BLM

Off-Highway

Vehicle Area

Junior Ran

Activity Guide

Barstow Field Office

U.S. Department of the interior 

BUreaU of LanD management

EL MIRAGE

ger
Seymour

ANTELOPE

BLM YOUTH MASCOT
1

Be a Junior Ranger 

Junior Rangers play an important 

role in the El Mirage Off-Highway 

Vehicle (OHV) Area. 

 Responsible Recreation

Junior Rangers have fun at El Mirage! 

They follow the motto of “Safety First, 

Every Ride, Every Time” in an effort to 

reduce crashes and injuries resulting 

from inappropriate OHV use.

 Natural Resource Protection

Junior Rangers help BLM Park Rangers 

preserve the natural resources of El Mirage by learning how to protect plants 

and wildlife while they are traveling 

through the desert.

 Environmental Education

Junior Rangers teach their family and 

friends about the El Mirage Area and 

how to be safe and responsible.

We are delighted that you are joining our 

Junior Ranger Program. The activities in 

this book offer a special opportunity to explore the El Mirage OHV Area safely and 

responsibly. The goal of the BLM Junior 

Ranger Program is to educate children 

about proper outdoor recreation use with an 

emphasis on OHV safety, while instilling a 

strong ethic for natural resources.

Activities are recommended for children ages 6 –12. The goal is for the child to learn by doing. 

Please read the introduction to each activity and discuss it with the child to be sure he/she understands it. If you need assistance with an activity, feel free to ask a park staff member.

Be sure to complete the Junior Ranger Enrollment Form at the end of this activity guide to receive 

program updates and activities.

Dear Adults, 
2

How to Become a Junior Ranger 

 Attend ONE ranger education program at El Mirage. Check with park staff or the Friends of 

El Mirage website (www.elmirage.org) for program schedules. The activities “What Does a 

Park Ranger Do?” (page 3) and the ATV Safety Institute (ASI) ATV Rider Course (see note 

below) count as education programs.

 (6-8 year-olds) complete at least three activities in this book

 (9-12 year-olds) complete at least five activities in this book

 Complete one stewardship project (A stewardship project is where you help take care of 

the park. See page 13).

 When you complete the activities listed above, take it to the visitor center and ask a visitor 

center staff member to review this book with you. Repeat the Junior Ranger Pledge after 

the El Mirage staff.

Fill in Educational Programs Completed:

#1 

 Name of Program Date Ranger Signature

#2

 Name of Program Date Ranger Signature

Junior Ranger Safety Tips 

P - Prepare yourself and your equipment for the trip. Make sure you have parental supervision.

L - Let someone know where you're going and when you will return.

A - Adverse weather or fire conditions? Check first.

N - Never go out on the trail alone.

Take an OHV Safety Course. If you are under 18 years old and plan to ride an OHV, you should 

take a safety training course. In this course you will learn laws and safety skills, and necessary safe 

riding habits. You will also learn about the OHV, so you can conduct “pre-ride” safety checks. To 

register for a State Certified Safety Course contact the following; for ATV riders call the ATV Safety 

Institute at (800) 887-2887; for off-highway motorcycle riders call (877) 288-7093. 

ATV training is free to youth 16 and younger. Safety First, Every Ride, Every Time!!
3

What Does a Park Ranger Do? 

Being a park ranger is an exciting job. Park rangers make sure the park is safe, protect wildlife habitats, and 

teach people about interesting animals and plants in the park. Find a park ranger and interview them. Ask 

them these questions. 

Name of Park Ranger: 

1) What do you like best about being a park ranger?

2) What is the most difficult part of being a park ranger? 

3) What is something strange or something funny that you have seen in the park?

4) What is your favorite time of year in the park and why?

5) What did you have to do to become a park ranger?

“The best part of my job is that 

it is never the same. One day I 

might be monitoring trails, one 

day I might be teaching kids 

about the wonders of the 

desert, and one day I might be 

working at a race.” 

Park Ranger Art Basulto
4

Safety First, Every Ride, Every Time 

While you complete the activities in this booklet, make sure you follow our Junior 

Ranger motto of “Safety First, Every Ride, Every Time” by modeling appropriate 

OHV behavior and wearing your personal protective equipment Every Ride, 

Every Time!

Safety Gear – Seven for Safety

1. A HELMET is your most important piece of equipment. Select 

an approved helmet that fits snugly and can be securely fastened. Helmets protect the head in two ways:

a. Outer shell resists penetration and abrasion, 

b. Inner shell absorbs shock by slowly collapsing under 

impact.

Full face helmets protect your face as well as your head. Open 

helmets are lighter and cooler and should be used with mouth 

protection. Encourage the use of full face helmets.

Helmets must be approved by one of the following:

DOT Department of Transportation

SNELL Snell Memorial Foundation (most stringent) 

ANSI American National Standards Institute. 

2. EYE PROTECTION should be worn with all helmets to protect eyes from branches, rocks, dust, or bugs. 

Eye protection includes goggles or a face shield on your helmet. Sunglasses are not proper eye protection and may shatter or fall off if impacted. Ski goggles are acceptable OHV eye protection.

3. A LONG-SLEEVE SHIRT prevents scrapes, burns, bug bites and brush rubs.

4. PANTS prevent scrapes, burns, and brush rubs. Although leather, denim, or corduroy pants are fine, synthetic riding pants are the most durable and are available in many riding shops.

5. GLOVES protect hands during a fall and also keep fingers warm. Synthetic riding gloves provide a better 

grip. Fingerless gloves are not suitable for OHV riding. Motorcycle gloves are the best; they are curved 

for the most comfort and best grip. 

6. BOOTS must go over the ankle. Suitable boots may include over-the-ankle hiking boots; however, the 

best, most comfortable, and safest boots are those that are specifically designed for riding. 

7. BODY ARMOR (neck brace, chest protector, kidney belt) is strongly recommended for both beginners 

and experienced riders. Beginners take heed and remember that experienced riders have learned the 

hard way to wear this additional safety gear for their own protection.
5

Senses Ride 

All Ages 

Take a ride on any of the park’s trails (following the Jr. Ranger 

Safety Tips of course!) and use your senses to discover the 

natural world around you (you can park your ATV and hike as 

well). Listed below are four of our five senses: sight, sound, 

smell and touch. We have not included taste in this activity 

because some of the plants in the park might be harmful if eaten! Use each one of 

your senses to learn about something along the trail and describe it below.

Example: 

Sight: I saw some animal tracks in the sand near a burrow.

Sight: 

Sound: 

Smell: 

Touch: 
6

Wildlife Detective 

All Ages

Hit the trails and explore El Mirage to see what wildlife you may encounter. Many animals are shy. We sometimes find clues that they leave behind in their habitat. Check 

off the clues below as you find them. Walk quietly, listen closely and stay alert. You 

never know what animal may cross your path. Don't put your hands or feet in areas 

where you cannot see such as on a ledge or in a crevice. Use caution when you pick 

up rocks or debris where a rattlesnake may be hiding!!. Good luck wildlife detective!

Leaf chewed by 

an insect

Insect buzzing

Bird tracks

Animal burrow

A feather

Animal tracks

Scat (droppings)

Spider Web

A nest in a tree

EXTRA:

Now sketch the most interesting sign of wildlife you found today in the empty box 

above. Thanks for the hard work detective!
7

Make A Sound Map 

All Ages

Find a comfortable and quiet place to sit outdoors. The X in the center of the map is 

you! Listen carefully to the sounds around you. Listen for the birds, animals, wind, and 

even sounds made by people. Now draw pictures on the map showing the sounds you 

heard and where you heard them.

x 

Motorcycle

Did you hear sounds 

coming from all directions? 

Bird Singing

EXTRA:

Did you know all of the sounds, or were there some sounds you could not identify?

Would your map look different if you sat here at night or very early in the morning?
8

Map It Out 

Get a copy of the El Mirage map and 

take a close look at it. Use the map 

legend to find the trails, campsites, 

landmarks, and roads. Find a special 

spot on the map that you think would 

be interesting to visit. Make sure it is 

someplace that you have time to visit 

and that there is a safe way to get 

there. Also mark your campsite in 

case you get lost!!

Ages 9-12

What is it? (example: Sailor’s Bay, Resurrection Hill)

How can you get to this special place? Write directions. What roads or 

trails would you drive on? Where would you park? Would you need to hike? 

Go find your special place (following the Jr. Ranger Safety Tips of course!). What are 

your first impressions of your spot? How does being at your spot make you feel? 

Write about your spot below:
9

Ages 9-12

Who Plays Where? 

Because of its unique flat surface, 

the El Mirage Lakebed is a popular 

destination spot. Visitors enjoy operating motorcycles, ATVs, trucks, 

cars, buggies, land yachts, model 

airplanes, model rockets, ultra-light 

aircraft, gyrocopters, parasails, and 

full-sized aircrafts. In this activity you 

can sketch pictures of the diverse 

recreation opportunities in El Mirage. 

You can also use a camera to take 

pictures and then paste some of 

your pictures to make a collage.

Beware of vegetation surrounded by small sand dunes (dunie bushes) and cracks caused by changes in the 

lakebed (stress cracks). These can be deadly for OHV riders!! 

EXTRA: 

Ask a park ranger to find out who has the right of way out on the lakebed.
10

Be A Nature Artist 

All Ages

In this activity you can sketch pictures of the natural world 

in El Mirage. You can also use a camera to take pictures 

and then paste some of your pictures to make a collage. 

Sketch or paste at least one picture of an animal and at 

least one picture of a plant up close. Look for interesting 

shapes and interesting colors.
11

What Would You Call It? 

All Ages

Sometimes the names we give to plants have to do with how they look. Scientists 

sometimes name plants after their interesting characteristics. These are called the 

plant’s common name.

This plant is called a 

Joshua Tree because 

it appears to be lifting 

its “arms” to heaven 

like the biblical prophet 

Joshua. 

This plant is called 

Salt Bush because of 

the fact that they retain 

salt in their leaves 

Now it’s your turn! Find two interesting plants and observe them closely. Take a photo 

or sketch them in the box. Then come up with your own creative name for them.

SKETCH OR PHOTO CREATIVE NAME DESCRIPTION
12

Scavenger Hunt Bingo 

All Ages

Go on a scavenger hunt in El Mirage. Look for, but don’t collect, the items in the boxes below. Remember to leave the plants and rocks where you find them. Place an 

“X” on the items that you find. Find four in a row down, across or diagonally in order 

to complete this activity. Can you find them all?

Insect Sign Cactus Raven

Tortoise Joshua Tree Mountains Tent

RV Squirrel Motorcycle Airplane

Race Car Animal Tracks Lizard Wildflower
13

Stewardship Project 

All Ages

Now that you understand more about the recreation opportunities, plants and wildlife 

of El Mirage, it’s time to do a stewardship project. This is where you do something to 

make the park a better place for wildlife, plants, and people. Clean up a nearby 

campground or collect a bag of recyclables. You can bring your bag of recyclables to 

the visitor center to help support the Junior Ranger Program! Depending on the time 

of the year, you may be able to participate in one of the major clean ups that we host 

at El Mirage. Use this space to write about what you did to make a difference. 
14

In Your Own Words

What was your favorite part of your visit to the El Mirage OHV 

Area? Write about it—or draw a picture—in the space below.
15

T-Shirt Design Contest

All Ages

Use the space below to draw something you think would make a cool design for our 

Junior Ranger T-shirt. If your design is selected, it will be given to a graphic design 

artist for our next batch of Junior Ranger T-shirts!! 

Name

Address

Phone # & Parent Email
16

Congratulations!

You have completed the Junior Ranger Program. Being 

a Junior Ranger is fun, but there are responsibilities. 

You must now take the Junior Ranger Pledge. Raise 

your right hand, have a park ranger read the Junior 

Ranger Pledge (on the next page) to you and repeat the 

pledge after the ranger.

Once you have taken the pledge, the ranger will sign your official Certificate of 

Achievement and you will receive a goody bag and t-shirt.

You are now an official 

Junior Ranger! 

Optional: Hand this form in when you get your goody bag & t-shirt. You will receive information 

about special events, updates and activities for Junior Rangers.

Area: Date:

Junior Ranger Name:

Gender: Date of Birth: Grade: School:

Parent/Guardian:

*Address: City/State: Zip:

*Phone *Email: County:

* Address, phone number and e-mail will only 

be used to contact you about opportunities for 

Junior Rangers. 

Office Use Only:

Date Entered: 

Junior Ranger Enrollment Form 
17

Certificate of Achievement 

Congratulations Junior Ranger!

You play an important role in the management of our public lands. 

Thank you for your hard work! Great job!

This certifies that has met 

the requirements of a Bureau of Land Management Junior Ranger.

Junior Ranger Pledge

I, (your name), promise to do these things to be safe and protect the desert: I will practice “Safety First, Every Ride, Every Time”. I will do my part to keep our deserts clean. I will stay on the roads and trails when traveling through the desert. I will respect, protect, and enjoy our desert.

Park Ranger Date
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 in the western part 

of the United States. These public lands belong 

to all Americans.

The BLM manages public lands for many uses 

such as recreation, supplying natural resources 

like minerals, providing rangeland where cattle 

graze, maintaining natural wildlife habitat, and 

studying history and science.

BLM/CA/GI-2013-010+8367

Contact Us

Bureau of Land Managem

Barstow Field Office

2601 Barstow Rd.

Barstow, CA 92311

(760) 252-6000

www.blm.gov/ca/barstow

ent 

This brochure was funded through

the California State Parks OHV 

Recreation Vehicle Program.