JUNIOR RANGER

 ARIZONA EXPLORER

 Arizona National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

National Monuments & Parks
Are you ready to become an Arizona Junior Ranger Explorer?

To earn the patch, you must complete the following:

 Visit 4 National Park Service sites in Arizona. Fill 

out the travel log for each site that you visit and 

have a ranger sign your log. You have 22 parks, 

monuments, historic sites, and recreation areas to 

choose from!

 Complete the John Wesley Powell activity on 

pages 2 & 3.

 Complete the Leave No Trace activity

on page 28.

 Complete 5 more activities. Each activity 

consists of 2 pages. For example: To complete the Historic 

Archeology activity, you must fill out pages 22 & 23.

WELCOME, EXPLORER!

This book belongs to:

Age:

Hometown:
1

MAP IT OUT

Glen Canyon 

NRA

Pipe Spring 

NM

Grand Canyon–Parashant 

NM

Lake Mead 

NRA

Grand Canyon 

NP

Navajo NM 

Canyon de Chelly 

NM 

Hubbell Trading 

Post NHS

Petrified Forest 

NP 

Sunset Crater Wupatki NM

Volcano NM

Walnut Canyon 

Tuzigoot NM NM

Montezuma 

Castle NM

Tonto NM

Casa Grande 

Ruins NM

TUCSON

Saguaro NP Fort Bowie 

NHS

Chiricahua 

NM Coronado 

N MEM

Tumacacori 

NHP

Organ Pipe 

Cactus NM

PHOENIX

FLAGSTAFF

Arizona has 22 National Park Service units across the 

state. Use this map below to plan out an adventure of 

your very own! If you really want a challenge, fill in the 

highways and interstates that you used on your trip!
John Wesley Powell was no 

stranger to excitement and danger. After 

losing his right arm in the Civil War, he set off 

down the Colorado River in 1869 with 4 boats full 

of supplies. His goal was to document the whole 

river for science, but the expedition turned into a 

test of will. Four men left the expedition early 

and the rest of the crew made it out alive after 3 

harsh months on the mighty river.

In order to prepare for his journey, John Wesley Powell 

had to plan out and pack everything he was going to need. Look 

at the items below and circle 5 things that you think are the most 

important items to take on an expedition. Remember, you are 

going to be gone for 3 months. You have to eat, sleep, stay dry and

safe, and document everything you find!

J

 J

2
You are about to embark on an Arizona Adventure 

of your very own! Your family and friends are like your expedition 

crew, which means you all have to plan ahead for your trip, like 

John Wesley Powell. Sit down with your expedition crew and plan 

your next trip by answering the follow questions:

Which National Park Service site are you going to visit?

What’s the closest city or town to that site?

What will the weather be like when you are there?

What kinds of things will you do when you visit?

Based on the questions above, make a list of at least 

5 things you should pack for your adventure!

3
4

TRAVEL LOG

Welcome to Arizona! Fill out this log, collect your Passport Stamp, and show a 

Ranger a photo of you at the challenge location to get a signature from the 

ranger. Remember, you must visit at least four parks to earn your Arizona Junior 

Explorer Patch.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Photo Challenge: Spider Rock

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Photo Challenge: Hidden Room

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Chiricahua National Monument

Photo Challenge: A Hoodoo

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:
5

Fort Bowie National Historic Site

Photo Challenge: Grave Marker

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Photo Challenge: Lee’s Ferry Peach Tree

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Grand Canyon National Park

Photo Challenge: Kaibab Formation

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Coronado National Memorial

Photo Challenge: International Border

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:
6

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site

Photo Challenge: Navajo Rug

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Photo Challenge: Joshua Tree

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Photo Challenge: Historic Diorama

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Grand Canyon – Parashant National Monument

Photo Challenge: Historic Ranch

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:
7

Navajo National Monument

Photo Challenge: Betatakin Cliff Dwelling

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Organ Pipe National Monument

Photo Challenge: Cristate Cactus

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Petrified Forest National Park

Photo Challenge: 1932 Studebaker

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Pipe Spring National Monument

Photo Challenge: Livestock

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:
8

Sunset Crater National Monument

Photo Challenge: Ponderosa Pine Tree

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Tumacacori National Historic Site

Photo Challenge: Kino Fruit Tree

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Tonto National Monument

Photo Challenge: Salado Pottery

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Saguaro National Park

Photo Challenge: Saguaro Ribs

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:
9

Tuzigoot National Monument

Photo Challenge: Prehistoric Doorway

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Photo Challenge: Pit House

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:

Wupatki National Monument

Photo Challenge: Blowhole

This site was protected because:

I learned:

Ranger signature:
10

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORY

 THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) PRESERVES 

 CULTURAL RESOURCES AND VALUES OF THE 

 EDUCATION, AND INSPIRATION OF THIS AND 

National parks have been called “America’s Best Idea.” It’s taken a lot of hard work 

to get that idea started and keep it going. Some say it started when the U.S. 

Congress and Presidents started protecting lands through parks and forest reserves 

in the late 1800s. In 1906, the Antiquities Act was signed by President Theodore 

Roosevelt, which gave the President the right to proclaim national monuments 

without congress, to preserve important historic or scientific sites. Two of the first four 

national monuments created are in Arizona! 

In fact, all three national parks in Arizona started out as national monuments, and 

were later converted by congress: Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, and Saguaro 

National Parks! Protecting all these places became challenging. In 1916 President 

Wilson signed the NPS Organic Act, creating the National Park Service. 

Along the way, the National Park Service changed how it preserves and protects 

these special places. For instance, in 1956 the Interstate Highway Act was signed 

and Mission 66 was started to get parks prepared for lots of new visitors. For the 

100th Birthday in 2016, the National Park Service focused on connecting kids to parks 

and new ways to preserve America’s treasures. The National Park Service now 

protects over 400 national parks, monuments, historic sites and memorials for the 

public to enjoy! 

Arizona statehood

NPS Organic Act
11

UNIMPAIRED THE NATURAL AND 

 NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM FOR THE ENJOYMENT, 

FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Finish the timeline about how these events in NPS history affected Arizona. Use 

clues from the story to match the event with the date, or ask a ranger for help! 

Write the number of the event next to the matching date on the timeline.

3. Grand Canyon is first protected as a forest reserve. Later it is 

protected as a national monument under the Antiquities Act.

1. Montezuma Castle National Monument and Petrified Forest National 

Park in Arizona are made two of the first four national monuments.

2. Three years after the NPS is founded Grand Canyon finally becomes a 

national park!

4. Arizona’s newest national monument, Grand-Canyon Parashant, was created!

5. To get ready for all the visitors that the new interstate roads would bring, 

over half of Arizona's National Park Service sites got brand new or 

remodeled visitor centers!

Something from your trip!

NPS Centennial

- NPS Organic Act
12

ARIZONA LANDSCAPES & GEOLOGY

Every landscape is shaped by forces of nature. Geologists are the scientists that study 

these Earth processes. In Arizona, there are three major types of landscapes formed by 

different forces of nature. Erosion is the force that removes 

earthen materials by water or wind. This is the final sculptor of 

the land. 

The Colorado Plateau has many canyons and flattopped mesas and buttes. Most of these formations are 

made of sedimentary rock and shaped by water erosion. 

Basin and Range forms when the landscapes are pulled 

apart by faults or breaks in the Earth’s crust. Imagine 

opening an accordion! Mountains (ranges) are pushed 

up and valleys (basins) fall down. In this complex 

landscape, you might find each of the three types of 

rock: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. 

Volcanic formations dot the Arizona landscape. The cooled, molten 

rock called igneous rock shows Arizona was fiery in the past. 

DRAW YOUR LANDSCAPE HERE

Reading the Landscape

Fill out this site report at an Arizona National Park Service location

Site Visited: Type of Landscape: 

Describe the natural forces that formed the landscape:

Volcanic :
FIRE BORN!

Igneous Rocks are 

formed by hot, 

molten rocks cooling 

and becoming solid 

again. Volcanoes 

are molten rock that 

came to the surface. 

Molten rock can also 

cool underground 

and be revealed by 

erosion. Examples of 

igneous rocks 

include basalt, 

granite, and 

rhyolite. 

UNDER PRESSURE!

Metamorphic Rocks are formed by 

mountains colliding or rocks piled 

up pushing down. This heat and 

pressure transforms the original 

rock into a new type of rock. 

Sometimes the rocks actually look 

twisted. Metamorphosis means to 

change from one thing into 

another. Examples of 

metamorphic 

rock include marble, 

gneiss, schist, 

and

quartzite. 

13

LAYER CAKE!

Sedimentary Rocks are 

formed by water, wind, and 

even living creatures, 

depositing layers of 

sediments like mud, sand, or 

calcium carbonate. Over 

time this hardens into rock. 

Today, sediments still build up 

on the bottom of the 

oceans, in swamps, on river 

beds, and in sand dunes. 

Examples of sedimentary 

rocks include sandstone, 

mudstone, shale, and 

limestone. 

Rock Identification 

Find a common type of rock at an Arizona National Park 

site. Remember to leave it where you found it, but take a 

picture for reference. Look for signs, a museum, or ask a park 

ranger for more information about the rock 

and fill out this site report.

What is the name of the rock formation it came from? 

Which of the three types of rock is it? (see below) 

Describe the rock. What color is it, how does it feel, etc.? 

Describe how and when it formed: 
14

ETHNOBOTONY

Different plant parts can be used for lots of different 

things. Did you know that people eat cacti? The study 

of how people use plants is called ethnobotany. See if 

you can find these plants on your travels. Try your hand at 

matching the plant and its human use below. 

Remember, some plants can be used for more than one thing!

Sunflower Yucca Saguaro Cactus Prickly Pear Cactus

Medicine Construction 

Materials

Colorful Dye

Fibers for Clothing, 

Shoes and Rope

Food

Creosote
15

Draw and Describe Your Plant 

Use this space to record a plant that you find in Arizona. Remember to draw 

all parts of the plant that you can see - leaves, stems, flowers, or fruit. Ask a 

ranger how the plant was, or still is, used and write that in your description.

Did You Know?

Many people keep journals just for the plants 

they encounter! They press leaves 

and flowers and write notes. 

Since we’re not allowed to 

collect plants in national parks, 

we can draw the parts of the 

plant, and record important 

information about it, 

including its uses.
16

FOOD LOG & CACTUS

People living in the American Southwest long ago farmed and ate 

corn, beans, and squash. It may surprise you to learn that their diet 

included wild native plants too! People gathered sunflower seeds, 

cactus fruit, cholla buds, mesquite beans ,and amaranth. Edible 

plants that grow here in the desert are called native foods. People also 

learned to farm wild plants like agave. Evidence suggests that desert dwellers had access 

to exotic foods from what is now known as Southern Mexico. Chocolate was a 

pre-contact trade item. When the Spanish arrived in the Americas, they liked chili peppers 

so much that they brought them north during their expeditions!

Look at the ingredients on the food you eat during your Arizona explorations. Try to find 

some foods first grown in North America. Log your findings below!

Date Place Food I Ate Native

Ingredients
17

Cinquian poems have 5 lines. 

Write your own about a desert plant using the 

guidelines below:

__________________________________________

Line 1. Title (noun) = 1 word

__________________________________________

Line 2. Description = 2 words

__________________________________________

Line 3. Action = 3 words

__________________________________________

Line 4. Feeling (phrase) = 4 or more words

__________________________________________

Line 5. Title (synonym for Line 1) = 1 word

Did You Know?

The Tohono O’odham people are believed to be 

descendants of the Hohokam culture. In the 

O’odham culture, the saguaro is a sacred plant 

to be given utmost respect. The calendar is 

based on the cycles of the saguaro, and 

includes ceremonies involving the saguaro and 

its fruits.
18

POLLINATOR PUZZLE & HABITATS

ACROSS

1. I am a really small bird. I have a 

long, narrow beak, and

I can fly backwards.

4. I am the only flying mammal 

and I help pollinate saguaro cacti!

6. My queen lives underground with a 

colony of thousands. You may see me and 

my brothers at your next picnic, but we also 

like to eat the sweet nectar of flowers. 

7. I am a small beetle with a red and black 

polka dot shield over my wings. I protect 

plants from harmful insects.

DOWN

2. I am a cousin of the butterfly. I also work 

the pollination night shift.

3. My beautiful, multicolored wings help me 

float from flower to flower.

5. I am not a bee, but I am yellow and have 

a stinger! I help produce sweet things, like 

figs.

8. I collect pollen on my black and yellow 

fuzzy body, and use it to make honey. Yum!

1 2 3

4

6

7 8

5
19

Draw your favorite Arizona animal in their natural habitat

As Junior Rangers, it’s our job to help Park Rangers 

protect natural habitats. Arizona is home to some of the 

most diverse habitats in the Southwest including deserts, 

pine forests, marshes, and grasslands. A heathy habitat 

should include everything that an animal needs to not 

only survive, but thrive. 

What are the things that you need to survive?

What is your favorite wild animal that lives in Arizona?

What kinds of things does your favorite animal need to live a healthy life?

What can you do to help Park Rangers protect natural habitats?
20

WHO ARE ARCHEOLOGISTS?

Archeologists are scientists who study people from the past 

based on the stuff they left behind, called artifacts. 

Some of the artifacts we find can be as small as an arrowhead, or 

as large as someone's house. Groups of people 

that made and used similar artifacts are called cultures. To learn more 

about a culture from the past, answer the questions below.

Name of Park:

Name of a prehistoric culture that once lived in 

or near this park (ask a ranger or find the name 

in a museum):

Find 4 artifacts that represent the culture and 

list them below. Draw your favorite one in the 

blank space to the right.

Your Favorite Artifact

BONUS QUESTIONS: What does the word prehistoric mean?

What does the word pre-contact mean?
21

Find the remains of a dwelling you like 

and draw how it looks today. 

Archeological sites protected by the National Park Service haven't always looked like 

they do today. Hundreds of years ago, these ancient structures once housed living 

communities. Some rooms may have been bedrooms keeping people warm in the 

winters at night, while others held dried vegetables and grain. Others 

hosted events, bridging communities together. Once people left the dwellings for 

various reasons, they started on the slow path back to nature. 

Now draw how you think that dwelling 

might have looked when families 

occupied it.

What do you think caused the dwellings to fall apart over time?
22

Archeology is important to gain the full story of the past. 

For example, many Native American cultures of the past left 

no written record of what happened that archeologists can 

understand. As a result, many stories that are told in national 

parks are incomplete and are only told from the perspective of one

group of people. The materials left behind by these groups and cultures give us a 

better idea of how people lived, survived bad times, and celebrated joys.

A historical archeologist does all the research that other archeologists do, but they also 

get to use materials like photos, journals, and letters to complete the story. U.S. soldiers 

wrote to their families while they were stationed at Fort Bowie National Historic Site. 

European Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries wrote about their ministry to local Native 

Americans while at Guevavi, a part of Tumacácori National Historical Park. Through 

studying ancient codices, historical archeologists discovered that the Aztecs were 

amazing mathematicians and had a very rich, complex religion.

HISTORICAL ARCHEOLOGY

Find a historic photograph in a museum or on a sign and answer the following 

questions.

What is your first impression of this photograph? What seems to be happening?

How would you describe the people? (age, clothing, facial expression, wealth)

Make a list of objects in the picture.
23

Archeologists do more than just look at old objects. They have to draw 

conclusions from those objects based on their context. 

Context refers to the geographic area and placement where an artifact 

was found. The surrounding objects can also give context. If artifacts 

are removed or damaged before an archeologist can study them, 

then that object is out of context. What remains can be misleading. 

Imagine your room 100 years from now. If someone came by and took all of your things 

except your books, an archeologist might think that your room was a library!

Think about the historic record (photograph) that you explored on the previous 

page. The objects, people, and color of the photograph give this historical record 

context. Let’s try to draw some conclusions from that context below.

When do you think this photo was taken?

Why do you think this photo was taken? Do you think the photographer had a 

message to share?

What does the picture tell you about the past?

What objects in the picture would survive over time?

How can you get more information about the photograph and the time

period in which it was taken?
24

SURFACE WATER & ADAPTIONS

Arizona is a dry place. Limited rainfall affects the amount and availability of water 

throughout the year. Water found on the surface of the earth is vital to plants, 

animals, and people. Fill in the blanks below to learn more!

year-round pools seasonal underground rivers snowmelt

Describe three types of surface water

Springs are found where water emerges from _____________. 

They may look like __________ or flowing streams. Some 

springs flow year-round. Others are dry for part of the year. 

Springs often provide the only nearby water source for 

animals and people. Streams are channels of water that 

flow __________. They may be small creeks, large 

__________, or something in between. Because 

streams contain water all the time, they are home 

to many animals, including fish, turtles, insects, 

and snails. The trees and other plants that grow in 

and next to streams provide a good habitat for 

birds and mammals. Washes are channels 

that are dry most of the year, but flow after 

rainstorms or ____________. Some washes have 

bedrock pools that store water after the rest 

of the wash has gone dry. Drought-tolerant 

trees are often found on the 

banks of washes. The __________ 

flow of water helps keep these 

plants alive. 
25

How do you adapt to the Arizona environment?

To avoid drying out, I spend most of the time in an 

underground burrow that I dig with my hind feet. After large 

monsoon storms, I emerge to lay eggs in temporary pools of 

water. The eggs hatch quickly, before the water dries up. 

During winter and the dry parts of summer, I hibernate in a 

burrow on a rocky hillside. My eggshells are hard so they do not 

dry out. I get much of my water from plants. After rainstorms, I 

drink from temporary pools and can store 40% of my weight in 

water.

I am mainly active during the night when temperatures are 

cooler. My large ears have many blood vessels that help me 

shed excess body heat. When water is not available, I eat cacti 

and other plants that store water.

My large stomach can store enough water to last me several 

days. To get enough water in winter, I lick the dew off plants. In 

summer, I eat cactus and cactus fruit. I can withstand high 

body temperatures, but also like to spend time in shade and 

caves.

Jack Rabbit

Big Horned Sheep

Desert Tortoise

Spade Foot Toad

Match the animal to its adaptations

National parks in Arizona include many different environments, from dry desert 

valleys up to temperate mountain ranges and streams. These habitats are home to a 

huge diversity of organisms. Over time, many plants and animals have 

developed special characteristics in response to their environment. These 

adaptations allow them to tolerate the hot climate and scarce water. 
26

ANCIENT LIFE IN ARIZONA

A fossil shows something was alive in the distant past. Scientists that 

study fossils are called Paleontologists. Paleontologist use this 

evidence to imagine what life was like long ago. Fossils can be 

shells, skeletons, and rock impressions left behind anywhere from 

thousands to billions of years ago. Fossils are either part of an organism

(a living thing) or some trace of an organism from past periods of geologic time. To 

be a fossil it has to be at least 10,000 years old! 

Circle the items below that you think are fossils:
27

Paleontologists have been able to break up the past into geological time periods by 

looking at the type of plants and animals that existed, the point when they went 

extinct, and when new life forms emerged. Life first began on earth with small 

organisms like bacteria about 3.7 billion years ago. Even though we know that 

dinosaurs were around a long time ago, they are not as old as plants and animals 

from the Paleozoic era or the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic Eons. 

CENOZOIC ERA: Age of the Mammals

TIME: 66 million years ago to Today 

ORGANISMS: Wooly Mammoths, First Hooved Animals, 

Grasses 

FIND ME AT: Montezuma Well (Montezuma Castle National Monument) 

My Fossil Journal: Many national parks and monuments have fossils. They come from a 

variety of organisms, times, and landscapes. Look in the museums or ask a park ranger if 

any fossils were found at the places you visit. Record your findings below.

National Park site :

What kind of organism does this fossil represent? 

What was the environment like when this fossil was preserved?

Which era do you think this fossil is from (put a check in the box)?

MESOZOIC ERA: Age of the Dinosoars

TIME: 252 million to 66 million years ago 

ORGANISMS: Dinosaurs, Mammals, Flowering Plants 

FIND ME AT: Petrified Forest National Park 

PALEOZOIC ERA: From Water to Land

TIME: 542 million to 252 million years ago 

ORGANISMS: Conifer Trees, Fish, Insects and so much more! 

FIND ME AT: Grand Canyon National Park 

HADEAN, ARCHEAN, and PROTOZOIC EONS: Life Begins

TIME: 4.6 billion to 542 million years ago 

ORGANISMS: Bacteria, Stromatolites, Algae

FIND ME AT: Tonto National Monument 
LEAVE NO TRACE

These suggestions will help you responsibly explore public lands. 

28

1 Month

2 Months

5 Years

20 years

200 years

500 years

Aluminum Can

Paper

Plastic Bottle

Cigarette Butt

Banana Peel

Plastic Bag

Thank 

You

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

Think back to your John Wesley Powell page. Is 

there anything that you forgot to pack for your 

journey?

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

As you walk or take a rest, look for designated 

trails, campgrounds, or picnic areas. 

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

Use garbage and recycle bins whenever 

possible. If there are no garbage cans around, 

pack it out of the park! Draw a line to match the 

amount of time you think each item takes to 

degrade.

4. Leave What You Find

Everything in a national park is special and 

protected. That means that everything should 

stay in the park. This includes flowers, leaves, and 

even rocks. Draw something special you 

discovered in a national park or monument that 

you want to everyone to be able to enjoy.

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

Human caused wildfires can be devastating to a 

park. In some places trained firefighters manage 

fires for ecological benefit. Before you light a 

campfire, ask a park ranger if there are any fire 

restrictions in effect.

6. Respect Wildlife

Sit quietly for five minutes and observe a bird or 

other animal in a park. Make sure you stay a safe 

distance and you are not disturbing the wildlife. 

What animal did you watch? 

What did you notice? 

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Try doing something nice for another visitor, like 

hold open a door or make room on the trail for 

passing hikers. It will make their day and you will 

feel good about it too!

© 1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org
CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU DID IT!

If you have completed your required activities, then you 

have earned an Arizona Junior Ranger Explorer patch! You 

are the next generation of park rangers, stewards, and visitors. 

We want to thank you for taking the time to get to know the 

beautiful, diverse, and adventurous state of Arizona. 

Do you have a cool picture, funny story, or an interesting fact 

to share from your travels? Use #AZJRExplorer on Facebook, 

Instagram, and Twitter. Your stories will been seen by park 

rangers and other Arizona Junior Ranger Explorers!

#AZJRExplorer
ARIZONA EXPLORER PLEDGE

From canyons, to mountains, 

and cacti,

I will leave it all just where they lie.

In nature’s beauty and 

history’s wonder,

I will stay safe from floods, and 

lightning and thunder.

In every park and monument 

adventure is near,

But on my trip, the mission is clear.

Preserve and protect, not to destroy,

So future Arizona Junior 

Explorers can enjoy.

SPONSORED BY:

& THE NATIONAL PARK

SERVICE SOUTHERN

ARIZONA OFFICE