Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Junior Ranger
Guide

Hi! My name is:

Date:
 What is a Junior Ranger?
J unior Rangers are important to the National Park Service. Junior Rangers who visit
national park sites help the Park Rangers keep it clean and safe for people, plants,
and wildlife. Junior Rangers also learn about the plants, animals and history of the parks
they visit.
Becoming a Junior Ranger
Follow the instructions below to make new discoveries and become a
Junior Ranger!

• Read pages 3 and 4

• Do any 4 activities in the guide according to the suggested age chart below.
• When you finish, give your guide to one of the rangers in the Kris Eggle Visitor Center.
They will give you the Junior Ranger badge, patch, and certificate that you’ve earned.
• The activities are rated from rough to roughest, the more you do, the wiser Junior
Ranger you will be!
• There will be a picture on the corner or each page to represent the level of the activity.

Rough activities = A cholla

Suggested ages 5 - 7

Rougher activities = A saguaro

Suggested ages 8 - 9

Roughest activities = An organ pipe

Suggested ages 10 - 12

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 Discover Organ Pipe Cactus
National Monument
At first glance Organ Pipe Cactus National understanding change in the Sonoran Desert and
Monument, in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, showcases one of the world’s most unique and
may appear to be empty terrain. But with a little recognizable landscapes.
patience you will discover that its washes and A common saying about the Sonoran
mountains are teeming with wildlife and unusual Desert is that patience is rewarded. The Tohono
plants. The scenery is cast in varying shades of O’odham, Native Americans who have lived on
green. High in the mountains large mesquite and this land for many centuries, are a very patient
cedar trees grow in sheltered areas. Lower on people. They have learned the ways of the desert
the slopes and in the basins saguaro cactus thrive and survive by living within its essence. Today the
alongside organ pipe, prickly pear and cholla cacti. Tohono O’odham live in communities next to the
Set aside in 1937 to protect the monument and still return to participate in ancient
northernmost habitat of the organ pipe cactus, ceremonies and to gather traditional foods.
the monument also protects habitat for the Crystal clear night skies can be
endangered Sonoran pronghorn, lesser long nosed mesmerizing. So many stars are visible that it may
bat and Sonoran Desert pupfish. More common be difficult to focus on any single one or even
species include Sonoran Desert tortoise, collared pick out a constellation. After a blazing orange
peccary (javelina), kit fox, deer, bobcat and cougar. sunset, they appear one by one, then suddenly
A healthy population of reptiles like seem to explode into view almost like magic. With
rattlesnakes, Gila monsters and lizards may be nights like those at Organ Pipe Cactus, is it any
found among the rocks and shrubs. During spring wonder why many of our ancient myths were first
and autumn migrations, a myriad of bird species imagined in the heavens?
passes through Organ Pipe Cactus, transforming When a breeze blows through an organ
the monument into a birder’s paradise. pipe cactus, the needles hum and the pitch
Rainfall, more than time of year, determines changes in tune with the speed of the air. As the
the seasons at Organ Pipe Cactus and makes wind plays across the desert, an evening concert of
the Sonoran Desert one of the greenest and quiet sounds evokes a peaceful symphony.
most diverse deserts in the world. The Sonoran There is no better place on Earth than
Desert has five seasons instead of four - summer Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to see and
drought, summer monsoon, fall, winter, and feel life at the edges and by doing so, perhaps
spring. Two rainy seasons - summer monsoon and learn a little more about ourselves.
winter - help many plants survive.
With over 90% of its area designated
as wilderness, the monument offers many
opportunities to observe nature in an unfettered
state. From the high points classic “basin and
range” geology is easily seen.
As an International Biosphere Reserve,
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument along with
the related reserves of Pinacate and Alta Golfo in
Mexico, serves as a benchmark for monitoring and
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 Safety First!
Take 5 Hints From the Desert...

1. Saguaro cactus have shallow roots to

drink as much rain water as possible.
You don’t have roots, so you need to
drink more often, even when you’re not
thirsty! Carry plenty of drinking water
on short and long hikes and on car rides.
( Drink a gallon of water per day when in
the desert.)

2. Creosote plants protect themselves with

a wax-like coating on their green leaves.
You need to apply your own coating: sun-
screen and a hat!

3. How would you like a nice plate of grass,

leaves, cactus, grubs, beetles, and deer
fur to eat? Animal food is not good for
you, and people food is not good for
them! Do not feed the animals.

4. Animals use the trail too. Please watch

your step! Look out for cactus too. Give
them plenty of room because they “bite”
more often than insects! If a cactus gets
stuck on you, use tweezers or a comb to
get if off.

5. Quail stay in groups for protection. If

you get lost from your group, stay in one
spot and wait for help.

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 Junior Ranger
Safety Quiz
Circle the correct answer to each question.

1. When should you drink water when you are in the desert?
A. Only when hiking
B. Often when hiking or driving
C. Only when you are thirsty
2. Is it OK to feed the wildlife?
A. Yes
B. No, it is never OK to feed wildlife
3. What should you do if a cholla cactus piece gets stuck on you?
A. Pull it off with your fingers
B. Use a friend’s glove to rub it off
C. Use a comb to flick it off
4. If you accidently get separated from your group, you should:
A. Stay where you are and wait for help
B. Try to find your way back to the trailhead

Secret Junior Ranger Message:

Unscramble the words to reveal the secret message. Write your answer on
the lines.
“keaT nitoghn tbu pticesur,

vLeae gthinon tub ntstofipor,

Klil hgnoint ubt meti.”

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 Get a Feel
For It!
Visit the Touch Table in the Kris Eggle Visitor Center.

Naturalists record everything about plants and animals they find. This helps them learn
about and remember the plants and animals. They record things like how something
feels, how it smells, and what it looks like.
Feel the items on the touch table. Pick 3 that interest you and record:
A. How they feel:
1.
2.
3.
B. What they look like:
1.
2.
3.
C. What you think it is:
1.
2.
3.
Now read the card with the matching number that is on the item.
What is the item?
1.
2.
3.

Were you right?

If you want to learn more feel all of the items and read all of the cards...
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 Take a Hike!
At the Kris Eggle Visitor Center ask about the hikes at the monument.
Pick a hike to go on with an adult. As you hike, stop at landmarks and
map out your trail route below (drink some water too). Include land-
marks (buildings, intersections, fascinating cacti, or other plants, wildlife,
etc.) so you can use this map to find your trail in the future. Create your
own Legend (symbols). Legend
Trails
Roads

During your hike, stop in a quiet area and stand very still for 3 minutes. Answer the following:
A. Name 3 things you hear:
1.
2.
3.
B. Name 3 things you see:
1.
2.
3.
C. Name something you smell:
1.
D. What was the most interesting thing you saw on your hike?
E. How is this place different from where you live? My home in has
but does not have , like the desert.
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 Connect the Dots
The lesser long-nosed bat is an endangered species that feeds on the pollen (a powder
found in flowers) and fruit of the organ pipe cactus. The bat spreads the seeds from the
organ pipe fruit and flowers so new plants can grow. The cactus and the bat need each
other to survive. Below is a real picture of the lesser long-nosed bat.
Connect the dots below to finish the picture of the bat. You may color the picture
too.

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 Bingo
Sometimes you have to scout around for signs of animal life in the desert. Sometimes you
have to sit quietly and wait for an animal to come out of hiding. And sometimes you just
have to look extra carefully to see something you may have missed.

As you travel through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument keep an eye out
for any of the items below. Make an X through any you see. Get 4 in a row up,
down, across, or diagonally and you have BINGO!

Organ Pipe Cactus Feather Cholla NPS Arrowhead

Lizard Animal Hole Nurse Tree Cactus Skeleton

Raven Nest in a saguaro Saguaro Agave

Butterfly Rabbit Ajo Mountain Arch Prickly Pear Cactus

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 Look for Rare
Animals
While in the desert you might get the pleasure of seeing some rare animals. Pupfish, lesser long-nosed
bat, and the Sonoran pronghorn are endangered species that can be found in the monument. An
endangered species is an animal or plant that could become extinct (never to be seen again). The desert
tortoise, which also lives in the monument, is threatened. This means it is possible that it may become
endangered in the future.
Circle the pictures of the endangered or threatened animals that are found at
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

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 Be an Explorer
Many explorers kept journals with notes on what they saw, heard, and how places made
them feel. Some of their journals were made into famous books!
Take a hike on the Kris Eggle Visitor Center Nature Trail. Circle things you see
along the way.

Stop when you get to the organ pipe cactus that has a sign.
Listen, what do you hear?

What do you see?

How does this spot make you feel?

If your nature journal is published what will the title be?

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 Who am I?
Can you solve the riddles? Write the name of the animal to solve the riddle.

Bobcat
1. I build a football sized nest in cholla cactus.
2. My song sounds like an old car just starting up.
3. I am the state bird of Arizona.
I am a:

1. I am an omnivore; I eat meat and vegetables.

2. I live in underground dens or between roots of large trees. I can live in
almost any state.
3. You can hear my friends and me howling at night. Lizard
I am a:

1. I am a reptile who runs very fast.

2. I eat insects.
3. My tracks in the sand would tell you that I have long tail. Rattlesnake
I am a:

1. I am not seen very often because I am shy.

2. My coat is reddish brown with black stripes and spots. Quail
3. I am a small-sized cat with a short tail and pointed ears.
I am a:

1. I have 4 toes on my front feet and 3 on my back.

2. I eat cactus pads, spines and all! Javelina
3. Many people mistake me for a pig, Rabbit
I am a:

1. I have 4 toes on each foot, 2 point forward and 2 point backward.

2. I like to be around other families of my species.
3. I have a beautiful black topknot on my head.
I am a:
Cactus Wren
1. If you’re smart, you’ll never stick your hand beneath a rock or ledge in
these parts. That is where I often sleep on hot days.
2. I can swallow my meals whole.
3. I make a warning sound with my tail.
Coyote
I am a:

1. During the heat of the day I stay in an underground burrow.

2. I come out in early morning and late afternoon hours to nibble on plants.
3. My long ears are not just for listening; they also help me stay cool.
I am a:
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 One Man’s Trash is
Another Rat’s Treasure
Packrats (white throated woodrats) often build their nest or middens in prickly pear patch-
es or caves. Middens can be huge, weighing more than a ton, because packrats are never
finished building. Packrats especially like shiny objects like rings, keys, coins, etc. People
have lost keys, jewelry, and even gold nuggets to packrats! Because packrats’ middens
can preserve (keep in good condition) materials, they provide scientists with records up to
40,000 years into the past.

Can you help the packrat (white throated woodrat) find his way through his tun-
nels to put his new treasure (a set of someone’s car keys) in a safe place?

End

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 Know What You’re
Talking About
Review the words in the table below. Can you find the words on the left in the
wordsearch below? Hint: the words can go up, down, across, diagonal, or backwards.
Word Pronunciation Definition
Agave ah-GAH-vee Also known as the century plant
Ajo AH-ho The name of a town and mountain range
Arroyo ah-ROY-yo A dry stream bed
Bajada bah-HAH-dah The slope formed from eroding mountains
Cholla CHOY-yah Spiny, shrubby, or treelike cacti
Creosote KREE-oh-sote Evergreen bush that smells like desert rain
Gila Monster HEE-lah monster One of two poisonous lizards found in North
America
Javelina hah-vay-LEE-nah Collared Peccary often mistaken as a pig
Jojoba ho-HO-bah A shrub with waxy leaves used in soaps
Metate mah-TAH-tay The bottom stone used when grinding foods
Ocotillo o-ko-TEE-yo A shrub with many thorny branches
Palo Verde pal-o-VER-day Tree with all green trunk, branches, and limbs
Saguaro sah-WAH-ro A very tall and big cactus that looks like a post,
some have arms
Tohono O’odham Toh-HO-noh aw-TAHM The Native American people of the area
Tinaja tee-NAH-hah Eroded rocks that could hold water, like a
water tank

O C O E O C H O M P R W B D E P Q E D A
L J H Q D R U T B E Y K X A T J O C U B
L A L O S R A T O H O N O O O D H A M O
I O R Q L V E U L I W O J A S F M J W J
T Q M R M L A V G Q G R B E O A N A C O
O C L S O E A D O A S J A V E L I N A J
C P K Y W Y T O A L S V P A R Y T I C D
O B R U C V O A Q J A G O G C T Y T K F
W S Q Y I J L T T X A P N A I N I P D S
G I L A M O N S T E R B S X F E Z J Y M

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 “Leave Nothing
But Footprints...”
Many people on hikes want to see animals. Most animals are shy and do not want to be seen. People
use animal tracks they see to try to find animals. Be careful though, some animals may be out hunt-
ing or be frightened by your presence if you surprise them.
Draw a line from the animal to the tracks it makes.

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 Journal
Use this space to write your thoughts about Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
Write about what you remember most from your visit. Write any stories you have while
you visited the monument. You can write a poem, a song, or even a short story or essay.

When you get home, read your notes. They will remind you about your explorations at
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

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 Junior Ranger
Pledge
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument’s Junior Ranger Pledge:

As a Junior Ranger, I will continue

to learn all I can about Organ Pipe
Cactus National Monument and
America’s National Parks; and I will
help in any way I can to preserve
them for the future.

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