Table of

CONTENTS

Public Lands Belong to You! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Junior Rangers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Did You Know? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Fun Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Benefits of Native Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Activity: Ecosystem Give and Take . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Native Plants Underground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Activity: Untangle the Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

A Sea of Sagebrush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Native Plant Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Activity: Restore the Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Native Plants Under Threat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

An Invader Threatens Sagebrush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Activity: Search for the Native Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

BLM: Giving Native Plants a Helping Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Activity: Building a Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Activity: Take a Break and Make Like a Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Being a Good Steward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Kids and BLM Team Up to Help Native Plants . . . . . . . . . . . 20

In the Spotlight: BLM Botanist Holly Beck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

BLM Career Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Activity: Explore Native Plants through Journaling . . . . . . 23

Junior Explorer Certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Ready for More? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside back cover
Public Lands Belong To You!

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a federal government agency that takes care of more 

than 245 million acres of public land. These lands belong to all Americans. Most of the lands are 

in the Western United States. However, the BLM also cares for a number of sites in the east. BLM 

public lands are almost equal in area to all the land in the states of Texas and California put together.

The BLM conserves and manages public lands for many uses. The lands supply natural resources 

including coal, oil, minerals, and plants. They provide habitat for wildlife and 

food for grazing animals. People enjoy the big open spaces on the lands. 

The lands contain evidence of the past, including dinosaur bones and plant 

fossils. They contain important archaeological sites that help us learn 

about people who lived here long ago.

Junior Rangers

The Junior Ranger program introduces young 

adventurers to the lands and resources managed by 

the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). We hope 

you enjoy the activities in this book. When you 

are finished, cut out the Junior Ranger certificate 

on page 25. Then, say the Junior Ranger pledge 

and sign the certificate. We invite you to join the 

adventure!

1
Did You Know?

WORDS TO KNOW

•	ecosystem: community of

interacting living

•	evolve:

things

change over time

•	adapt: adjust to the

environment

•	climate: typical weather

conditions

place over

in a certain

many

•	niche:

years

role and place

for a living thing in an

ecosystem

•	erosion: process of wearing

away by water or wind

Native plants are plants that grow naturally in a 

particular area or ecosystem. Over time, these 

plants have evolved and adapted to the soils and 

climate as well as to other native plants and animals. 

Nonnative plants are plants from other areas that 

are introduced into different ecosystems. 

In their ecosystems, native plants fill a particular 

role, or niche. For many animals, they provide food, 

shelter, and nesting places. The leaves of native 

plants remove harmful substances from the air. Plant 

roots absorb water from soil. This reduces erosion

and pollution. Green plants use carbon dioxide, 

water, and sunlight to make oxygen and the sugar 

needed for energy. Some plants then become food 

for animals and people.

Our public lands are wonderful places to enjoy 

beautiful scenery and view a wide variety of native 

plants. In this booklet, you will explore some of the 

native plants found on BLM public lands. You will 

learn how they benefit other native plants, animals, 

and the environment. In addition, you will examine 

some threats to native plants. And you will discover 

what the BLM is doing to help.

2
Fun Facts

Deep and Wide Roots

The Mojave Desert is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. Temperatures can top 100° F. In a typical 

year, it rains less than 10 inches. (In contrast, Hawaii’s Mt. Waialeale gets about 450 inches of rain in a year!) 

To survive in the desert, some native plants have developed unique ways to collect and store water. One such 

plant is the Joshua tree. The Joshua tree has specialized roots for collecting and storing water. The shallow 

roots spread out horizontally over a wide area, collecting rare rainwater that soaks into the soil. The vertical 

roots extend 10 to 30 feet underground. At the ends of these roots, huge bulbs store water.

The Joshua tree is the dominant native plant species 

in some parts of the Beaver Dam Wash National 

Conservation Area in Utah.

The large root bulbs of 

the Joshua tree have 

been found as deep as 

30 feet underground.

A full-sized bulb can 

measure up to 4 feet 

around and can weigh 

as much as 40 pounds.

root bulb

shallow root 

system

vertical roots

3
4

Native Plants: Small...

The tiny arctic willow rarely 

reaches 6 inches in height. To 

survive the icy winds and 

extreme cold of arctic and 

subarctic environments, it grows 

close to the ground. Most grow 

no taller than half an inch. That’s 

not even as high as your big toe.

...To Tall

The tallest trees in the world are the coastal redwoods of northern 

California. They can reach heights of more than 350 feet. They live 

for hundreds, even thousands of years. One tree can soak up as 

much as 150 gallons of water in 1 day.

Fog covers these coastal 

redwoods at Headwaters 

Forest Reserve in California. 

Nearly half of the water 

needed by these giant 

trees is absorbed 

through their leaves 

from the fog.

Fun Facts (continued)
5

Benefits of Native Plants

Native plants add beauty to our landscapes. They 

also benefit the lands in ways we cannot see. They 

produce oxygen and sugars, the primary fuels of life. 

The picture below shows many other ways native 

plants benefit the environment.

Over thousands of years, native plants evolved with 

native animals in an ecosytem, adapting to one 

another, to the soil, and to the climate. The result 

is a network of interactions among all parts of the 

ecosystem. For an ecosystem to be healthy, all parts 

must be in balance.

WORDS TO KNOW

•	benefit: (noun) something that is

useful or helpful

•	interdependence: living things

	 depending on one another for

survival

In exchange for 

the benefits that the plants 

give to the ecosystem, the ecosystem gives 

back to the plants—sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, 

and nutrients. The ecosystem depends on the 

plants. The plants depend on the ecosystem. This 

interdependence creates a balanced ecosystem.

Roots filter pollutants and slow runoff.

Shallow roots hold soil together.

Deep roots stabilize soil layers, especially along stream banks.

Plants absorb water, cool the air, and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They also produce oxygen and sugar.

Shade from plants lowers temperatures of the air and ground.

Plants provide food and shelter for wildlife.
6

Activity: Ecosystem Give and Take

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in 

the Mojave Desert is home to the Joshua tree. This 

unique plant provides habitat for a host of desert 

creatures. Birds nest in its branches. Small desert 

mammals find shelter in its shade. Even a fallen 

dead branch provides food and cover for insects and 

lizards. The roots of the Joshua tree stabilize the soil.

In return, the Joshua tree takes what it needs from 

the ecosystem, such as carbon dioxide and moisture 

from the air. From the soil, it takes nutrients and 

more water. The animals that depend on the tree do 

their part. For example, small mammals help spread, 

or disperse, the seeds so more Joshua trees will grow.

Many more exchanges take place in this ecosystem. 

Termites feed on fallen branches and speed up their decay. 

Decaying branches give nutrients to the soil. Lizards feed 

on the termites before becoming food for snakes.

Directions: In this Mojave Desert ecosystem, arrows represent interactions between parts of the ecosystem. For 

example, arrow #4, which points to the Joshua tree, represents water or nutrients passing from the soil to the plant. 

Read the below information, and complete sentences on the next page using words from the word bank. Some words 

will be used more than once.

WORDS TO KNOW

•	cover: shelter from weather and predators

•	disperse: to spread or distribute over an area

•	exchange: the giving and taking of one

thing for another; a trade
1 The sun transfers _________________ to the Joshua tree.

2 The air gives ___________________________ and _________________ to the Joshua tree.

3 The Joshua tree releases _________________ to the air. 

4 The soil provides _________________ and _________________ to the Joshua tree.

5 In return, the Joshua tree _________________ the soil with its roots.

6 The Joshua tree provides a __________________________ for a Scott’s oriole.

7 The Joshua tree gives _________________ to a desert woodrat. 

8 In exchange, the desert woodrat _________________ the seeds of the Joshua tree.

9 The rat might become _________________ for a Mojave rattlesnake.

K A dead branch of the Joshua tree becomes _________________ 

for termites. 

L As the branch decays it gives 

_________________ back to the soil.

M Later, the termites might become 

_________________ for a yucca 

night lizard.

What other interactions can you think of that 

might take place in this ecosystem?

The relationship between the yucca moth and the Joshua tree 

is an example of interdependence. The moth is the tree’s only 

pollinator. And the tree is the only place where the moth can 

lay her eggs. The two cannot survive without each other.

Activity: Ecosystem Give and Take

WORD BANK: food shelter moisture stabilizes

nutrients oxygen energy carbon dioxide

nesting site disperses water

7

Photo by Alan Cressler

(USDA Forest Service)
Native Plants 

Underground

With native plants, what’s happening 

underground is as important as what 

you see above the ground. Nearly 

half of a plant is its roots. These 

roots benefit both the plant and the 

ecosystem.

Many plants have one main root 

called a taproot, a thick root that 

grows straight down. It binds layers 

of soil together. Smaller secondary

roots grow out from the taproot 

and help anchor the plant in the 

ground. Even smaller root hairs 

grow out from the larger roots so 

more water can be absorbed.

Think About It

Name some of the ways roots of 

native plants benefit the ecosystem: 

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Flooding washed 

away the soil under 

this ponderosa pine. 

Deep roots prevented 

the loss of the tree.

8

Most native grasses have fibrous 

roots. These fine threadlike 

roots can grow more than 10 

feet deep. A single plant can have hundreds of 

fibrous roots, which provide excellent erosion control.

Native trees have different sizes and types of roots. 

Large roots close to the trunk lead to smaller feeder 

roots. The feeder roots remain close to the surface 

and can grow longer than the tree is tall. They help 

reduce erosion by holding the topsoil together. Some

trees, like pines, grow deep taproots that store 

water and nutrients. During periods of drought, 

this gives the trees a better chance of survival.

In a native plant community, the roots of many 

different plants form a grid that “locks” 

the plants together. In woodlands and 

forests, interlocking roots anchor 

trees to one another, making 

the trees less likely to fall 

during high winds and floods.

fibrous roots

taproot
Activity:

Untangle the 

Roots

Roots of native plants tangle up 

and form an interlocking grid 

that stabilizes soil and reduces 

erosion. This picture represents 

root systems of some native 

plants.

Directions: Based on the narrative 

from the previous page, untangle 

the words below to find the names 

of each root and root part shown 

in the picture. Then match the 

words to the picture by writing 

the numbers in the circles. Finally, 

arrange the letters from the shaded 

boxes to find the mystery word.

9

1 steedroofer

2 oatport

3 oboistfurors

4 ratiorhos

5 nosydecorators

Mystery Roots of native plants are great at controlling this:

Word
A Sea of Sagebrush

Sagebrush is a type of native plant found in deserts and 

other arid lands. Eleven Western States have large regions 

known as sagebrush steppe where sagebrush is the most 

common, or dominant, plant.

More than 20 different kinds of sagebrush, from 1 to 10 

feet in height, grow in the sagebrush steppe. With hairy 

leaves for insulation and 

WORDS TO KNOW

•	arid: extremely dry;

receiving little rainfall

•	steppe: dry, usually flat

area, generally covered

with grasses and shrubs

•	dominant: most common;

main

complex roots, sagebrush 

is perfectly suited to 

hot, dry summers, cold 

winters, and strong winds.

For a variety of wildlife—such as pygmy rabbits, pronghorns, sagebrush 

lizards, and golden eagles—sagebrush steppe is home sweet habitat. Some 

animals, such as the Greater Sage-Grouse, depend entirely on sagebrush. 

During the winter, this ground-dwelling bird eats sagebrush leaves and 

buds. In the spring, males perform courtship displays in open areas 

surrounded by sagebrush. Females build their nests and raise their young 

among the sagebrush. Without sagebrush, the Greater Sage-Grouse 

cannot survive.

10
Native Plant Communities 

The Columbia River Basin covers parts of seven Western States. It includes large areas of 

sagebrush steppe. Plants such as rabbitbrush, winterfat, Indian ricegrass, and wildrye grow 

among the different kinds of sagebrush. In addition, wildflowers such as globemallow, arrowleaf 

balsamroot, sego lilies, and phlox add to the diversity of plant life. This diversity of native plants 

is the foundation for a balanced ecosystem.

Activity:

Restore the Balance

This logic puzzle focuses on six native plants found in sagebrush 

communities: sagebrush, phlox, globemallow, rabbitbrush, winterfat, and 

arrowleaf balsamroot. Complete the puzzle by finding the place for each 

of these native plants.

Directions: Each row, column, and rectangle must have exactly one of each plant 

shown in the key. To solve the puzzle, identify which plants are missing and 

exactly where they must go. Complete the puzzle by writing the letters provided 

in the key, or use the cutouts at the bottom of page 27.

Picture Plant/Letter

 S Sagebrush

 P

Phlox

 G

Globemallow

 R

Rabbitbrush

 W Winterfat

 A Arrowleaf

Balsamroot

KEY

11
Native Plants Under Threat

Healthy native plant communities are essential to the health of our 

public lands. North America is home to nearly 20,000 native plant 

species. Unfortunately, over the last two centuries more than 200 native 

plant species in the United States have disappeared. Another 5,000 native 

species are at risk.

Native plants are under attack from a variety of threats, including wildfires, 

construction, pollution, and climate change. Another very serious threat to 

native plants is nonnative plants.

When nonnative plants are introduced to an area, 

they compete with native plants for space and 

for resources such as water, soil, and sunlight. 

Nonnatives are often resistant to diseases that kill native 

plants. In addition, nonnatives are often less appetizing to 

animals that eat plants. This gives nonnative plants a huge 

competitive advantage. As native plants die from diseases 

and are eaten by animals, nonnative plants move in to 

replace them. In time, they can crowd out the native 

plants. When this happens, nonnative plants become 

invasive plants.

As invasive plants take over an area, native plants 

disappear, and animals lose important habitat. Compared 

to the native plants, root systems of invasives are less 

complex. This can lead to more erosion. Thousands of 

acres of our public lands are being harmed, or impacted, 

by invasive plants.

WORDS TO KNOW

•	climate change: a

significant change in the

climate over the entire

planet

•	invasive plants: nonnative

plants that take over

a community of native

plants

•	impact: (verb) have

a strong effect on

something

Native lupine blooms near the BLM Trinity Wild and 

Scenic River in California. Wildlife eat both the leaves 

and the seeds of this native plant. Lupine also attracts 

butterflies and hummingbirds.

Spotted knapweed covers a Utah field in pink. While it 

might look pretty, this invasive plant has 

replaced native grasses and 

wildflowers.

12
An Invader Threatens Sagebrush 

A century ago, sagebrush covered more than 15 

million acres of our western grasslands. Now, nearly 

half of the sagebrush steppe has disappeared. One 

reason for the sagebrush’s decline is an invasive 

plant known as cheatgrass.

Ecologists believe the first cheatgrass seeds 

arrived in North America more than 100 years ago. 

These nonnative seeds probably came on ships 

from Europe and Asia. Cheatgrass seeds quickly 

grew where native plants had been damaged or 

destroyed. To make things worse, cheatgrass was 

excellent fuel for fire. After a fire, cheatgrass was 

often the first plant species to recover. 

With each cycle of wildfire, cheatgrass continued 

to spread. Today, cheatgrass continues to be a big 

problem. This invasive plant has overtaken millions 

of acres of sagebrush steppe.

The loss of sagebrush habitat has harmed the 

population of the Greater Sage-Grouse. A century 

ago, nearly 16 million Greater Sage-Grouse called 

the sagebrush steppe home. Since the introduction 

of cheatgrass, the population has shrunk to less than 

a half-million. To help this bird recover, the BLM 

and other land managing organizations are working 

together to conserve and restore sagebrush habitat.

13
Activity: Search for the Native Plants

You have probably heard the expression “You can’t 

judge a book by its cover.” It is the same with plants. 

You cannot judge the value of a plant by just looking 

at it. Native plants with beautiful blossoms can be 

beneficial to their ecosystems. Nonnative plants, no 

matter how pretty, can be harmful. 

Directions: Names of wildflowers are hiding in this word 

search puzzle. Some of the plants are native, but others 

are invasive. Circle the names of the native plants. Draw a 

line through the invasive plants.

Starting from the top left, place the unused letters in order until you 

complete the hidden message:

 Hidden Message:

__ __ __ __ __ __! __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __!

14
BLM: Giving Native Plants 

a Helping Hand

The BLM is entrusted with the care of America’s public lands. BLM 

employees work to conserve native plants, wildlife, and other resources 

found on these lands. They know that the health of the land depends on 

healthy native plant communities. They develop plans to protect plants 

from threats such as fire, pollution, and invasive plants. In places where 

damage has occurred, BLM employees work to find ways to return, or 

restore, native plants.

Another job of the BLM is to provide opportunities for people like you 

to enjoy the outdoors. Outdoor recreation planners work with other 

BLM experts to make sure these activities do not harm native plant 

communities and animal habitat.

WORDS TO KNOW

•	conserve: keep in

existing state; protect

•	restore: bring something

back to the way it used

to be

15
Activity: Building a Trail

Advantages

Recreational

Activities

Trail A Trail B

Plant Viewing

Wildlife Viewing

Swimming

Scenic Viewing

Picnicking

Camping

Total Advantages

Disadvantages

Environmental 

Features

Possible

Impact

Trail A Trail B

Native Plant 

Community

Habitat

fragmented

Nesting Site Nesting site

fragmented

Fawning 

Ground

Wildlife

disturbed

Wetland Wetland

damaged

Total 

Disadvantages

Imagine that you are an outdoor recreation planner 

for the BLM. You are planning a new hiking trail in 

an area with beautiful scenery, a wetland, and a 

lake. This area is home to important native plant 

communities and wildlife habitat, including a nesting 

site and fawning ground. The trail will guide hikers 

from a trailhead to a picnic area and campground.

Building a trail could impact important features of 

the environment, including the nesting site and 

fawning ground. In addition, a new trail could break 

up, or fragment, native plant communities and 

wildlife habitat. 

Your job is to plan a trail to provide a variety of 

outdoor recreation activities. (In addition to hiking, 

these can include viewing plants and wildlife, 

swimming, enjoying scenic views, picnicking, and 

camping.) At the same time, you want to minimize 

the possible harm to the environment. See the 

directions on the next page.

16

WORDS TO KNOW

•	fawning ground: area

where hooved animals

such as deer and

pronghorn give birth to

and raise their young

•	fragment: (verb) to divide

an area into smaller areas

that are not connected
17

Directions: The map shows two possible choices, A and B, for locating a new trail. Each trail has advantages and 

disadvantages. Advantages include the recreational activities the trail will provide. Disadvantages include harm to 

environmental features. Using the legend, identify the recreational and environmental features of each trail. On the 

map, one hexagon represents one unit. Use the tables provided to tally 

the number of units affected by each trail.

1. Name at least two advantages and two disadvantages of Trail A.

2. Name at least two advantages and two disadvantages of Trail B.

3. What other things do you think should be considered before deciding which trail to build?

4. Of the two trails, which one would you choose to build? Explain your choice.

17
Activity: Take a Break and Make Like a Tree

Do you know the yoga tree pose? Think of the amazing variety of native trees that grow on our public lands: 

the giant coastal redwoods of California, the crooked Joshua tree found in desert regions, the saw palmetto 

palms of Florida. Take a break from your public lands adventure. Stand up, stretch out, and imagine you are a 

tree. If you can, have someone read the following aloud:

Palmetto Pose

• Journey to the Jupiter Inlet 

Lighthouse Outstanding Natural 

Area in Florida. Imagine you are a 

palmetto.

• Place your feet close together to 

form the trunk. Your toes are roots 

that spread out underground.

• Reach your arms outward and 

upward. Stretch out your fingers. 

Your fingers are leaflets fanning out 

from your hand. You are a palmetto.

• Now imagine a warm breeze blowing 

from the Atlantic Ocean. As the 

breeze grows stronger, your leaves 

begin to sway.

• Dig in your roots 

as your leaves 

sway in the 

ocean breeze.

• Inhale and 

exhale. Breathe 

in the salty sea 

air.

Joshua Tree Stretch

• Next, travel to the Red Rock Canyon 

National Conservation Area in 

Nevada. Imagine you are a Joshua tree.

• Place your feet together to form the 

trunk. Your toes become shallow 

roots that branch out on all sides. 

Imagine another set of roots seeking 

water deep in the ground.

• Tighten your trunk and stretch out 

your arms. Bend your elbows to form 

crooked branches. Your fingers are 

long swordlike leaves. The ends of 

your fingers are sharp points. You are 

a Joshua tree.

• Imagine the rare desert rain that 

begins to fall. Your leaves capture the 

water which slides down your trunk 

and into your roots.

• Imagine that 

your head is a 

large cluster of 

blossoms that 

have a sweet 

fragrance.

• Inhale and exhale 

as you filter the 

hot desert air.

Redwood Reach

• Head to the Headwaters Forest 

Reserve in California. Imagine you are 

a giant coastal redwood.

• Spread your feet apart, and plant 

them firmly on the ground. Your legs 

form a trunk that is 20 feet wide.

• Imagine your toes are roots extending 

out from the trunk and into the earth.

• Tighten up your legs and torso as you 

stretch your arms up high above your 

head. Stand straight and tall. Reach 

even higher.

• You are now nearly 300 feet tall and 

have been growing for hundreds of 

years. You are a coastal redwood.

• Your needles soak 

in water from 

the coastal fog. 

Your roots drink 

in water from the 

ground. You drink 

150 gallons of 

water in a day.

• Inhale and exhale 

as you enjoy your 

treetop view.

Do you have a favorite tree?

Perhaps it is a tree you see from your 

window or a favorite tree for sitting under. 

Can you invent a pose based on your tree? 

Use the space to the right to write about 

your tree or to draw a picture of the tree or 

your pose, or both. Perhaps you can think 

of a pose to represent a native wildflower, 

shrub, or other native plant. Be creative!

18
Being a Good Steward

As a Junior Explorer, you have a role in protecting native plants. Like the 

people who work for the BLM, you can be a steward of public lands.

Stewardship means the careful and responsible treatment of something 

entrusted to our care. Each of us can do our part to care for the lands 

and their resources. By being good stewards, we limit the effect or impact

our activities might have on the environment. In this way, we help ensure future 

generations will be able to use and enjoy public lands.

One way you can help is by protecting native plants. Here are some things you can do when you head out to 

explore the outdoors:

1. Stay on the trail. Wear shoes that can get dirty or wet in case you encounter mud or water on the trail. 

Going around wet areas can damage plants along the trail’s edge.

2. Leave what you find. Do not pick wildflowers or other plants. Bring a camera so you can collect pictures. 

Leave the area as you found it for others to enjoy.

3. Trash your trash. Bring something to carry out your trash.

Know before you go.....

The key to a safe outing is what you do before you leave home. Learn all you can about your destination. It will 

help make the trip more enjoyable, and you will be prepared to minimize your impact on the environment.

For more information, visit the Leave No Trace website: www.LNT.org

WORDS TO KNOW

•	steward: someone who

protects or is responsible

for land or

•	impact:

property

(noun) a strong

effect

19
Kids and BLM Team Up to 

Help Native Plants

Students at Toro Park Elementary School in Salinas, 

California, have learned firsthand about the value of 

stewardship. They partnered with the BLM to restore 

native plants at the Fort Ord National Monument. 

This former military base has more than 14,000 

acres of beautiful scenery and is home to more than 

35 rare plants and animals—and it’s right next door 

to the school.

Led by BLM Park Ranger Tammy Jakl, Toro Park 

students participated in a project called “Return 

of the Natives.” First, they collected seeds from 

coyotebrush plants growing at Fort Ord. Next, they 

planted the seeds in small pots of soil and sent 

them to a greenhouse at California State University 

at Monterey Bay. Once the seedlings were large 

enough, they were returned to the students for 

planting back at Fort Ord. Students completed 

the restoration cycle by planting the seedlings in 

damaged areas.

Since the project began, students have restored 

thousands of native plants to Fort Ord. Habitat 

has been restored for owls, bats, salamanders, 

butterflies, and other wildlife. Also, erosion has 

decreased along Toro Creek. These Toro Park 

stewards know that their hard work will benefit their 

community far into the future. In the meantime, the 

students can enjoy hiking, learning, and just having 

fun on their public lands.

20
In the Spotlight: BLM Botanist Holly Beck

Bruneau Field Office, Boise, Idaho

plants have done since my previous visit. Have they 

been reproducing well? Are invasive plants a threat?

The best parts of my job? Discovering new places 

and making fresh observations every time I head out 

to the field!”

Follow in Holly’s Footsteps

Education is key . . . 

Plant professionals work in a wide variety of specialties

with different educational requirements. Check out 

the next page for information on BLM careers.

Outdoor skills are important . . .

Holly believes that keen curiosity and sharp-eyed 

observation are important. Another helpful skill is 

using plant identification tools. Reading a map and 

using a compass are important skills for navigating 

through remote lands. Global Positioning Systems 

(GPSs) don’t always work! Strong writing skills are a 

must, too.

But first . . . just explore your world!

According to Holly, the first step is the most fun. She 

encourages kids to get outside—every chance they 

get—to explore, observe, and record. Some people 

like to write their observations in a journal, while 

others prefer to photograph or 

sketch what they see.

Holly’s Road to the BLM

A budding passion for plants . . .

Holly grew up amid Pennsylvania forests and 

farmlands, miles from the nearest town. As a kid, she 

spent time climbing rocks, making “forts” from wild 

grapevines, and just having fun in nature.

Halfway through her college education, Holly took 

a botany class, and she was soon hooked on native 

plants. After graduation, she had jobs studying owls, 

small mammals, songbirds, and vegetation. When 

Holly returned to college for a graduate degree, she 

studied relationships between plants and insects.

The BLM beckons Holly west . . .

Holly became interested in working for the BLM long 

before she applied for her present job. The rugged, 

arid landscapes and diverse plant communities 

appealed to her love of nature and sense of 

adventure. She welcomed the challenge of balancing 

conservation with other activities on public lands.

In her own words . . . 

“As a BLM botanist, I study and protect native plants 

on 1.5 million acres of Idaho public lands. My main 

activities are inventory and monitoring, but I do my 

‘homework’ first: I study maps and other references 

to locate places where rare species might live. Then I 

hike the land to look around! Once I find the plants, 

I count and describe them and take note of the 

surrounding environment. That is the foundation 

for monitoring: I can return later to record how the 

WORDS TO KNOW

•	inventory: make a list of

•	monitor: check up on

regularly

21
BLM 

Career Profiles

It takes many different, highly skilled 

professionals to manage the nation’s lands and 

resources. Are you interested in native plants 

and habitat? Do you like being outdoors and 

experiencing new landscapes? Check out 

these important and exciting 

careers: 

Forester

A forester is an expert in managing forests to keep them 

healthy. BLM foresters manage millions of acres of forests in 

13 western states. In Alaska, BLM foresters take care of nearly 

30 million acres. They help protect the forests from wildfire, 

insects, plant diseases, floods, and erosion. They know that 

forests provide important natural resources such as timber 

and habitat for animals. BLM foresters work to make sure our 

forests will remain healthy far into the future. BLM foresters 

have a college degree in forestry or a related science.

Rangeland Management Specialist

BLM rangeland management specialists take care of the 

plants on public rangeland. Many of these plants are 

food for the animals that live off the land: livestock such 

as cows and sheep, wild horses and burros, and wildlife. 

Rangeland management specialists are also concerned 

with plants that protect the soil and watersheds. A 

range conservationist works with ranchers, biologists, 

environmentalists, and recreationists to create plans to 

keep range and other native plants healthy. To become a 

rangeland management specialist, you will need a college 

degree in range management.

Botanist

A botanist is a scientist who specializes 

in plants. Most BLM botanists work to 

conserve native plants. They work to 

make sure native plant communities 

remain healthy. In areas where native 

plants are in trouble, they work to 

restore balance in the ecosystem. BLM 

botanists have a college degree in 

botany or basic plant science.

Conservation Scientist

Conservation scientists manage the overall quality 

of forests, parks, rangelands, wetlands, and other 

natural resources. They ensure that native plant 

communities and wildlife species that use them 

as habitat are protected and conserved. BLM 

conservation scientists have a degree in forestry, 

biology, ecology, or a related field.

Fire Technician

BLM fire technicians prevent, control, and 

extinguish fires. One way they do this is by 

reducing grasses, dry shrubs, dead branches, 

and other “fire fuels.” To predict how a fire 

will behave, they collect information on 

weather, plants and other fuels, and the shape 

of the land’s surface. Fire technicians use 

this information to develop plans for fighting 

wildfire and to reduce damage caused by fire 

and smoke. The minimum requirements to 

become a fire technician are a high school 

diploma and wildland firefighting experience. 

You can also qualify by taking college 

courses such as range conservation, forestry, 

mathematics, engineering, biology, and other 

sciences.

22
23

Activity: Explore 

Native Plants through 

Journaling

A journal is a record of what you see or observe. 

BLM employees and volunteers keep journals of 

native plants on our public lands. These journals 

can include drawings or photographs and notes, 

including the location and time of year.

Use the space provided to write about plants you 

observe in your yard, your community, or on public 

lands. Include a sketch and information about the 

color and size of the plant. Include other details that 

you think are important. You can use the ruler found 

at the end of this booklet to take measurements 

of small plants. It is also okay to estimate the size. 

Remember to leave the plants as you find them.

Plant name: pink funnel lily

Location: Beaver Dam Wash, Utah

Date: June 15, 2014

Flowers are white to light purple.

Leaves are long and narrow, 4-8 inches long.

Rocky soil.

Sample journal entry:

Plant 1.
24

Plant 2.

Plant 3.
Bureau of Land Management

Junior Ranger

As a Bureau of Land Management Junior Ranger, I promise to:

•	 Do all I can to help preserve and protect the natural and culturalresources

on our public lands.

•	 Be aware of how my actions can affect otherliving things and the evidence of

our past.

•	 Keep learning about the importance of nature and our heritage.

•	 Share what I have learned with others!

_____________________ _____________________

Date	 Junior Ranger Signature
Cut out and

save certificate
27

Answer Key

Ecosystem Give and Take, p. 7

1. energy

2. carbon dioxide, moisture

3. oxygen

4. water, nutrients

5. stabilizes

6. nesting site

7. shelter

8. disperses

9. food

10. food

11. nutrients

12. food

Native Plants Underground, p. 8

Think About It—Possible answers: control erosion, 

remove pollutants from the soil, remove excess 

water from soil, hold soil together, stabilize stream 

banks, anchor plants together, help plants survive 

drought

Untangle the Roots, p. 9

1. feeder roots

2. taproot

3. fibrous roots

4. root hairs

5. secondary roots

Mystery word: EROSION
28

Restore the Balance, p. 11

Search for the Native Plants, p. 14

Hidden message: BEWARE! BEAUTY CAN HIDE A BEAST!

Building a Trail, p. 16

For numbers 1 and 2, different people will have 

different answers. Here are some possible answers:

1. Trail A advantages: plant viewing, wildlife viewing, 

scenic view, swimming, campground, picnic area

Trail A disadvantages: More nesting site area is 

fragmented than Trail B. More native plant habitat 

is fragmented than Trail B.

2. Trail B advantages: plant viewing, scenic view, 

swimming, campground, picnic area; Trail B 

provides more opportunity for wildlife viewing.

Trail B disadvantages: Trail B would disturb 

the fawning ground. Trail B would damage the 

wetland.

Outdoor recreation planners have to think about 

the benefits and impacts of providing recreational 

activities. There are no “correct” answers to 

numbers 3 and 4.
Ready For More?

Visit these BLM websites to learn more about native plants:

BLM Plant Conservation: blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/fish__wildlife_and/plants.

BLM Learning Landscapes: blm.gov/education

BLM Volunteers: blm.gov/volunteer

To learn more about the native plants in your community, contact your 

public library, nature centers, or your state garden club. Here are some 

websites to help you get started:

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plants Database: plants.usda.gov

Find your Public Library: harvester.census.gov/imls/search

Locate a Nature Center or Natural Area: discovertheforest.org

Locate your State Garden Club: gardenclub.org/clubs/state-garden-clubs.aspx

BLM/WO/GI-15/006+8301

EE2038C
This publication was produced by the BLM Division of Education, Interpretation, and Partnerships. Production 

services were provided by the BLM’s National Operations Center, Information and Publishing Services Section. 

Additional copies may be obtained by contacting:

BLM Division of Education, Interpretation, and Partnerships

1849 C Street, NW, LM 2134

Washington, DC 20240

(202) 912-7457