Prepared by and available from:

Bureau of Land Management

Division of Education, Interpretation and Partnerships

1849 C Street NW, Room 2134 LM

Washington, DC 20240

Telephone: (202) 912-7457

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

First printing 2000

Second printing 2001

Third printing 2004

Fourth printing 2014

BLM/WO/GI-00/04+1115+REV15

printed on recycled paper
To Teachers and Parents

This booklet is designed to introduce you and your children to America's public lands. These lands belong 

to the American people, but they are also home to over 3,000 species of fish and wildlife, as well as a 

diversity of plant species. Historic and archaeological sites, as well as scenic wonders, abound. In this 

activity book, you and the children in your life will learn about some of the many natural and cultural 

resources that can be found on public lands and how you can enjoy them. You'll also learn about the 

importance of protecting these special places.

Several departments of the United States government manage public lands for us. So do state and local 

governments. This booklet focuses on lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM), an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior. Created more than 50 years ago, the BLM is 

a little agency with a big job. It has about 10,000 permanent employees–that's fewer employees than in 

the public schools of Albuquerque, New Mexico. In spite of this, the BLM is responsible for nearly oneeighth of the land in the entire United States–more than 200 million acres located mainly in the western 

states and Alaska. 

The BLM’s mission is “to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use 

and enjoyment of present and future generations.” This mission involves managing lands for multiple uses, 

including a wide range of recreational opportunities. It also involves managing for the sustained yield of 

resources used for such activities as energy development, livestock grazing, and timber harvesting. At the 

same time, it requires the BLM to protect natural, cultural, and historical resources on those lands. 

The BLM manages many of these resources within 

its National Landscape Conservation System. The 

system includes approximately 27 million acres of 

national monuments, national conservation areas, 

wild and scenic rivers, national scenic and historic 

trails, and wilderness–some of the West’s most 

spectacular landscapes. By conserving, protecting, 

and restoring these National Conservation Lands, 

the BLM ensures that their outstanding cultural, 

ecological, and scientific values are preserved–an 

especially important task as the population of the 

West continues to grow.

All public lands–whether they’re managed by the BLM, another Federal agency, your state government, 

or your local community–really do belong to you and to all Americans. Visit your public lands and get to 

know them–their sights, their sounds, their smells. By doing so, you will develop a personal connection and 

a commitment to preserving America’s big backyard. 

1

—BLM on the Web—

National Website: www.blm.gov

Environmental Education Resources:

 www.blm.gov/education

Volunteer Program:

 www.blm.gov/volunteer

Recreational Opportunities on Public Lands:

 www.recreation.gov

National Landscape Conservation System:

 www.blm.gov/NLCS
Play, Learn, and Serve on America’s Public Lands

You can learn a lot about public lands from the articles and activities in this booklet. But the best way to 

learn about them is to visit them and take part in some of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) special 

programs for kids:

For You and Your Family

BLM Junior Explorers: Visiting public lands can be even more of an adventure when you become a Junior 

Explorer. Some BLM sites have Junior Explorer activity booklets that help you learn more about that site. 

Other Junior Explorer booklets help you learn more about a particular topic, such as wild horses and 

burros, fossils, and volcanoes. Each booklet contains activities that you can work through on your own 

or with others. The booklets include a Junior Explorer pledge, a certificate, and additional information 

about the BLM. Most BLM Junior Explorer booklets are available online. Many of these booklets are also 

available at local BLM offices and sites.

Take It Outside!: Spending time in recreational activities on public lands is a great way to stay healthy 

and have fun while learning about America’s great outdoors. Different BLM offices host a variety of Take It 

Outside! activities and programs ranging from archaeology field tours and hikes to whitewater rafting and 

camping. 

For You and Your School

Hands on the Land: Many BLM locations are part of the Hands on the Land (HOL) network of outdoor 

classrooms where students like you can learn about nature, science, history, and much more. The BLM 

works closely with teachers to develop field trips and programs so you can learn firsthand about subjects 

you are studying in the classroom. For more information, see www.handsontheland.org.

Other Ways to Get Involved

Volunteer: People of all ages can volunteer for the BLM. Scout troops, 4-H groups, other youth service 

organizations, and families can participate in volunteer events or long-term service projects. If you want to 

join thousands of others in volunteering, consider taking part in National Public Lands Day, the country’s 

largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. See www.publiclandsday.org.

2

—Learn More—

You can find out more about these and other programs at www.blm.gov/education.

To find out more about how you can play, learn, or serve on public lands near you,

go to www.blm.gov to locate the BLM office nearest you.
Table of Contents

To Teachers and Parents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Play, Learn, and Serve on America's Public Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

America's Public Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Activity: Map Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Pack Your Bags for a BLM Road Trip! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

What Can You See? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Activity: I Spy Scramble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

What Can You Do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Activity: Just Imagine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Silent Invaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Activity: Where's Weedo? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Burning Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Activity: Little House Near the Wildlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

On the Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Activity: Down by the Riverside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Forest Keepers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Activity: Finding Forest Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Creature Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Activity: Habitat Match-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Horsing Around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Activity: Mustang Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Energy and Minerals: Public Land Riches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Activity: Minerals Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Secret Chambers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Activity: Cave Pictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Paleopuzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Activity: Boneyard Mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Time Travel.......................................................... 28

Activity: The Past: Can You Dig It? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

The Big Squeeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Activity: Climbing the Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

The Big Picture....................................................... 32

Activity: Making Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Help Wanted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Activity: Career Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Doing Your Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Activity: Leave No Trace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Answers to Activity Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

3
America’s Public Lands

Did you know that there are more than 600 million acres of land in this country that belong 

to you? This land is not owned by any individual or company. Instead, it's Federal land and it's 

owned by the American people . . . and that means you!

The U.S. government takes care of Federal lands. The U.S. Forest Service, the National Park 

Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies are responsible for some of these 

Federal public lands. And so are other Federal agencies. But the Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM) takes care of the most land–more than 200 million acres. That's almost equal to all the 

land in the states of Texas and California put together! BLM's main job is to keep public lands 

healthy so that you can enjoy them now and so that young people like you can enjoy them for 

many years to come.

Most BLM lands are found in the western states and Alaska. In the eastern United States, the 

BLM manages mostly small, isolated areas scattered throughout 31 states. (These areas are too 

small to be seen on the map on page 5.) The agency also manages 700 million acres of 

underground mineral rights located throughout the country.

ACTIVITY Map Talk • Look at the map on the next page. Can you find your state?

• Where in your state do you live? Put a mark there.

• Use the map key to find the BLM land. Which BLM land is closest to you?

• Draw a line from the mark where your home is to the nearest BLM land. About how many 

miles away is it? Ask a grown-up if you need help reading the scales at the bottom of the map.

• Does your state have a lot of BLM land or a little? Estimate how much of your state is BLM land.

Is it one-fourth or less? Less than one-half? More? 

• Find two states that have a lot of BLM land.

4
5

ACTIVITY

Map Talk
Pack Your Bags for a

BLM Road Trip!

What Can You See?

If you visit BLM lands, you might find yourself in a desert or a 

forest, on a glacier or a mountain trail, on open rangeland, along a 

scenic river, or deep inside a cave. With such a great variety of 

landscapes, it's not surprising that you can find many types of plants on 

BLM lands. The soil, water, and plants provide a good home for wildlife, 

too–from bats and beetles to bighorn sheep and elk. Sheep and cattle graze 

on rangelands, and wild horses and burros can also be found in many areas.

There's plenty of action on BLM lands . . . and there has been for a long time. 

In fact, dinosaurs once roamed through the wide open spaces of the West. 

Scientists have found fossils of all sorts of 

dinosaurs on public lands, and 

signs of many other ancient creatures as well. 

People have lived in America's western 

lands for a long time, too. Prehistoric 

rock paintings and artifacts help scientists 

learn about the history of Native Americans.

On public lands, you'll also find natural resources 

that we depend on: trees for lumber and 

paper products; energy resources such as 

coal, oil, and gas; and other minerals we

 use every day.

6
I Spy Scramble

You can see many things on a tour of BLM lands. Depending on where you travel, you might see: 

mountains, rivers, deserts, glaciers, caves, insects, birds, reptiles, fish, mammals, flowers, and trees, 

as well as fossils, arrowheads, oil wells, and wind turbines. Below is a list of these things, but the 

words are all scrambled. First unscramble the words. Then answer the question at the bottom 

of the page by copying the letters from the numbered boxes into the numbered spaces.

7

ACTIVITY
What Can You Do?

Many people like to have fun on BLM lands. People can visit BLM lands to get close to nature, to 

see wildlife and native plants. Some people like to go rafting on the rivers, while others like to 

visit ghost towns, prehistoric sites, or dinosaur tracks. Still others like to ride their mountain 

bikes on trails through the forest or the desert. Campers, hunters, hikers, rock climbers, crosscountry skiers, trail vehicle fans, and snowmobilers all come to enjoy BLM lands. 

People use BLM lands in other ways too. Companies mine coal, gold, and other minerals, as well as 

sand and gravel. Some build wind turbines and solar energy facilities on the lands. Ranchers use 

the grasses and shrubs to feed their cows and sheep. Timber companies harvest trees. Towns can 

obtain land from the BLM for parks and schools. 

Indian tribes carry out their traditions on BLM lands, too. They use plants that provide special 

foods, such as pine nuts. They also gather natural materials to make pottery, blankets, clothing, and 

other items.

8
Just Imagine

What would you most enjoy doing on BLM land with your best friend? With your family? 

Draw a picture of yourself and your companions enjoying an outing on BLM land.

9

ACTIVITY
Silent Invaders

The BLM works to keep our public lands healthy and productive. Sometimes that’s not an 

easy job. 

One challenge the BLM faces is invasive plants. These plants are not native to North America. 

Nonnative plants are plants from other areas that have been introduced into different ecosystems.

Invasive plants can spread rapidly because no insects, diseases, or other predators evolved 

alongside them to control their growth. As they spread, the native plants that grow naturally in an 

area–and the wildlife that depends on them–are pushed out. When they grow in or near water, 

invasive plants can turn lakes and rivers into marshy areas where fish can’t live.

Scientists estimate that invasive plants are spreading on our public lands in the West at a rate of 

almost 4,600 acres per day. That’s about 3,500 football fields! Spreading at that rate, invasive plants 

could cover an area about the size of Delaware in just 1 year. 

How do invasive plants spread rapidly?

• Some have very long root 

systems, which makes it easier 

for the plants to get water. 

(See illustration at right.)

• Other invasive plants are 

tall and bushy and produce 

thousands of seeds. Those 

seeds can travel great distances 

by wind or water or hitchhike 

on animals, vehicles, and people. 

• Some invasive plants grow 

tall very quickly, which keeps 

the sun from reaching smaller, 

slower-growing native plants. 

10

—You Can Help!—

Invasive plants are costly to remove 

or control. That’s why the BLM needs 

your help to prevent them from 

becoming a problem in the first place. 

Here are a few things you can do 

to help:

• Learn which invasive plants are present in your area 

and how to identify and report them.

• Check your clothes, shoes, and backpack for seeds 

before heading home after hiking or playing outside. 

Don’t forget to check your dog! Carefully place any 

seeds in a trash bin.

• Find out if your favorite outdoor area has a 

volunteer cleanup day. Pulling invasive plants can 

be fun!

• Don’t pick unknown flowers—they might be 

invasive plants and picking them might spread 

the seeds.

Stop

Invasive

Plants!

The roots of leafy 

spurge, an invasive 

plant, can reach 

depths of more than 

20 feet!
Where’s Weedo?

Scientists who study plants are botanists. Botanists identify plants by studying their flowers, leaves, 

stems, and roots. They alert the BLM, ranchers, foresters, and others when they find an invasive 

plant in a new area.

You can become a beginner botanist by learning to identify invasive plants. Study the four invasive 

plants pictured at the bottom of the page and then circle them in the big picture. Both the common 

names and the scientific names are given for each invasive plant.

11

Dalmatian Toadflax

(Linaria dalmatica)

Russian Knapweed

(Acroptilon repens)

Garlic Mustard

(Alliaria petiolata)

Leafy Spurge

(Euphorbia esula)

ACTIVITY
Burning Point 

There's no doubt about it. Fire is dangerous! That's 

why you learn about fire safety when you're very young. 

You know, for example, that you should always give 

matches to an adult. But if you think about it, fire can 

also be useful. At home, your parents may barbecue 

delicious meals on the grill. A fire in the fireplace can 

keep you warm and cozy on wintry days.

In nature, fires in forests and grasslands can be useful, too. 

In fact, some fires are actually needed to keep the land 

healthy. Fires in nature don't always burn with huge flames and great heat. Such smaller fires 

clean out leaves and dried grass that have built up over a few years. They help recycle dead plants, 

releasing nutrients into the soil. The nutrients help new grass and other plants to grow. Many 

animals like to eat the tender, nutritious plants that return after a fire. 

In addition, some plants actually need fire. Certain pine cones won't open and drop their seeds 

without the heat of a fire. Fires can kill insects that harm trees. Even burned, dead trees are 

places where birds can nest or sit and watch for prey.

To help keep the land healthy, trained fire specialists 

sometimes set fires. Conditions need to be just right, 

so that the fires do not get out of control. Fires started 

in the wrong conditions, without planning, or through 

carelessness can spread quickly and do a lot of damage. 

That's why if you live near wildlands or visit them, it's 

important to be very careful with fire and to follow fire 

safety rules.

12

How to put out a

campfire:

1. Drown the fire with water.

2. Use a stick to mix the ashes with the soil.

3. Scrape and chop partially burned sticks.

4. Add more water.

5. Stir with soil again.

Help your camp mates

follow these campfire 

rules:

1. Make campfires only in designated areas.

2. Never leave a campfire unattended.

3. Always keep water near a campfire.

—Did You Know...?—

 . . . that most wild animals know how to live 

around fire? They can run or fly faster than 

most fires can move.
Little House Near the Wildlands

When homes and other buildings are located near wildlands, fire can easily spread to where 

people live. But people can help protect their homes from wildfires. Here's a house that's 

built near a forest. Can you find and color at least five things that make this house a fire hazard?

13

ACTIVITY
On the Edge

Riparian areas are the green, moist areas next to a lake, stream, or 

river where plants grow vigorously. In dry climates, where much 

BLM land is found, riparian areas are very important. The water 

itself and the plants alongside attract many different kinds of animals. 

The plants also help to prevent erosion, which occurs when soil 

washes into the water. A healthy riparian area helps keep the water 

clear and cool for fish and other aquatic animals.

In many places in the West, riparian areas have been damaged. Trucks 

have been driven through streams, or roads have been built too close 

to the water. Logging and mining operations and other industrial 

activities have also been harmful to large areas surrounding streams.

So have poor farming practices. In some places, too many cows or sheep grazed nearby. Other 

popular activities such as hiking, camping, boating, and biking have also weakened stream banks. 

All of these actions can destroy plants along the stream and cause 

stream banks to cave in. Erosion gets worse because there are 

fewer plants to hold the soil when it rains. The water becomes 

muddy. And it can get warmer, too, because there are no trees to 

shade the water. Warm, dirty water means trouble for native fish. 

In many places, people are working to repair damaged riparian areas. 

They are planting trees along stream banks and moving roads away 

from the water's edge. They are building fences to control livestock 

grazing near streams. There's still plenty of work to do, but the water in 

many places is getting cleaner. And fish and wildlife are moving back 

into these riparian "ribbons of life."

14

An unhealthy riparian area

 A healthy riparian area
Down by the Riverside

In each pair of pictures below, circle the activity that will allow the riparian area to stay healthy.

15

ACTIVITY
Forest Keepers 

Trees are a natural resource people have been using for a very long 

time. Many people rely on wood, or timber, from trees that grow in BLM 

forests. They use wood to build homes and make paper. They also burn 

wood from our forests for fuel. 

Forests do much more than provide trees and wood for people. Forests 

provide habitat for wildlife, plants, and fungi. Healthy forests have healthy 

streams that are home to fish and other aquatic life. They also provide 

people with the chance to enjoy nature. 

A healthy forest has a variety of trees growing in it–young and old trees 

and different species as well. A healthy forest has logs on the ground and 

standing dead trees, called snags. Fungi and mosses live on these dead 

trees. A variety of trees and other plants means a variety of animals will 

be able to live in the forest. 

Keeping forests healthy isn’t an easy job, but it is an important one! After all, people and wildlife 

need forests, and so do many other living things.

16
Finding Forest Friends

This forest does more than just grow trees for people. It also makes a good home for animals, 

including an owl, a deer, a frog, a slug, a salamander, a beetle, a vole, a snake, a marten, and a bobcat. 

See how many you can find. Color each animal when you find it.

17

ACTIVITY
Creature Feature

Forests, rivers, canyons, deserts, tundra, rangelands: With so many wildlife habitats on BLM lands, 

you can be sure that all sorts of wildlife can be found there. BLM needs to protect animal 

habitats on the land it manages and still allow for other uses. 

Loss of habitat is the reason most animals become endangered. And many things people do can 

cause loss of habitat. New homes, roads, and shopping malls often force animals from their 

homes. Damming a river to provide power or water for farms and cities threatens habitat for fish 

and all wildlife dependent on that river. Logging and mining operations can destroy wildlife 

habitats as well. And the spread of invasive weeds can threaten the food supply and shelter for 

native animals.

Tourists can also pose a threat to wildlife. As more people visit public lands, there's a greater 

chance that wildlife will be disturbed and their habitat damaged. People who use off-highway 

vehicles (OHVs) have to be particularly careful. OHVs include motorcycles, trail bikes, 

snowmobiles, four-wheel drive vehicles, and other vehicles that can be driven off paved roads. 

People on OHVs can travel farther into remote areas, where there's a better chance to see 

wildlife . . . and a better chance to disturb animals. That's why BLM has set aside trails on some 

of its lands for OHV use. By staying on the trails, OHV riders are less likely to disturb animals 

and their habitats. 

All visitors can help protect wildlife. If you've visited 

BLM lands by car, by bike, or on foot, you've probably

noticed that there are trails and designated parking 

areas in many places as well. These are designed to 

keep people from spreading out all over wildlife 

habitat. You wouldn't want all sorts of people walking 

through your home, would you? When you think about 

it, public lands do belong to people, but they also 

belong to the plants and animals that live there.

18

—Endangered Species—

To find out more about endangered species in 

your state, check out the website of the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service: www.fws.gov. 

Next, click on "Endangered Species." You'll 

be able to find the latest information on 

endangered plants and animals as well as lists 

of species that are threatened and endangered 

in your state. Then check with your local BLM 

office to find out what you can do to help.
Habitat Match-up 

Animals are adapted to the habitats in which they live. This means they have characteristics that 

help them get what they need to survive there. Below, in the left column, are drawings of some 

of the habitats you'll find on BLM lands. On the right are some animals looking for a home. Draw 

a line from each animal to its habitat.

19

ACTIVITY

Desert

Grassland

Wetland

Tundra

Stream

Forest

Bear

Caribou

Frog

Short-horned lizard

Prairie dog

Salmon
Horsing Around

When you think about wild animals of the West, you probably think of bears, mountain lions, elk, 

and deer. But did you know that nearly 50,000 wild horses and burros also make their homes 

on public lands? 

These animals were once domesticated 

or tame. Many early explorers and 

settlers in the region used horses or 

burros to get from place to place and 

to carry their belongings. Some of the 

animals escaped from their owners 

or were set free. The wild horses and 

burros of the West are descendants of 

these animals.

The BLM protects wild horses 

and burros as living symbols of 

our country’s history. It’s against 

the law to harm them. But because 

they have few natural enemies, there’s 

a danger that their numbers will 

grow to the point where the land can’t support their needs. 

The horses and burros need food and water, as do the 

wildlife and grazing cattle that also live on the 

rangelands.

The BLM manages herd sizes by placing 

animals in short-term corrals or longterm pastures. The BLM makes these 

animals available for adoption or sale 

to qualified people.

20

To Find Out More:

Check out the website of the 

Wild Horse and Burro Program: 

www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov
Mustang Roundup

Below is a chart showing the number of wild horses and burros found in some of the western 

states as of March 2014. (As you can imagine, it's not always easy to count wild horses and 

burros, so these are estimates.) But the names of the states are scrambled. Can you help? First, 

unscramble the state names and then put them in the proper blanks on the accompanying map. 

Then, color the states according to the map key.

States (scrambled) with the number of wild horses and burros in that state.

devana—25,035 athu—4,292 drolocao—1,205

myongiw—3,771 naarozi—4,744 antoman—160

raicnilofa—6,008 hodia—668 ewn oxecim—146

gonero—3,180

Color Key

Less than 1,000 — yellow

From 1,000 to 4,999 — blue

From 5,000 to 9,999 — green

10,000 or more — red

21

—Did You Know...?—

. . . that wild ponies can also be found on the East 

Coast of the United States? They live on islands off 

the coast of Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. 

To find out more about the ponies and to learn the 

names of the islands, check out the following 

National Park Service websites: 

www.nps.gov/asis/naturescience/horses.htm 

or

www.nps.gov/calo/naturescience/horses.htm

ACTIVITY
Energy and Minerals: 

Public Land Riches

The energy and mineral resources managed by the BLM help to keep our country running smoothly. 

There’s a good chance that the electricity you use every day comes from plants powered by coal or 

natural gas. America’s public lands are important suppliers of these fossil fuels. Some public lands 

are good locations for developing renewable energy, too. In recent years, companies have built 

solar energy facilities and wind turbines in many locations, especially in the western states. 

In addition to the energy you use, think about all the other things you use every day. From 

computers to toothpaste to your bicycle–almost every product you can think of contains 

minerals. Chances are at least some of these minerals came from public lands.

To manage these resources properly, the BLM works with the public to make decisions about how 

to use the lands. Should we allow a company to mine coal or build a solar power plant? Is there a 

way to develop energy resources while allowing for other uses? Or should the land be set aside 

to protect wildlife habitat or to preserve evidence of our past? We need energy and minerals, 

but we need public lands for many other uses, too. 

When the BLM decides to use the land for energy or minerals, it does not actually build the 

energy installations or extract fossil fuels or other minerals from the earth. Instead, companies 

get permission from the BLM to use some of the public lands to develop these resources. The 

companies make payments in return for using the public lands. The companies also agree to 

follow strict rules 

that help protect 

the environment. 

When it comes 

to using the rich 

resources of the 

public lands, the 

BLM looks for a 

balance that will 

best serve the 

American public and 

sustain the health of 

the land.

22

—Stay Out! Stay Alive!—

Some of the biggest hazards on the public lands come 

from mines that are no longer in use. Abandoned 

mines pose safety hazards to people visiting public 

lands. People can get lost or trapped, be overcome by 

poisonous gases, or fall down a mine shaft. Abandoned 

mines may also leak dangerous material into the land 

and water for years. The BLM is working to clean up 

and close down abandoned mines. In the meantime, 

if you come across an abandoned mine:

STAY OUT AND STAY ALIVE!
Minerals Match

Do you know how much we rely on minerals? Here's a list of some minerals and other earth 

materials that Americans use every day, along with some of their uses. Match each of the minerals 

with the description of how it's used by writing the letter of the mineral in the space next to its 

description.

Quartz A 1. This mineral is burned in power plants to produce most of

Gold B our country's electricity. –––––

Silver C

Iron D 2. Flexible and shiny, this mineral makes good gutters, pipes, and

Coal E electrical wiring. –––––

Sand & gravel F

Phosphates G 3. Rings, earrings, watches–many kinds of jewelry are made from

Copper H this shiny metal. –––––

Oil & gas I

Lead J 4. Used to manufacture steel, this mineral is also found in nails,

magnets, and medicines. –––––

 5. This mineral is used in car batteries and ammunition. –––––

 6. These minerals contain phosphorus and are used in fertilizer and

 food for livestock. –––––

 7. This mineral often occurs in the form of crystals. It comes in many

 colors and is used to make watches and glass. –––––

 8. Millions of tons of these materials are used in construction

 projects. –––––

9. You'll find this versatile mineral in coins, film, mirrors, and 

 jewelry. –––––

 10.These two fossil fuels are often found together in deposits

 underground. –––––

23

ACTIVITY
Secret Chambers

You can find natural, historical, and archaeological resources on BLM lands. But not all of them are 

out in the wide open spaces. Some are deep inside caves. Exploring caves can be fun and exciting. 

They are full of natural wonders. Cave formations are called speleothems. Some speleothems 

have been growing for hundreds or even thousands of years. 

Prehistoric peoples often found shelter in caves. They 

sometimes left evidence of their lifestyles behind in 

the form of rock paintings and other artifacts. Caves 

are also home to a variety of unusual animals. Some 

of these animals live their entire lives in total darkness. 

Deep inside a cave, the temperature and humidity 

never change.

People come from great distances to explore caves 

on public lands. If they are not careful, though, 

they sometimes leave their marks behind. Broken 

formations, muddy footprints, graffiti, and litter 

can damage a cave’s fragile ecosystem. The BLM 

is responsible for protecting cave resources. It is 

also responsible for helping visitors understand 

the risks of visiting caves.

Passages in caves can go for miles, and visitors 

can become lost or injured. BLM managers 

sometimes place gates over cave entrances. 

The gates keep people out, but the openings in 

the gates are big enough to let in some wildlife, 

including the caves’ most famous residents–bats. 

24

—Calling All Cavers!—

You can visit many BLM caves by obtaining a permit 

from your local BLM office. Caves can be exciting 

and fun to explore using very simple equipment. 

However, exploring caves can also be risky. You have 

to be aware of your own safety and the protection 

of things inside the cave, too. Here are some 

important caving rules:

1. Always tell someone where you are going and 

when you plan to return. 

2. Never go caving alone. It’s best to go in groups of 

three or four.

3. Go with an experienced caver, preferably someone 

who is familiar with the cave you’ll be exploring. 

4. Always wear a helmet with an attached light. That 

way your hands will be free to climb and crawl.

5. Take at least three light sources, with extra 

batteries and bulbs. 

6. Treat cave environments with respect. Remember, 

they are very fragile environments.

—Did You Know...?—

. . . that a single bat can eat thousands of insects 

in just one night? These flying mammals don't 

look for their prey in the dark. They send out 

pulses of sound and then listen for the echoes 

that bounce off even tiny insects.
Cave Pictionary

You can find some weird and amazing sights in caves, and some of them have some pretty weird 

names, too. Here's a mini cave dictionary, complete with pictures. Why not read the definitions 

and then draw your own cave with its own wild wonders?

Cave dictionary:

stalactite – a mineral deposit that grows down like an icicle from the ceiling of a cave.

stalagmite – a mineral deposit that drips onto the floor of a cave and grows upward.

troglobite – an animal that lives its entire life in a cave, often in total darkness. Blind cave fish 

and cave crickets are troglobites.

troglophile – an animal that lives its entire life in a cave, but has no particular adaptations to 

cave life. Earthworms, scorpions, and various insects can be troglophiles.

trogloxene – an animal that spends part of its life in caves, but leaves to find food. Bats are the 

most familiar trogloxenes.

25

stalactites stalagmites troglobite

(cave cricket)

troglophile

(scorpion)

trogloxene

(bat)

ACTIVITY
Paleopuzzles

Would you like to follow in the footsteps of a dinosaur? Well, there are places on BLM lands 

where you can do just that. You won't find any living dinosaurs, of course. They died out long 

before any humans came along. But you might find fossils of dinosaur bones or tracks. If you do, 

please leave them in place. But tell someone, because scientists would really like to know about 

your discovery.

That's because fossils are not so easy to find. Fossil formation is a chancy process (see box at 

right). Even so, a large number of fossils have been 

found on BLM lands. In fact, many of the fossils in 

American museums came from public lands. Fossils 

belong to all of us, and they can tell us a great deal 

about ancient climates and landscapes. Did you know, 

for example, that a shallow ocean once covered large 

parts of BLM lands in the West? How do we know? 

From fossils of sea creatures that have been found 

there. Fossils are the best clues we have as to how 

life developed on Earth. And that's why it's so 

important to protect these ancient treasures.

26

Making a Good

—Impression—

It takes just the right conditions over a long 

period of time for fossils to form. In the first 

place, the remains of dead plants and animals 

have to be buried fairly quickly–perhaps under 

mud or volcanic ash. Once buried, the 

remains have to stay undisturbed for a long 

time. It might take centuries for remains to 

become petrified. This occurs when living 

material is replaced by dissolved minerals, 

which then harden. Fossils can also form by 

the mold-and-cast process, which occurs 

when sediments around an object harden. 

When the object decays, an empty space, or 

mold, is left. If the mold fills with other

sediments, which then harden, a cast is formed.
Boneyard Mystery

Scientists called paleontologists study fossils. The fossils they find 

are often all mixed up. There might be bones from several different 

dinosaurs scattered around a particular site, for instance. Or scientists

might find only a few fossilized bones with no trace of the remaining 

animal. They hardly ever find a complete dinosaur skeleton.

But you're in luck! Paleontologists have sorted through the bones 

here and put together a dinosaur skeleton. Now it's up to you to 

figure out what kind of dinosaur it is. Examine the bones and 

compare them to the drawings of the dinosaurs below. Which one do you think it is? Pay 

close attention to the skull, the leg bones, and the tail. If you need another hint, check the

information about dinosaur hips in the box at right.

27

Hypsilophodon

Stegosaurus

Pentaceratops Apatosaurus

ACTIVITY

Dinosaurs had hips that resembled

either modern-day birds or lizards. 

Bird-hipped dinosaurs were almost

all vegetarians; their teeth were 

well-suited to eating foliage. 

Lizard-hipped dinosaurs included 

all the meat-eaters,

as well as the huge 

plant-eaters such 

as Apatosaurus. bird hip

lizard hip
Time Travel

Scientists called archaeologists study clues to 

human history. You can think like an 

archaeologist. Imagine that one of the bedrooms 

on the right is yours. Now imagine that someone 

who had never met you before saw your 

bedroom. What could they tell about you, just by 

seeing your room? Would the person know if you 

were a boy or a girl? How old you were? If it 

was during the 1960s or just last year? What your 

hobbies were?

Archaeologists work the same way. They study a 

site and look at all the things people left behind. 

They keep detailed records about everything they 

find, and handle ancient objects very carefully. 

They put together hundreds of clues to get the 

whole story. 

But what would happen if some of the 

clues were missing? Unfortunately, 

this happens all too often. There are 

so many archaeological sites on BLM 

lands that it's impossible to watch 

over them all. People take things 

such as arrowheads and pieces of 

pottery. Sometimes they don't 

know any better. But sometimes 

they steal things on purpose to add 

them to their own collections or to 

sell them for money. They are taking 

clues to the past and destroying 

them forever.

28
The Past: Can You Dig It?

Archaeologists are specially trained to uncover clues to human history. Visitors to public lands 

should never dig up or take ancient artifacts. But there are ways you can help protect clues to 

the past. Look at the pictures below and circle those actions that you can take to protect clues 

to America's past. Draw an X through actions that would harm those clues.

29

ACTIVITY
The Big Squeeze

The BLM manages more than 200 million acres, which sounds like a lot . . . 

and it is. But the open spaces of our public lands are no longer 

quite so empty. That’s because even more people are moving 

to and visiting the western states. You won’t find houses and 

shopping malls being built on BLM lands, but people 

are visiting them more than ever before.

More people are discovering the many 

recreational opportunities the public 

lands provide. You know how a soccer 

field can look after a long, hard season? 

Some well-used areas of BLM lands can 

begin to look a little worn out, too, 

especially if people don’t treat the lands 

with respect. 

See page 36 to learn how you can 

treat our public lands and waters 

with respect.

30
Climbing the Chart

Below is a table showing the estimated number of visits each year to BLM lands and waters over a 

10-year period. 

Year Number of Visits1

2004 54,035,000

2005 56,118,000

2006 55,420,000

2007 57,349,000

2008 56,940,000

2009 57,358,000

2010 58,570,000

2011 57,755,000

2012 58,070,000

2013 61,670,000

1As reported in “Public Land Statistics,” 2004 through 2013.

Create a bar graph to show the approximate number of visits for each year. Round each number 

to the nearest million. For example, 54,035,000 is rounded down to 54,000,000, or 54 million, and 

61,670,000 is rounded up to 62,000,000, or 62 million. The first column, for 2004, is done for you. 

Visits to BLM Lands and Waters from 2004 to 2013

31

ACTIVITY

—Did You Know...?—

People made approximately 7,600,000 more 

visits to BLM lands and waters in 2013 than in 

2004? That's equivalent to visits from nearly 

the entire population of New York City or the 

populations of Chicago and Los Angeles 

combined!

[Source: U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.

census.gov/2010census/popmap/.]
The Big Picture

You've learned about many of the natural, historic, and prehistoric resources that can be found on 

BLM lands. And you've learned about some of the many challenges BLM faces in caring for them. 

When it comes to solving problems–whether they have to do with wildlife or weeds or water–it's 

important to look at the big picture. That's because 

everything is connected.

Pick your favorite place on BLM lands. Look around and you'll 

see signs of many living things . . . and non-living things, too–all 

of them connected. They are part of what scientists call an 

ecosystem. There are many ecosystems on public lands–deserts, 

forests, rangelands, to name just a few. Ecosystems can be large 

or small. Earth is an ecosystem, and so is your backyard.

Ecosystems are one way to look at the big picture. Another way is to look at large areas that are 

drained by rivers. These are called watersheds. When it rains or when snow melts, the water soaks

into the ground or it moves downhill to a body of water–a stream, river, or lake. As the water 

moves across and through the land, it picks up and carries sediments, minerals, and pollutants. 

These end up in our groundwater or our waterways.

Like an ecosystem, a watershed can be large or small. In the drawing below, the area outlined by 

the dotted line is one large watershed. But there are also many smaller watersheds within the big 

one. No matter what size the watershed is, all living and non-living things within its boundaries 

are connected.

A flower blooms. An insect dies. Wildfire sweeps over the range. The natural world is always 

changing. Because of all the connections, every change–even the ones you don't notice–will cause 

other changes. BLM has many experts who monitor changes on BLM lands. By keeping track of 

them and by looking at the

big picture–at watersheds 

and ecosystems–BLM can 

do its best to make sure 

that public lands stay 

healthy.

32

—Watershed Watch—

To learn more about your watershed, check 

out the “Surf Your Watershed” website of 

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 

www.epa.gov/surf. Enter your zip code 

to locate your watershed and learn how 

you can help protect it.
Making Connections

Go outside . . . anywhere. Stop and look. What connections can you find? Chances are you can 

see plenty of them right in your own backyard, school yard, or local park–a bird eating some 

berries, perhaps, or a squirrel gathering acorns. Your backyard is a small ecosystem. But does it 

have connections beyond your backyard? Absolutely! The squirrel might live in a nearby forest. 

And who knows where the bird might have traveled? Maybe it spends winters in South America 

or summers in Alaska. It depends on the berries in your backyard for food. But it's also part of 

the "big picture" that BLM and everyone needs to be aware of.

Think about connections. Then draw pictures in the empty circles below. In the small circle, show 

two or more things in your backyard that are connected. In the larger circle, show some things 

that are connected to your backyard 

but are outside it.

33

ACTIVITY
Help Wanted

As you've seen, BLM has huge areas of land to protect and 

many resources on that land to care for. Experts in many different

resources work for BLM. There are experts in minerals, animals, 

plants, recreation, and many other fields. By working together, 

BLM employees can do what's best to protect public lands now 

and in the future. 

With so much land to manage, it's a big job. And BLM doesn't just 

need experts to do it. All sorts of people can help. As you've 

seen, people create some of the problems that exist on BLM lands, 

and people can also help solve them. In other words, BLM needs 

YOU! After all, as you've learned, public lands belong to all 

Americans, and that means everyone can help care for them.

34
Career Fair

There are many different people who work to protect the historical, archaeological, and natural 

resources on public lands. Read the statements by BLM employees, then match them with the job 

titles in the box. Once you fill in the spaces, the letters in the boxes will help you answer the 

question at the bottom of the page.

Archaeologist Biologist Botanist Fire Specialist Forester

Geologist Hydrologist Paleontologist Ranger Surveyor

1. I study forests and manage the forest resources on public lands.

2. I work to determine land ownership and boundaries.

3. I use clues humans left behind to learn about how people lived in the past. 

4. I manage fires and work to educate people on fire safety. 

5. I study and protect water resources. 

6. I work to protect habitat for fish and wildlife.

7. I patrol the public lands to protect them and the people who use them.

8. I study fossils to learn about life in the past. 

9. I study plants and work to protect native plants from invasive weeds.

10. I study the structure and history of the Earth and help manage mineral resources on

 public lands.

Who is responsible for caring for public lands? _________________________________________!

35

ACTIVITY
Doing Your Part

There are things everyone can do to help care for BLM lands when they visit. Follow the Leave 

No Trace Principles ©, listed below. You can learn more about how to Leave No Trace by visiting 

the website at www.lnt.org.

1. Know Before You Go

Know the rules and learn about the area you'll be visiting.

2. Choose the Right Path

Using hard surfaces prevents damage to soil and plants. Hard surfaces are established trails and 

campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, and snow.

3. Trash Your Trash

Use trash cans for your garbage. If you are visiting an area where there are no trash cans, then 

take all trash away with you, including leftover food, litter, and toilet paper, in a sealed plastic bag. 

Human waste should be buried in a small hole 6-8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, 

camp, and trails.

4. Leave What You Find

Leave rocks, plants, arrowheads, and other objects so that others can enjoy them, too. Do not 

build structures or dig trenches.

5. Be Careful With Fire

Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light. Where fires are allowed, 

use fire rings that are already there and keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that 

can be broken by hand. Be sure to burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, 

and then scatter cool ashes. Adults should always be involved in building, burning, and putting 

out campfires.

6. Respect Wildlife

Watch wildlife from a distance and don't follow or approach animals. Never feed animals. Control 

pets at all times, or better yet, leave them at home.

7. Be Kind to Other Visitors

Respect other visitors and remember that they want to enjoy the outdoors, too. Take breaks and 

make camps away from trails and other visitors. Let nature's sounds–not radios or music players–

be the ones heard. Avoid loud voices and noises.

36
Leave No Trace

To the left and to the right are some pictures illustrating the Leave No Trace Principles. Draw a 

line from each of the principles in the center to the picture that best illustrates it.

1. Know Before You Go

2. Choose the Right Path

3. Trash Your Trash

4. Leave What You Find

5. Be Careful With Fire

6. Respect Wildlife

7. Be Kind to Other Visitors

So you’ll always remember:

Make a small wallet card of the Leave No Trace Principles or order one from the LNT

website (www.lnt.org). Carry it with you so you'll remember how to take good care of 

BLM lands and all the lands you might visit.

37

ACTIVITY
Answers to Activity Pages

pp. 4 and 5 Map Talk

Answers will vary, depending on the state in which you 

live. Among the states that have a lot of BLM land are 

Alaska, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. 

p. 7 I Spy Scramble 

fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, flowers, trees, 

mountains, deserts, glaciers, rivers, caves, oil wells, fossils, 

arrowheads, wind turbines. Answer to question: shopping 

malls 

p. 11 Where’s Weedo?

p. 15 Down by the Riverside 

(1) Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)

(2) Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

(3) Dalmatian toadflax (Acroptilon repens)

(4) Russian knapweed (Linaria dalmatica)

p. 13 Little House Near the Wildlands 

Hazards include: hole in chimney; leaves and branches on 

roof; logs stacked near house; gasoline near house; car, tall 

grasses, and weeds near house; debris in yard; tree hanging 

over roof 

Activities that help protect riparian areas: 

(1) cattle fence to keep cows away from riparian areas

(2) logging of only a few trees far from the river

(3) hikers crossing stream in a single file

(4) road built far back from water

38
39

p. 17 Finding Forest Friends p. 23 Minerals Match 

1. E 2. H 3. B 4. D 5. J 6. G 7. A 8. F 9. C 

10. I 

p. 27 Boneyard Mystery 

Hypsilophodon 

p. 29 The Past: Can You Dig It? 

Numbers 2, 3, and 5 should be circled. Numbers 1, 4, 6, 7, 

and 8 should be crossed out. 

p. 31 Climbing the Chart

(1) owl (5) snake (8) bobcat

(2) frog (6) salamander (9) vole

(3) slug (7) deer (10) beetle

(4) marten

p. 19 Habitat Match-up 

(1) bear – forest (4) lizard – desert

(2) caribou – tundra (5) prairie dog – grassland

(3) frog – wetland (6) salmon – stream

p. 21 Mustang Roundup 

Nevada – 25,035 Utah – 4,292 Colorado – 1,205

Wyoming – 3,771 Arizona – 4,744 Montana – 160

California – 6,008 Idaho – 668 New Mexico – 146

Oregon – 3,180

Yellow: Idaho, Montana, New Mexico

Blue: Utah, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Wyoming 

Green: California Red: Nevada 

p. 35 Career Fair 

1. Forester 2. Surveyor 3. Archaeologist 

4. Fire Specialist 5. Hydrologist 6. Biologist 

7. Ranger 8. Paleontologist 9. Botanist 

10. Geologist

Answer to question: Everyone is! 

p. 37 Leave No Trace

1. E 2. F 3. C 4. D 5. A 6. G 7. B

Answers to Activity Pages (continued)
40

Notes:

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management