César E. Chávez 

National Monument

Junior Ranger Booklet

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

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Become a Junior Ranger!

Junior Rangers explore, learn, and protect our national parks. Earn a 

Junior Ranger badge and certificate by completing activities in this booklet. 

Do your best and have fun! Here’s what you need to do: 

Ages 4-6

Complete three activities with the Picket Sign 

symbol on the top of the page.

Ages 7-9

Complete four activities with the Eagle symbol 

on the top of the page.

Ages 10 and up

Complete five activities with the Ranger Hat 

symbol on the top of the page.

Start exploring the visitor center to learn about the life of César Chávez 

and the United Farm Workers. When you are finished, give your booklet 

to the person at the front desk. 

 ¡Bienvenidos! Welcome!

César E. Chávez National Monument is a special place where César 

Chávez lived and worked. As a Junior Ranger, you will learn about his life, 

achievements, and how he made a difference for farm workers in America.

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¡Huelga! Time to Strike! 

Do you see the word “Huelga” written on the wall inside of the visitor center? 

In Spanish, it means to strike. When someone is on strike, they stop working to 

let people know that they want something to change at work. 

In 1965, César Chávez and grape farm workers went on strike because they did 

not think it was fair to work without restrooms or clean water to drink. They 

also wanted farm owners to pay them better wages so that they had enough 

money to buy food.

Here are some ways people can make changes. 

Draw a line to match the picture with the correct description? 

Join a union

(an organization 

for protecting 

workers’ rights) 

Go on strike– 

stop working 

so you can 

demand changes. 

Write a letter

to Congress 

to express 

your concerns. 

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Living in the Footsteps

of Farm Workers 

If you were a farm worker living and working on a grape farm in 1965, 

you might live in a house on a farm similar to the one you see in the visitor 

center. Can you find it? Take a walk inside the house. Can you imagine that 

up to eight people lived in a house this size? Sometimes more than one family 

lived in these small houses. Many of these rented homes did not have a kitchen, 

a toilet, running water, or electricity. 

List or draw 3 items in your house that the farm workers 

didn’t have. Could you live without these items? Why not?

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school California Yuma strikes grape boycott

30 improve fields Navy workers

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Who is César Chávez?

Fill in the blanks using the words below to learn about his life.

César Chávez was born near , Arizona on March 31, 1927. 

He had three sisters and two brothers and lived on his parent’s farm. In 1938 

when César Chávez was 11 years old, his family moved to .

They moved from farm to farm, working in the . Each time 

the Chávez family moved, César Chávez had to enroll in another school. He 

attended more than schools in five years. At age 15, he quit _ 

and worked in the fields to earn some money to help support his family and 

continued to do so for several years. 

In 1946, he joined the United States and served for two 

years. When he returned, he married Helen Fabela and had eight children 

with her. César Chávez returned to work in the fields and when he was 25 

years old, he decided he wanted to the working conditions of 

Latinos in poor communities where they lived.

In 1962, he worked with many farm to bring farm workers 

together to fight for better working conditions and fair wages. He founded the 

National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later changed its name to 

the United Farm Workers (UFW) union in 1966. He dedicated his life to not only 

improving the working conditions for farm workers through nonviolent 

 and a , but to teach others to respect them. 
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Who’s Your Hero?

Does someone inspire you to be a better person? They might be your hero!

César Chávez looked up to Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi because 

they never used violence in fighting for what they believed in. César Chávez 

followed in their footsteps and led nonviolent strikes and boycotts. Librado 

and Juana, César Chávez‘s parents, were also his heroes. They taught him the 

importance of working hard and caring for other people. 

Draw your hero:

Why is this person your hero?

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Mahatma Gandhi
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START

Delano

END

Sacramento

Victory for Farm Workers 

César Chávez, women such as Dolores Huerta, and Filipino and Latino farm 

workers went on strike in 1965 for five years because Delano farm owners cut 

their pay. All across the United States and Canada, César Chávez and the United 

Farm Workers asked people in big cities and small towns to boycott table grapes 

to support the farm workers’ cause. 

Protestors marched for 300 miles from Delano to the state Capitol in Sacramento 

in 1966 to gain more support from the governor, Californians, and the nation. 

Their hard work paid off in 1970, when the first union contracts were signed 

between table grape farmers and the United Farm Workers. It was a big victory 

because these union contracts would make life better for the farm workers.

Find your way through the maze of streets and highways from 

Delano to Sacramento.

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A Peaceful Community 

César Chávez National Monument is also known as La Paz, which means a place 

of peace. It was also the national headquarters for the United Farm Workers and 

where César Chávez lived since 1971 and worked for over 20 years. 

Established by César Chávez and the United Farm Workers, La Paz was once a 

community full of life. Over 250 people lived at La Paz from 1971 through the 

1980s. Just like any other community, there were homes, offices, a school, a fire 

station, and a community center. There were many celebrations at La Paz, too! 

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Word Search:

Hospital

Church

School

Houses

Post Office

Community Center

Fire Station

Park

Gas Station

Bank

Q C H U R C H P S V C A C E K

U D R O C D I O E G O K F A Y

C Y G U S H A F C P M S I H S

E T H S O P A R K R M H R E O

G S R J K I I H R U U J E F J

P C Y P T L C T A G N R S R A

V H O U S E S Y A Y I S T S V

E O H S R G P S V L T V A G Y

Y O S K A F S H S T Y H T I B

U L D P C T B K E O C E I J B

A E J B A N K T H G E U O F G

O B C T P K T A V B N G N C U

E M I E P X G K E F T C V J A

P O S T O F F I C E E P A G U

N Z A D B S A B G B R N H D P
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Honored for Helping 

César Chávez was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 because he 

was a great supporter for nonviolent change and brought dignity to the life of 

so many people. The Medal is the highest award a person can receive from the 

President of the United States. 

Besides this award, there are many schools, parks, streets, and buildings named 

after him. He will always be remembered and honored for his commitment to 

helping farm workers. 

Can you find the Medal of Freedom in César Chávez’ office? 

Connect the dots to see the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

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Where Did he Work?

Find César Chávez’s office in the visitor center! The office looks exactly the way 

he left it when he worked here. Listen to the audio recordings to learn more 

about him and the different objects found in his office. 

ACROSS

4. César Chávez’ _____________ is preserved exactly as it looked liked on the 

day he left it in April 1993. 

6. There are at least nine _______________ displayed in his office, including the 

Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

9. The ______________________ was a tool that farm workers used in the fields. 

10. César Chávez loved to listen to _________________.

DOWN

1. The image of the _______________ is seen at least four times in the office. 

2. César Chávez’ two pet ___________ were named Huelga and Boycott. 

3. _______________ is found on top of his desk as he really enjoyed drinking it. 

5. Saint _______________ respects all living creatures. 

7. The image of the ________________ is seen many times in the office, and 

stands for love and compassion. 

8. César Chávez enjoyed learning through _______________. 

Fill in the crossword puzzle using the words and clues below. 

short-handled hoe awards music Francis Ban Cha tea

Virgin of Guadalupe office dogs books eagle
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Surrounded by Nature

Walk outside and listen to the birds. These were some of the many animals that 

César Chávez enjoyed being surrounded by at La Paz. His most favorite animals 

were his two pet dogs named Huelga and Boycott. César Chávez loved animals 

so much that he stopped eating meat and was a vegetarian for 25 years. 

La Paz also has many beautiful plants such as the native oak trees and 

wildflowers. César Chávez also liked the desert plants found in Yuma, Arizona, 

where he lived as a young child. 

Take a walk outside in the garden next to the visitor center and complete the 

activity on the next page. 
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Time for a scavenger hunt! Look for the items in the boxes below 

and draw each item you find. Can you find at least 5?

Grape Vines Ocotillo Western Fence Lizard Squirrel

Hawk Purple Prickly Pear Bee Snake

Turkey Vulture Cottontail Rabbit Roses Oak Tree
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Prayer of the Farm Workers’ Struggle 

César Chávez wrote this prayer that gave strength to him and others 

to stay strong as they fought together for what they believed in:

Show me the suffering of the most miserable; 

so I will know my people’s plight.

Free me to pray for others; 

for you are present in every person.

Help me take responsibility for my own life; 

so that I can be free at last.

Grant me courage to serve others; 

for in service there is true life.

Give me honesty and patience; 

so that I can work with other workers.

Bring forth song and celebration; 

so that the Spirit will be alive among us.

Let the Spirit flourish and grow;

so that we will never tire of the struggle.

Let us remember those who have died for justice; 

for they have given us life.

Help us love even those who hate us; 

so we can change the world.

Amen.

What does it mean to you?
Certificate of Achievement

recognizing 

as a Junior Ranger at 

César E. Chávez National Monument

Park Staff Date

Sí Se Puede®

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As a Junior Ranger, you are joining a group of stewards that protect 

these places for future generations. Visit other national parks and 

continue to explore, protect, and learn about America’s rich heritage. 

There are over 400 National Parks Service sites across the country. 

Visit them and earn more Junior Ranger badges!

National Park Service

César E. Chávez National Monument

29700 Woodford – Tehachapi Rd

Keene, CA 93531

Ph: 661-823-6134

www.nps.gov/cech

Written and Designed by Park Rangers from Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

The United Farm Worker’s Eagle and Si Se Puede trademarks are used with permission of the United Farm 

Workers. 

Designed 3/2015

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