St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Junior Ranger Badge Activity Book

Name:

Jing Ping Chen
 So you want to be a St. Mark’s Junior Ranger? To earn your Junior Ranger badge complete 

this activity book and return it to the visitors center. There it will be verified by one of the staff 

rangers, you will be given a certificate of completion, and receive your St. Marks Junior Ranger 

Badge! Our Junior Ranger program is designed for children ages 6-12. The goal of the program is 

to introduce children not only to the natural wonders of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, the 

world around them, but also their role in preserving nature for themselves and future generations.

 In addition to the activities in this booklet a service project is required to complete your Junior 

Ranger training. A service project is exactly what it sounds like; it is a project that provides a service to the refuge and/or its visitors. Remember this refuge and the wildlife within it belongs to you 

too so it’s up to you to take care of it. There are several ways to complete this section:

1. Pick up 5 pieces of trash

2. Give a ranger program on what you’ve learned to a family member

3. Reuse something you have already used in another way (i.e.– Reuse a soda bottle to hold water)

4. Create your own St. Mark’s Service Project (i.e.– Monitor an area for animals and report your 

observations at the visitors center, clean up any trash you see at the refuge, etc.)

Your Service Project_____________________________________________________

Adult’s Signature__________________________________

 Make sure to take along some water to drink , bug spray and sunscreen, and to wear 

appropriate clothing and closed toed shoes during your activities. Good luck and have fun!

Ranger Lori Nicholson

Welcome to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
 Within the boundaries of St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge are several very different ecosystems which are home to species of wildlife that are specially adapted to live in their part of the 

refuge. See if you can match the animals to the ecosystem they are best suited for.

St. Marks – A Model of Diversity 

A. Salt Marsh B. Pine Flatwoods

C. Fresh Water Marsh

Bullfrogs live in _____________________.

Red Cockaded 

Woodpeckers live 

in 

_____________

_____________.

Fiddler Crabs live in __________________.
St Marks Scavenger Hunt Bingo

Cypress Trees Dragonfly Butterfly

Alligators Otters Northern Harrier

Raccoon Pelican Ibis

3 in a Row: You’re an Alligator!

3 in a Column: You’re an Ibis!

3 Diagonal: You’re a Butterfly!

Find them All: You’re a Panther!

Place an X in each wildlife box as you find it in the refuge. Connect three to win!
Florida’s First People

Before Europeans arrived in Florida, the native peoples here had already been in the area for 

thousands of years growing, changing, and developing complex and dynamic cultures. One of 

the things that they left behind have become an important source of information on how 

they lived so long ago...their trash! A midden mound, sometimes called a shell mound, is the 

name given to the area where a village threw its trash. By exploring these sites we can get a 

glimpse of what their lives were like by learning what animals they ate (by the bones) what 

kinds of bowls they made (from the pottery), and what kinds of tools they used (points, 

knives, and axes). Now its your job to search through this midden mound of letters and find 

the words from the word bank below to learn more about the native Floridians lifestyles.

Word Bank

 Midden Arrow Beads Warrior Tribe Chief Apalachee Osceola

R F I L

B E A D S N W A

V I A R L S T I F Y U I

W E S A L P I R I E S I G T U L

C O F E P R Y U D S I V R T Q U E F T S W

A N V T E A F E W U M I K E S N E D D I M A L E T R W Q O

Z D O G R E L A T R E G Y I L A C U T D E S T U L I B E S T B E C I

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

O A Q Y C X T U C C T R Y J I M B O P A Q F E W U B E F E R T H A P

R A C R T R N C B H A Q T U E D C W A B Y R E S W T Y U O N A I W T

S V T Y I W E U P I E A C T E B I O C E W S R Y T U K L L I O E A C

E R T B T W Y N T E S E A V R T U R A C E S W T U I P P A E W F A Q

S F E Y U I O P E D F T V E R T Y R S T R W E R U M T B V U I P O A

X W E R T N U L P A Q C X E Z T Y A P U T Y R O I R R A W A C R T Y
Refuge Safety Plan

National Wildlife Refuges are for everyone to enjoy. Learn how you can help preserve and 

protect our National Wildlife Refuge as you answer the clues to help fill in the crossword 

puzzle.
Lighthouse River Quest

Did you know that before there even was a Lighthouse Road people lived at the lighthouse. They 

usually had to get there from St. Marks by boat. That’s a six mile trip one way and a lot of the time 

their boat was powered solely by the person at the oars! Try and make it to St. Marks through the 

winding river and avoid danger and dead ends by answering the questions correctly. 1.

A

B

2.

A

B

3.

A

B

4.

A

B 5.

A

B

To St. Marks! 

6.

A

B

7.

A

B

8.

A

B

1. The St Marks Lighthouse was built in - A) 1981 B) 18312. Before the lighthouse was built it was - A) Safe to sail into St Marks B) Dangerous to sail into St Marks3. The original lighthouse - A) Is still standing B) Was moved farther inland when threatened by erosion4. In the Civil War troops wanted the lighthouse - A) For a lookout tower B) Because it looked pretty5. Before being switched to solar power the light was produced by - A) 500 Candles B) Burning oil6. When turned on the light from the lighthouse can be seen - A) 15 Miles Away B) 50 Miles Away7. During hurricanes the family at the lighthouse would take shelter - A) In the trees B) In the lighthouse8. The Lighthouse doesn’t have a keeper anymore because - A) It is run by computer B) No one wants to

START
Wildlife Checklist

Because St. Marks is a National Wildlife Refuge, every living and non-living thing found on the 

refuge is protected by law to help preserve the wildlife, habitat, and special resources. As you 

hike through the refuge, try to find as many Wildlife Checklist items as you can. Mark off each 

item on your list, but leave everything as you find it, so other visitors can have the same 

chance to discover it for themselves. Then see if you can answer the bonus questions.

___ A water source for wildlife. Who drinks here? _______________________

___ A food source for wildlife. What is it? _____________________________

___ A home for wildlife. Who lives here? ______________________________

___ Tracks. Who do they belong to? __________________________________ 

___ Scat. Who does it belong to? ____________________________________

___ Animal sound. Who is making it? ________________________________

___ Trampled grass. Who might have done it? ____________________________

___ Snag (A standing dead tree). Who lives here? _________________________

___ Bones. Who did they belong to? _________________________________

___ Nest. Who lives here? _________________________________________

___ A flying animal. What is it? ______________________________________

___ A running animal. What is it? _____________________________________

___ A crawling animal. What is it? ____________________________________

Black Bear

Fox

Florida Panther

Wild Turkey

White-tailed Deer

Opossum

Crow Bobcat

Northern Flicker

Raccoon
Alphabet Observation

How many letters were you able to match with things in the refuge?

1-7: Keep your eyes peeled.

8-14: Looking good.

15-21: Superior Sighting!

22-26: Eagle Eyes!

Look around you as you walk the refuge and find things that start with letters of the 

alphabet. See if you can find something on the refuge for all 26 letters.

Example: A for Armadillo, F for Fox Squirrel

A ____________________ 

B ____________________

C ____________________

D ____________________

E ____________________

F ____________________

G ____________________

H ____________________

I ____________________

J ____________________

K ____________________

L ____________________

M ____________________

N ____________________

O ____________________

P ____________________

Q ____________________

R ____________________

S ____________________

T ____________________

U ____________________

V ____________________

W ___________________

X ____________________

Y ____________________

Z ____________________
Marsh Habitat Observation

One of the most important things for all living creatures to have is a healthy habitat to live in 

and raise a family. For the animals that live in the marshes at St. Marks a healthy habitat 

requires pollution free water, dissolved oxygen in the water for fish to breath, good places to 

spawn, shelter in which to hide, and plenty of food to eat. Visit a section of marsh in the 

refuge, salt water or fresh water is fine, and spend some time noticing the kind of habitat it 

provides. Use the scale below to determine how healthy the habitat is for fish and other 

marsh animals. 

Circle the number that best describes what you observe.

As you approach the stream, notice what you find within the watershed.

1 2 3 4 5

Look for signs of Pollution at the site.

1 2 3 4 5

Check for signs of wildlife around the marsh.

1 2 3 4 5

Look in the water to examine what lives there.

1 2 3 4 5

Now add up all the numbers you’ve circled and use the key below to estimate how healthy 

the marsh habitat might be based on your observations.

If your total is between:

4-8: This habitat may be poor. Most fish and other aquatic species might struggle to survive here.

9-12: This habitat may be fair and needs a lot of improvement.

13-16:This habitat may be in good shape but could be better.

17-20: This habitat may be excellent and ideal for fish and aquatic species.

Very few plants or trees, many 

roads or parking lots.

Lots of plants and trees, 

few roads or parking lots.

Lots of litter, foam, or shine on 

water, bad odors, erosion.

No signs of pollution, 

little or no erosion.

No animal or bird tracks, no 

other visible wildlife.

Lots of animal tracks and 

other visible wildlife.

No fish, turtles, or aquatic insects. Lots of fish and other 

aquatic wildlife and insects.
Fish Parts

Glossary

Anal Fin - Single fin mounted vertically below the fish

Caudal Fin - Single fin at the back of the 

fish, tail fin

Dorsal Fin - Single fin mounted on top of 

the fish (Some species have two)

Eye - Visual organ usually on either side of 

the face

Gills - Breathing organ which filters oxygen from the surrounding water

Mouth - Opening in the face for feeding

Pectoral Fin - Paired fin, one on each 

side of the body behind the gills

Pelvic Fin - Paired lateral hind fin

Habitat Conclusions

Remember, each waterway is unique. And our scale used here only gives us basic guidelines of what 

makes some types of waterways healthy. Coastal areas especially can vary widely in the types of 

habitat and amount of wildlife supported in any given area. This is, however, a good foundation for 

how to observe a wildlife water habitat. Knowing what kind of waterway you are observing and 

more in-depth studying are needed to make an accurate, scientific judgment.

Do you think your estimate of habitat health was accurate? Why or why not?

What other ways could you and scientists study the health of this area?

Fill in the blanks with 

the correct glossary 

terms.

Image of Pumpkinseed Sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus)
Bird Parts

Back - Dorsal part of the bird between 

neck and the tail

Beak - the feeding apparatus of a bird, consisting of two pointed jaws

Belly - Lower front of the bird, abdomen

Breast - Front part of the chest

Eye -Visual organ usually paired on either 

side of the face

Head - Upper part of the body

Glossary

Feet -Terminal end of the leg usually 

adapted to either griping or paddling

Leg - Limb supporting the body of the 

bird

Throat - Front part of the neck

Tail - Feathers extending from the rear 

of the bird

Wing - Moveable feathered appendage 

for flapping and gliding

Fill in the blanks with 

the correct glossary 

terms.

Image of the Common 

Raven (Corvus corax)
Name Today's Date

Check the words that describe what you observe about the weather at the Visitor's Center:

warm hot cool cold

sunny clear cloudy overcast

dry rain sleet/hail

calm breezy windy

Time of observation

Check the words that describe what you observe about the weather at the 

Lighthouse:

warm hot cool cold

sunny clear cloudy overcast

dry rain sleet/hail

calm breezy windy

Time of observation

Is there a difference in observations?

If so, what could be the reason?

Would it be a good day to go boating?

Why or why not?

St. Mark’s Daily Weather Report

Congratulations, you are now a St. Marks meteorologist (weather person). Remember though, this can be a 

pretty tough job, sometimes the weather can be very different in places that are relatively close to each 

other. Take some observations here in the refuge and answer the questions below.
Living with Fire

Wildland fires, or forest fires, are an essential and natural process that has helped to shape our ecosystem for thousands of 

years. Although this process is natural it can cause incredible 

damage to our homes and property if not respected and 

managed properly.

Fire Triangle– A fire is a chemical reaction which needs 

three things to be present so it can happen:

Oxygen– O2, the air we breathe.

Heat– A form of energy; like a lightning strike, small spark, 

or hot ember.

Fuel– Any flammable solid, liquid, or gas; -e.g.-

grasses, gasoline, hydrogen, etc.

If even one of these things is not present the fire cannot begin and if 

one is taken away the fire triangle will collapse and the fire will be put 

out.

Prescribed Burn– A fire intentionally set in a controlled setting and 

knowledgeable manner. These fires can be used to remove a buildup of 

fuels before they become potentially hazardous, improve wildlife habitat, prepare ground for seeding or planting, manage competing vegetations, and control insects and disease.

Wildland Fire Protective Gear
Firefighter Physical Fitness

Wildland firefighters must be ready at all times to respond quickly and calmly to emergency 

situations in rugged terrain and under demanding weather conditions. To make sure that they 

are always ready they exercise regularly throughout the year and to show they are in good 

shape they are tested once each year by taking the pack test. To pass the pack test 

firefighters have to carry a 45 pound back pack for three miles in under 45 minutes. Forest 

fires can take many hours and sometimes days or weeks to get under control. That means a 

lot of hiking and working while carrying around all of your gear. Now its time to test your 

level of fitness!

Put a check mark next to each physical test you complete.

1. Do FIVE push ups

2. Do TEN jumping jacks

3. Do FIVE sit ups

4. Do TEN bicycle crunches
Refuge Fun Facts!

A group of hawks is referred to as a 

cast or a kettle.

Dolphins are carnivores which means 

they live on a diet solely of meat.

Frogs don’t drink water through 

their mouths, they absorb it through 

their skin.

The largest bald eagle nest on record 

was in Florida and measured 9.5 ft. 

(3 m) wide and 20 ft. (6 m) high. It 

weighed almost three tons.

Fossils have shown that the sandhill 

cranes of today are structurally the 

same as the cranes of 10 million 

years ago.

Fox Squirrels are pregnant for about 

a month and a half and typically give 

birth to a litter of 2-3 pups.

The average lifespan of an American 

alligator in the wild is 35-50 years.

Gopher Tortoise burrows can be up 

to 10 feet deep and 40 feet long. 

 These burrows are very important to

 the animals around them as they are

 also used by more than 350 different 

 species, some of which are the indigo

 snakes, Florida mice, gopher frogs, 

 burrowing owl and rattlesnakes.

Add some of your own Refuge Facts 

that you learned!

 

 

 

 

 

 
Junior Refuge Ranger Club

Junior Refuge Ranger Pledge

If you would like to join the Junior Refuge Ranger Club Please fill out the information 

below. All information will be kept confidential and will not be sold or given away. Junior 

Rangers will be invited to attend special events and programs not open to the general 

public. 

 Name

 Mailing Address

 

 Email Address

 

Read the pledge below and have a staff member sign.

I promise to help protect St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, my community and the 

earth. I will practice the “pack it in, pack it out” motto by not leaving any trash on the 

refuge. I will not feed wildlife, pick up plants, rocks, wildlife, or disturb any living or non-living 

thing on the refuge. I will show respect to people at the refuge and elsewhere. I also will 

show respect in historical and cultural places. I will continue to learn about St. Marks 

National Wildlife Refuge and other Refuges in our great nation. I will help teach others 

about the great resources found at St. Marks National Wildlife 

Refuge. 

Junior Ranger Signature

 Staff Signature