Is certified an official Junior Park Ranger at

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Junior Ranger Code

As a Junior Ranger, I promise to:

Explore other National Parks,

Obey all safety rules.

Leave plants, animals, and historic objects in the park.

Help keep National Parks clean, safe, and beautiful for everyone.

Take pride in National Parks.

Signature, Junior Park Ranger

Signature, National Park Ranger

Stamp the National

Passport stamp here.

Junior Ranger Program

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Strong City, Kansas
2 15

The answers to these questions will be found in the orientation video, on

signs posted around the preserve, on guided tours, or by discussing with an

adult. By answering these questions, you will learn about the important

resources we must all work together to protect. If you have any questions,

Park Rangers or Volunteers will be happy to help you.

After you have completed your portion of the booklet, bring it to the

National Park Rangers who will sign your booklet and present you with

your Junior Ranger badge.

As a Junior Ranger, it is your responsibility to help protect and preserve

the natural and cultural resources not only of Tallgrass Prairie National

Preserve, but of any National Park Service area in the country.

Junior Ranger Program Part 11: Draw a picture of something that you saw at

the preserve today that you want to remember. Be sure

to tell your friends about the great time you and your

family had today at the preserve. Come see us again!

As you leave Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, we hope you take

with you the lessons you have learned. Remember the importance of

protecting our environment, so that your children and their children

will also have these same opportunities. Tell a friend what you have

learned, and you too, will make a difference.

The National Park Service is looking for special

Junior Rangers. In order to earn a Junior Ranger

badge from Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve,

you must try your best to complete the following

activities.

Ages 4 - 6 years, complete parts 2 - 4, and 11.

(An adult should read the instructions to the child.)

Ages 7 - 9 years, complete parts 1 - 4, 8, 9, and 11.

Ages 10 and above, complete all parts.

To preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of

the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of

this, and future generations. The National Park System cooperates with

partners for conservation and outdoor recreation throughout the country

and the world.
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Ask a Park Ranger

Part 1: Ask a Park Ranger the following questions

and write down the answers. Then have the Ranger

initial the space beneath.

What happened to most of the tallgrass prairie in

North America?

__________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

What does Kansa mean?

___________________________________________________________

_________________________________________

How much land is here at Tallgrass Prairie National

Preserve? ______________________acres

What kinds of animals may be found here at the

preserve?

____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Ranger's Initials:_____________

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What is the most important thing about tallgrass

prairie to you?

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Part 10: Essay
4

 Part 2: Complete the dot-to-dot to see who once

 roamed the prairie.

13

Part 9: History Buff and Trivia

3. What musical instrument did Lutie play?___________

1. How many levels or floors does the

Spring Hill Ranch house have?________

2. What room does the tunnel lead to?

_____________________

4. How many floors does

the barn have?__________

5. How did the horses

get the hay up to the top

floor of the barn?

_____________________

_____________________

6. Name a piece of farm equipment that can be found in the

barn?

________________________________________________

8. What year was the schoolhouse completed?_______________

7. What was the equipment used for?_____________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Hint: “Oh Give Me a Home,

 Where the ______Roam,

 Where the Deer and the Antelope Play....”

________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
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Part 8: Ranch Math

1. How many years

have come and gone

since Mr. and Mrs.

Jones completed the

building of their

eleven room home?

2. How many years did Mr. and Mrs. Jones actually

live in their limestone home?

Stephen and Louisa Jones’ Home

Nature Culture

Kansas Park TRUST

OSAGE Nation

PEOPLE of the Southwind

Spring Hill RANCH

JUNIOR RANGER

Lower Fox Creek SCHOOL

National Park SERVICE

PARK RANGER

COWBOY

BARN

FARM

INDIAN

Stephen F. JONES

FENCE

HOUSE

TIN ROOF

Big BLUESTEM

BISON

TALLGRASS Prairie

PRAIRIE

FLINT Hills

LIMESTONE

American ELM

Wild INDIGO

Prairie FIRE

COW

HORSE

RAIN

SPRING

SOIL

Part 3: Find the words in bold print.

20_ _

-1881

Years

(this year)

1886

-1881

Years

5
6

Part 4: The land which is now Tallgrass Prairie

National Preserve has been used by humans for

around 10,000 years.

Draw a box around the items below that

American Indians would have used.

Draw a circle around things Stephen Jones and

his family would have used.

Draw an X through the items that neither would

have used.

GREAT JOB!!!

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8. Name three wild animals that still live on the prairie.

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

9. What percent of American tallgrass prairie still remains?

Less than___________% (hint: a number between 3 & 5)

10. The tallgrass ______________ attracted Stephen

Jones and other cattlemen to the Flint Hills.

11. The house, barn,fences and some of the other buildings

are made from what type of stone?

___________________________________________________________

12. What did Mr. and Mrs. Jones name their ranch?

S__ __ __ __ __ H__ __ __ R__ __ __ __

13. Why did they name it that?

_______________________________________________

14. What was the name of the school where Lutie went to

school? (three words)

L__________________F______________C_______________________

15. How was school at the Lower Fox Creek School

different from your school?
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Part 7: Complete the following questions to the best of

your ability.

1. The N__ __ __ __ __ __ __ P__ __ __ S__ __ __ __ __ __

and the N__ __ __ __ __ C __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

have a partnership to manage the Tallgrass Prairie National

Preserve.

2. What are the four common tall native warm season grasses

found here at the preserve?

1)____________________________________

2)____________________________________

3)____________________________________

4)____________________________________

3. How tall can big bluestem grass grow?__________feet

4. How can nature start prairie fires? (hint: Goes with thunder)

______________________________________________

5. What was the name that the American Indians gave to the

prairie fire?

_____________________________________________________

6. Name two of the four American Indian tribes that used this

area of prairie as home or as their hunting grounds.

__________________________________________________________________________

7. What large wild animals were seen in herds on the plains many

years ago? (hint: They are big and brown, have horns, and wear

beards.)

______________________________________________________________ 7

Part 5: Pioneer Diaries Word Puzzle

The tallgrass prairie spread as far north as Canada

and as far south as Mexico. Pioneers wrote in their

diaries and journals about the many wonders of their

travels as they crossed this wide expanse of prairie.

It was a view that many had never experienced

before. One of the common subjects among the

pioneers was the height of the tallgrass prairie and

the obstacles it created. It was often written that:

Use the Key to Decode the Sentence Below

1=A

2=E

3=O

4=T

5=H

6=G

7=R

8=S

9=W

10=L

11=D

12=N

 4 5 2 6 7 1 8 8 6 7 2 9

1 8 4 1 10 10

“

1 8 4 5 2

”

8 1 11 11 10 2 5 3 7 12
8

DOWN

Part 6: Crossword Puzzle Questions

ACROSS

1. What did Mr. Jones name his

ranch? _____ ____(2 words)

2. Name the type of grass that

can grow up to 8 feet tall by

the end of summer.

4. One of the preserve’s main

themes is to educate people

about the _______heritage.

5. Mr. Jones had several of

these. (A group of fruit trees.)

__________________

6. A type of tree found in

Mr. Jones’ orchards. ________

7. Mr. Jones married ________

Barber. (Lutie was named

after her.)

8. Another name for Bluestem

grass. It is also named for the

type of bird you may find in the

Bottomland Trail area.

9. Big Bluestems’s younger

brother, _____Bluestem.

10. Name the American Indian

tribe that was most prevalent in

this area. This nation also is

 nicknamed the “People of the

South Wind.” _____________

What state are you in right now?

1. Mr. Jones’ first name.

2. Name the trail that is south

of the ranch headquarters.

3. Mr. Jones put a _______ on

the top of the barn. (hint: A

type of metal roof and two

words.)

4. Name the walking trail that

is between the ranch house and

the Lower Fox Creek School.

GREAT JOB!!!

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2 3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

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Part 6 - continued: Fill in the following Crossword Puzzle