ACTIVITY BOOK

JUNIOR RANGER

Herbert Hoover National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

National Historic Site

Iowa

My name is _________________________________.

I am ____________ years old.
2

Be a Junior Ranger

Who are Junior Rangers?

Junior Rangers are important people who help Park Rangers with their jobs. 

A Junior Ranger at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site will:

■ Explore Herbert Hoover National Historic Site 

safely and responsibly. 

■ Learn about Herbert Hoover and his home 

town of West Branch. 

■ Protect Herbert Hoover National Historic Site 

and other national parks. 

Earn Your Junior Ranger Badge

Using your Activity Book:

1. Complete Activity 1 on page 4. 

2. In addition to Activity 1, complete the number of activities required for 

your age (see chart below). 

3. Ask a Park Ranger at the Visitor Center to check your Activity Book 

when you are done. 

If You Are: Complete:

5 to 7 years old 4 activities

8 to 10 years old 6 activities

11 years old and older 9 activities
3

About This Park

Who was Herbert Hoover?

Herbert Hoover was the 31st 

President. As a child in West Branch, 

Iowa, he learned the importance of 

family, hard work, and education. 

He also believed in honesty, fairness, 

and peace. 

While visiting Herbert Hoover 

National Historic Site, think about 

how these values helped him 

grow up to become a successful 

businessman, a world humanitarian, 

and a President of the United States. 

What is Herbert Hoover National Historic Site?

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site is a national park. There are over 400 

national parks in the United States. 

As you explore this park:

■ Know the rules and how to be safe. 

■ Use the park map and guide, exhibits, fi lm, and audio tour to learn more 

about Herbert Hoover. 

■ Ask a park ranger if you have a question or need help.

Herbert Hoover (on the right) with a park 

ranger in Yellowstone National Park.
4

Get Started

Activity 1: Watch the fi lm and explore the exhibit at the 

Visitor Center

The Visitor Center is where people fi nd information and plan their visit. 

There is a 12-minute fi lm and an exhibit about Herbert Hoover. 

Watch the fi lm. Mark “T” for the sentences that are true and “F” 

for the sentences that are false. 

1. Herbert Hoover was the 31st President. ______

2. Herbert’s nickname was Bertie. ______

3. The Hoovers’ religion was Methodist. ______

Find the answers to these questions in the exhibit at the Visitor 

Center. 

1. Find and list two objects in the exhibit that used to belong to the 

Hoover family.

____________________________________________________________

2. What year did the Hoovers move into the House of the Maples?

____________________________________________________________

3. What degree did Herbert Hoover earn at Stanford University? Circle 

one.

A. Physics B. History C. Geology
5

Park Rangers

Activity 2: Interview a Park Ranger 

Park Rangers answer questions, patrol, and clean up. Their green and grey 

uniforms make them easy to fi nd.

Find a Park Ranger and ask the following questions to learn 

about rangers and their jobs. 

1. What is your name? 

________________________________________________________________

2. What is your job? 

________________________________________________________________

3. Have you worked at other National Parks? Which ones? 

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

4. What do you most respect about Herbert Hoover? Why? 

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

5. What can I do to help the National Parks? 

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________
6

Explore the Park

Activity 3: Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Junior Rangers learn as much as they can about the national parks they visit. 

The more they learn, the better they can help park rangers care for the parks.

Find at least 10 of these 15 items. 

Are you 8 or younger? Place an X over each item as you fi nd it. 

Are you 9 or older? Write the number of the item on the map 

where you found it. 

1

Privy

5

Globe

4

Iowa Award

3

Quilt

2

Rocking Chair

6

Wagon Wheel

10

Indian Clubs

9

Hitching Post

8

Stove

7

Horseshoe

11

Clothesline

15

Water Pump

14

Marble Block

13

Sign Post

12

Boulder
7

TALLGRASS 

PRAIRIE

STATUE 

OF ISIS

VISITOR 

CENTER

GRAVESITE

SCHOOLHOUSE

BLACKSMITH 

SHOP

BIRTHPLACE 

COTTAGE

FRIENDS 

MEETINGHOUSE

PRESIDENTIAL 

LIBRARY AND 

MUSEUM

1
8

Family

Activity 4: Visit the Birthplace Cottage

Family was important to the Hoovers. Being part of a family means you 

take care of each other. Each of the Hoovers did his or her share of the 

house work.

Imagine you have to do the three chores listed below. Look 

around for items that can be used to do those chores. List the items 

and write how that chore helps everybody in the family.

Chore: Item: How it helps the family:

Water the 

garden 

Dry clothes

Sweep the fl oor

Do you have chores at home? What are they and how do they help your 

family?
9

Hard Work

Activity 5: Visit the Blacksmith Shop

Herbert Hoover’s father was a blacksmith. His father worked hard to make 

and sell things that other people could use. When Herbert grew up, he 

worked hard to serve other people as an engineer, humanitarian, and as 

President of the United States. 

Find and draw two items that you see in the blacksmith shop. 

Then write below why these items are important to make or how 

they were used.

How can you be of service to others? Is there something you can make 

or do that helps other people?
10

Education

Activity 6: Visit the Schoolhouse

Herbert Hoover believed education helped him become successful. The 

education Herbert received in his West Branch school allowed him to later 

attend Stanford University.

Look around the schoolhouse. Answer the questions about what it 

was like when Herbert went to school in the 1800s and what it is 

like for you today. 

 Question: For Herbert: For Me:

How is the school 

heated in the winter 

months? 

Where does the 

teacher sit?

What is used to 

complete homework?

Which famous 

people are learned 

about?

Which subjects are 

taught?
11

Quaker Values

Activity 7: Visit the Friends Meetinghouse

Herbert Hoover and his family were Quakers. They worshipped at the 

Friends Meetinghouse twice a week. Quakers believed in living simply, 

being honest, treating others fairly, and avoiding violence. Herbert Hoover’s 

Quaker values led him to help millions of people around the world who 

needed food. 

Write down one question you have about the Friends 

Meetinghouse. Try to fi nd the answer by reading the signs or 

brochures, by listening to the audio tour, or by asking a Park 

Ranger.

Do you believe in living simply, being honest, treating others fairly, or 

avoiding violence? From where or whom did you learn it?

Question: Answer:
12

Caring for Others

If you were going to give a gift to someone who helped you, what would 

you give? 

Activity 8: Visit the Statue of Isis

At the start of World War I, Herbert Hoover quit a successful career as a 

mining engineer to provide food relief to the war-torn country of Belgium. 

As a thank you for his help, the people of Belgium gave him this Statue of Isis. 

The artist chose Isis, the ancient Egyptian goddess of life, as a symbol of the 

lives Herbert Hoover saved. 

President and Mrs. Hoover choose this spot to place the statue for 

a very specifi c reason. Look in the same direction that Isis is facing 

and draw the scene before you. 
13

Conservation

Activity 9: Visit the Tallgrass Prairie 

Herbert Hoover loved being outdoors. He believed in conserving natural 

resources by protecting or not wasting them. He created many national parks 

when he was president. This Tallgrass Prairie is a symbol of his commitment 

to conservation.

Stand on the observation deck at the Tallgrass Prairie. Look, 

listen, and feel what is around you, then write or draw what you 

saw, heard or felt.

Do you think it is important to conserve this Tallgrass Prairie? Why?

Look: Feel: Listen:
14

Accomplishments

Activity 10: Visit the Gravesite of President and Mrs. 

Hoover 

Herbert Hoover went from being a boy in a small two-room cottage to 

the 31st President of the United States. After he died, thousands of people 

watched as he was buried here. From the gravesite, they could see the house 

where he was born. 

Think about Herbert Hoover’s accomplishments, or the 

important things he did during his long life, and then answer the 

questions below.

1. What important things would you like to accomplish?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

2. Herbert Hoover once said: “In no other land could a boy from a country 

village, without inheritance or infl uential friends, look forward with 

unbounded hope.” What do you think he meant? 

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Junior Ranger

Congratulations to

__________________________________________________

who has successfully completed the requirements to become a 

Junior Ranger at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

Junior Ranger Pledge

As a Junior Ranger, I promise to 

preserve, protect, and teach others about 

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

______________________________

Park Ranger

______________________________

President Herbert Hoover
16

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive, PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

www.nps.gov/heho

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks to Kyle Romero and Maria Lorena Padron, 

who volunteered time to write and design this activity book, 

and to visitors whose donations made printing it possible. 

Sheila Edwards took the cover photograph, featuring Junior 

Rangers Gloria and Lake Edwards. Other photos and 

illustrations are credited to Linda Staats and National Park 

Service staff . The archival photo on page 3 appears courtesy 

of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.

July 2013