There are over 400 National Park sites in the United States. These 

places include parks, battlefields, monuments, seashores, historic 

sites, and recreation areas. The National Park Service preserves and 

protects these places because they are important to our nation. 

The arrowhead is the symbol for the National Park Service. This

shape reminds us of the culture and history National Park sites 

protect. Each picture inside the arrowhead represents something 

that is protected in a National Park site.

Directions:

Look at the National Park Service

arrowhead at the top of the page.

Now look at the pictures and words on the right. 

Fill in the blanks with the word you think best 

describes what National Park Service sites protect.

The _____________________________represents the wildlife protected by the National Park Service.

The _____________________________represents the plants protected by the National Park Service.

The _____________________________represents the beautiful scenery protected by the National Park Service.

The _____________________________represents the water protected by the National Park Service.

The _____________________________represents our nation’s history protected by the National Park Service.

Lake

Mountain

Tree

The National Park Service

2

Arrowhead

Bison
Wilderness

Shhhhh...Listen...

Wilderness areas are places for plants and animals to 

live and grow wild. These wild places are set aside 

for people to visit without changing anything while 

they are there. Some sounds that are common at 

home, like music or a cell phone, seem out of place in 

the wilderness. Natural sounds are one of the most 

precious things found in wild places.

Directions:

Find a place to sit quietly in the park, maybe a 

safe place next to water or out on a trail. Cross off 

the sounds below that you hear. Fill in the middle 

square with another sound you hear. Did you get 

three in a row?

How do natural sounds make you feel?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

How do the human-made sounds make you feel?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Train People Bird Songs or Woodpeckers

Squirrel Sketch Another Thing You Hear Helicopter

Water Car Wind

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1. ___________________

___________________

2. ___________________

___________________

3. ___________________

___________________

4. ___________________

___________________

5. ___________________

___________________

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Leave No Trace

People who visit wild areas should not leave any 

signs that they were there. This allows the plants 

and animals to live naturally. It also lets other 

visitors experience what a wild place is like.

Directions:

Each of the visitors below is leaving an impact. 

Write what each person can do differently to 

leave no trace of their visit.
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Native Names

Directions:

Native American place names often describe the natural processes or characteristics 

of a place. The Salish, Pend d’Oreille, Kootenai, and Blackfeet peoples have had a 

presence in and around Glacier National Park for thousands of years. The Salish and 

Pend d’Oreille name for the Rocky Mountains is Xwc̓xwc̓ut. Use the code breaker 

below to find out what the Blackfeet and Kootenai names mean.

The Blackfeet name for this region is “Mistakiks,“ meaning:

The Kootenai name for the Glacier region is “Ya·qawiswit̓xuʾki,” meaning:

If you could choose a name that describes 

Glacier National Park, what would it be?

 _____________________________________

Code Breaker

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Native Names

After European settlers arrived, places were often

renamed for the newcomers who lived and worked here. 

Today, places with English translations of native names 

like Running Eagle, Dancing Place, Belly River, Chief 

Mountain, Two Medicine, and Rising Wolf tell the stories 

of the people who lived here and how these lands were used.

Directions:

Fill in the blank in each sentence with the English translation from 

the words highlighted above, and find the names in the word 

search. Words can be forward, backward, diagonal or upside down.

Bison (buffalo) were important to the Indian tribes. 

____________________________ is from the Blackfeet name 

referring to the digestive system of the buffalo.

A medicine lodge was erected on each side of a creek in 

honor of the Blackfeet Sun Dance. This valley is known as 

___________________________.

A waterfall that flows from Two Medicine Lakes through 

a cave is called _________________________ Falls. For the 

Blackfeet Nation, it is the place where warrior woman, 

Pitamakan, came for repeated spiritual guidance.

______________________________, a mountain in 

Two Medicine, is a translation from the Blackfeet 

name meaning “the way the wolf gets up.”

__________________________ is what the 

Kootenai Indians call the Lake McDonald 

area because it was a good place to 

dance. 

_____________is the name for the 

lone mountain in the northeast 

corner of the park. Even today, 

many tribes regard this as a 

holy place. All visitors need 

to be respectful of this 

area.

G N I C N A D D E R C D S

R E K N I S I R U R A D

P R I R E N D A N N U N T

E I S D I N K X N N C O

S I A A O G I M I W

A V I T W H P N E N T

G Y I N G L K G L G E

A Y U G T R E K P L

R H O B W O A E L E

T M E O O G A A D

E F L M N L G C

S E L E G E F E

I Y D H R I

H R I V C R

C I C L A

V I L S

E N E

R E

C

R

T I

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Habitats Are Homes

There are four major habitats in the park: ALPINE, FOREST, AQUATIC and GRASSLAND. You 

can see all four of these habitats as you drive through the park. To protect wildlife, it is 

important to also protect their habitat.

All living things need food, water, shelter, and space to survive in their habitat. If one of 

these is missing, animals have a harder time living in that place.

Directions:

Draw a line from each animal to the type of habitat it lives in.

Elk

Pocket Gopher

Bighorn Sheep

Loon

Pine Marten

Beaver

Woodpecker

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Pika
8

Animal Adaptations:

•	Snowshoe hares use camouflage to hide from predators. They are rusty brown in summer and white in

winter. In spring, it takes about ten weeks to make a complete color change from white to brown.

•	Bull trout grow best when the water temperature is 48-57o F. They thrive in streams kept cool all summer by

melting snowfields and glaciers.

•	Mountain goats have a thick coat that allows them to survive cold winter temperatures. They shed in spring

and a new coat begins to grow in July.

“Good thing my coat 

turned brown again this 

summer. If my coat was 

still white, predators 

would be able to spot 

me easily!” 

“The air temperature is 

nice and cool this summer. 

If it was much warmer, 

I would be too hot and 

uncomfortable in my thick 

coat!” 

“This mountain stream 

is a cool 50o F this

summer. If the water 

was hotter, I would not 

be able to survive!”

Up, Up and Away?

Rising temperatures and longer summers mean big 

changes for planet Earth. As the climate warms, 

some species must migrate north, or move higher 

up the mountains to find a cold habitat like the 

one they are used to. Species that can’t move must 

adapt to the new climate. Scientists have predicted 

that some species may not be able to adapt or 

migrate and may not survive.

Directions:

Imagine that you are 

a snowshoe hare, a 

mountain goat, or a bull 

trout in Glacier National Park. Write a paragraph 

about how your life might be different as summers 

become longer and hotter. Other effects of climate 

change include warmer water, snow melting earlier 

in spring, and smaller glaciers. 
Moving Through Glacier’s History

Directions:

People have traveled through Glacier for a long time. 

To see how they moved, look at the pictures and complete the rhymes.

9

One rail at a time the Great Northern was erected,

From St. Paul to Seattle, all was connected.

Now it moves cars full of people, lumber, and grain.

“All aboard!” There it goes, the conductor and the

.

Hundreds of years ago the Spanish brought it by boat,

With four legs and a tail, it’s not a deer or a goat,

You can ride it, but take heed, it moves with great force.

So saddle up partner! You’re riding a

.

.

The first Americans who lived in this great land,

Traveled through the mountains in tribal bands,

They could not avoid the heat or the sleet,

The only way to travel was on their two

Going-To-The-Sun Road took many years to build.

It was finished in 1932 by men who were quite skilled.

This vehicle tours the road carrying a whole bunch of us,

You ride a yellow one to school, on the Sun Road we ride a red

.

Waterton-Glacier is a well-loved resource,

People still visit by bus, train, and horse.

Some come from close and others from afar,

Many families arrive driving their very own

.

We understand now that all those cars emit gases,

As everyone’s driving themselves up the steep mountain passes.

Now we can share a ride and together we’ll huddle,

‘Cause as a team we all win

when we hop on the

.
Seattle

END

St. Paul

START

N

W E

S

NW NE

SW SE

Directions:

Find your way from east to west in the maze above.

There is only one pass for the railroad to travel through the mountains so choose wisely!

See America First

The Great Northern Railway changed the lives of 

many forever. The railroad used the saying “See 

America First” to convince the wealthy to spend their 

vacations exploring the American West instead of 

traveling to Europe. After Glacier National Park was 

established, the railroad 

company built hotels, chalets, and 

trails so that visitors could explore the 

park. Some of these historic buildings 

are still used today. For newcomers wanting 

easy access to the West, the railroad was an 

improvement that allowed many of them to stay 

here. For the native peoples already living here, the 

railroad meant more changes to the lifestyle their 

grandparents had followed.

10
Making Peace

Waterton-Glacier became the first International Peace Park 

in the world in 1932. Rotary clubs in Alberta and Montana 

led the movement to join Glacier National Park and 

Waterton Lakes National Park into an International Peace 

Park that symbolizes the longtime friendship between 

Canada and the United States.

Directions:

What does it mean to make peace? In each circle below 

there is an idea or action. Draw a peace symbol on the 

circles you think are peaceful.

What does peace mean to you? ________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Being greedy

Cooperating

Working to 

solve

problems

Doing things

you know are

wrong

Sharing

Crying &

yelling

Fighting with

your friends

Being helpful
Directions:

Label the flags below with 

the correct national name 

highlighted on the left. Draw a 

line to match each flag to the 

national park or reservation it 

represents.

12

Four Nations Working Together

The water, plants, animals and history of Glacier National Park are 

shared by peoples of four nations: the United States, the Flathead 

Nation, the Blackfeet Nation, and Canada. The nations work together 

to protect their history in Glacier and these shared natural resources.

Glacier National Park Blackfeet

Indian

Reservation

Flathead

Indian

Reservation

Waterton

Lakes

Nat’l. Park
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Disappearing Glaciers

Glaciers are rivers of ice that move very slowly. Scientists 

have been studying glaciers in the park for over 100 

years. In that time, human activity has caused the Earth’s 

temperature to rise and the glaciers to shrink. Many 

of the glaciers have already disappeared. Scientists are 

measuring the size of the others as they melt.

Shepard Glacier in 1913 Shepard Glacier today

13

Is the glacier getting bigger or smaller?

How many years have passed since 1913?

Bonus: Scientists predict that before 2030 there will be no more glaciers 

in Glacier National Park. How old will you be in the year 2030?

Directions:

Connect the dots to see what 

Shepard Glacier, one of the 25 

glaciers left in the park, looked 

like 100 years ago and what it 

looks like today.
“U” shaped valleys - these valleys were shaped by glaciers as they moved 

 through the mountains. Hint: any big lake valley.

Striped layers of rock - the mountains are made of layers of different colored rock. It looks 

like a stack of books from the side. Hint: Keep your eyes open on Going-to-the-Sun Road.

 Bright blue-green water - when glaciers crush rocks, the rock dust called glacial 

flour is carried into the lakes. The light hitting the dust in the water gives the 

lake its color. 

Geology Hunt

Geologists are scientists who study rocks to learn the stories of the Earth. But 

geologists don’t just study the past. Today they are studying the glaciers in the 

park to make predictions about future changes to the Earth’s climate.

Directions:

As you travel through the park, see how many pieces of geologic evidence you can identify. Check the box 

when you find one and write down where you saw it.

How many did you find?

1 or 2 Rookie geologist! Keep looking around.

3 or 4 Good! Study up on the ones you don’t know.

5 to 6 Keep it up! Maybe someday you will 

 be a geologist.

14

Different colored rocks - red, green, blue, yellow. Which ones can you find?

Smooth/rough rocks - look for smooth rocks in the streams. They 

 have been weathered (made smaller) and eroded (moved) by the water.

Horns - look up at the peaks of the mountains. Do any mountains get

 narrow at the top? These rock pyramids were shaped by glaciers.
Wise About Wildlife

Glacier National Park is home to a lot of different kinds of animals. Many 

people come to national parks hoping to see wildlife, but it is important 

to remember that these animals are wild. They need plenty of space and 

a healthy habitat where they can find their own food. We need to be 

respectful of the animals and their needs while visiting the park. This is their 

home. We are the visitors.

Directions:

Circle the highlighted words that best complete the following sentences. 

If an animal changes its behavior because of your presence, you are too close / goofy looking / smelly.

In a national park it is never / always / sometimes okay to feed human food to wild animals.

Bears look under rocks in hopes of finding potato chips / insects / peanuts to eat. 

When you’re hiking in bear country, you should hike quietly / make noise / wear perfume to warn bears that 

you are entering their space.

At night, park rangers care for the animals by putting them back into their cages / feeding them / leaving 

them alone.

The place where an animal lives is called its habitat / house / bachelor pad.

The best thing we can do to help wild animals survive is 

teach them to dance / protect their habitat / take them to dinner.

15
Living Lightly

Our daily lives are busy and hectic. Sometimes it is easy 

to forget that the choices we make affect the planet 

we live on. Each of us has the power to make choices 

that will minimize our human impact on the Earth and 

reduce the effects of climate change. The puzzle below 

contains ideas for things that each of us can do to live 

lightly on the Earth. Can you think of more?

Directions:

Solve the clues to complete the crossword puzzle.

Across: 

1. Take reusable tote _______________ to 

the store to carry the items that you 

buy.

2. The process by which used materials 

are made into new products.

3. Plant a tree! Living plants take in

 __________________ and exhale oxygen.

4. Conserve water by turning ____________the 

faucet while you brush your teeth.

5. ____________________ electronic devices when not in use so that they 

do not continue to draw power from the outlet.

6. By swapping incandescent light bulbs for ____________________ light bulbs, you 

can reduce the amount of energy you use to light a room.

7. To get better gas mileage, make sure your tires are properly _______________.

8. When you ride your ____________________ you generate the power to make it move by pedaling.

9. Turn this up a few degrees in the summer and down a few degrees in the winter to save energy and 

reduce heating costs.

10. Buying food and other products that are produced ____________________ reduces energy consumption by 

limiting the need for transportation.

Down:

11. Type of gases in the atmosphere that trap heat.

12. When you share a ride with your friends, you’ll enjoy their company and save gas. This way to travel is 

called ____________________ .

13. Avoid buying items with additional ____________________ like plastic and paper wrappers that will end 

up in the trash.

14. Solar and wind-generated power are two examples of ____________________ energy.

15. Reduce, ____________________ , recycle!

16. Fuel efficiency is measured in ____________________ per gallon.

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Attend a Ranger-led Program

During your visit you’ll see park rangers doing many different things to help keep Glacier a clean, safe, and 

fun place to visit. You may see rangers on trails, in visitor centers, at campgrounds, or along roadways. 

In the summer rangers lead guided hikes, give evening programs, and offer other activities to help visitors 

enjoy the park. After you attend one of these programs, have the ranger sign this page.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Park Ranger Signature Program Name and Date

OR...

Talk to a Ranger

If you are not able to attend a program, you can still become a Junior Ranger by finding someone in a 

National Park Service uniform and politely asking them if they have time to chat for a moment. You can tell 

it’s a National Park Service uniform by the arrowhead patch on the shoulder. Tell the ranger your favorite 

thing about Glacier. Rangers love to hear about the fun things you have seen in the park. After your talk, ask 

them to sign this page.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Park Ranger Signature Date

17