Sign Kingfisher

Ava Bowl

Tropical Rainforest Hermit Crab

Flying Fox Sea Star

Samoan Dance

White-tailed Tropicbird

Fale

Free

Space

Mountains

Pola Island

Fish Coconut Tree

All of these features and creatures on the bingo card are protected in the National Park of American Samoa. 

They are just some of what makes this place so special.
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Pandanus (Lauie) Tree

The Pandanus (Lauie) tree is very important to Samoans. 

For thousands of years, Pandanus has been used to make 

fine mats and clothing. Today, fine mats are still made 

and are valuable like money in a savings account. They are 

passed between families during special occasions such as 

weddings and funerals (fa’alavelave).

ACTIVITY

Color this Samoan 

design (tapa) of a 

Pandanus (Lauie)

leaf.

Weaving a mat.

Clothing made from Pandanus 

(Lauie) and paper mulberry (u’a).
P A K A F A ’ A S A O O A M E R I K A S A M O A | J U N I O R R A N G E R A C T I V I T Y B O O K | 1 3

ACTIVITY

Create your own 

design (tapa).

Siapo is the bark cloth used by Samoans to 

make clothing and for ceremonial exchanges 

(fa’alavelave). It is made from the paper 

mulberry (u’a) tree. Many pieces of bark are 

separated from 1 inch / 2.54 cm stems and 

pounded using a small wooden club or mallet 

(i’e). Slowly the bark is stretched. The siapo is 

then dried before the design (tapa) is added. 

Then the siapo is placed on a wood pattern 

and a rubbing is made. Finally, it is then 

painted with natural dyes using brushes made 

from local plant material.

Tapa (design) example.

Siapo and Tapa

Siapo (bark cloth) without 

a tapa (design).

Pounding 

mulberry (u’a) bark.
In Samoan culture, the coconut (niu) tree is known as “the tree of life.” Every part of the tree is important and 

used in everyday life.

ACTIVITY

Match the part of the coconut tree with its use by Samoans. Hint: Some have multiple uses.

House

Food

Drink

Cup

Canoe

Broom

Rope

Floor Mat

Bowl

Basket

Leaves

(Launiu)

White Fruit

(Aano)

Milk

(Suaniu)

Shells

(Atigi Popo)

Husk

(Pulu)

Trunk

(Oganiu)

Coconut (Niu) Tree

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Tropical Rainforest

What is one important part of a tropical rainforest? That’s right, 

rain! The National Park of American Samoa receives as much 

as 300 inches of rain each year. To be a tropical rainforest, you 

also need high temperatures. Average high temperatures in the 

rainforest are in the upper 70’s.

Across

1. About this number of different plants 

live in American Samoa’s rainforest. 

(2 words)

6. Common bird in American Samoa’s 

rainforest.

10. Tree trying to take over the rainforest in 

American Samoa.

11. The only native mammal in American 

Samoa’s rainforest. (2 words)

Down

1. The bottom layer of the rainforest made 

up of tree roots, soil, ferns, shrubs, and 

decaying material. (2 words)

2. A variety of living things.

3. Plants growing on plants.

4. The largest number of plants and 

animals in the world live here.

5. Middle layer of the rainforest of trees 

and shrubs.

7. The uppermost layer of a rainforest, 

consists of the tops of the tallest trees.

8. A particular place an animal lives.

9. The layer of the rainforest made up of 

the tops of trees.

Word List

Canopy

Epiphytes

Tamaligi

Honeyeater

Flying Fox

Diversity

Five Hundred

Rainforest

ACTIVITY

Read each sentence and write the correct word in the boxes below. 

Cardinal Honeyeater

1 2

3 4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Habitat

Emergent

Forest Floor

Understory
Produced by the

Interpretation and Education Division

06/11 National Park of American Samoa / Paka Fa’asao o Amerika Samoa