OUDLY PRESENTED

DVENTURE IS PR TO YOU
A
THIS BY:
 Help Ezra and Lucy get dressed for
their journey on the trail. Cut out the
characters below and cut a slit on
the dotted lines. Then, slip the two
Washington slits together to form a crossed
Maine base.
C Next, color and cut all the clothes and
olu m accessories on page 20 to mix and
bia
R i v er match their outfits.
Oregon City North Dakota
Montana
The
Dalles Minnesota
New
York
Oregon Wisconsin
Idaho
Soda South Dakota
Springs Wyoming Michigan
Three
Island Crossing Fort Pennsylvania
Laramie
Independence Chimney Iowa
Rock Rock Ohio
Nebraska
Nevada Indiana
Courthouse Illinois
Rock West
Virginia Virginia
Utah

California
Colorado Independence
Kansas Kentucky
Missouri North
Carolina

Tennessee

South
Oklahoma Carolina
Arizona Arkansas
New Mexico
Georgia
Mississippi
Alabama

Louisiana

Texas

Florida

21
 Washington Maine
C
olu m
bia
R i v er
Oregon City

I
North Dakota
Montana
The
Dalles n the mid-1800s over 300,000 men, women and
Minnesota
children soldNew
their possessions, packed their
York
Oregon Wisconsin wagons and embarked on an epic journey to
Idaho Oregon, driven by the promise of better health and
Soda South Dakota
good farmland.
Springs Wyoming Michigan
Three
Island Crossing Fort TheyPennsylvania
traveled 2,000 miles over 5-6 months passing
Laramie waterfalls, vast open grasslands, traversing
Independence Chimney Iowa mountains, crossing rivers and seeing famous
Rock Rock Ohio
Nebraska landmarks like Chimney Rock and Soda Springs.
Nevada Courthouse
Indiana They encountered herds of buffalo and met many
Illinois
Rock Native American tribes.
West
Virginia Virginia
Utah
Life on the trail was difficult.
California
Colorado Independence Pioneers faced hunger,
Kansas Kentucky
Missouri North disease and injury. They
Carolina walked 10-15 miles
a day, and everyone
Tennessee
worked hard. Even
South
Carolina very young children
Oklahoma
Arizona Arkansas would use their tiny
New Mexico fingers to help clean
Georgia
Mississippi out the oxen’s noses so
Alabama
they could breathe on the
Cut with care! dusty parts of the trail!
Louisiana
Be sure to include the clothing Although the journey was
tabs when you cut out each piece.
The tabs will allow you to secure
Texas long, the pioneers were
clothing to the bodies. driven by the promise of a
better life in Oregon.

Florida Follow along with Ezra

and Lucy as they travel
the Oregon Trail and
learn about this great
migration west!

20 1
 Prairie
Wagons were used to carry all of the food, Congratulations! You made it all the
clothing and supplies that pioneers would way to your Oregon settlement. Connect
need for the journey and to start their new the dots below to build your new cabin.
life in Oregon. The trail was so bumpy that Welcome home!
people rarely rode in the wagons unless
they were sick or injured. Get to know this
important vehicle by correctly naming the

inal
OrigMinivan
THE parts of the Prairie Schooner wagon below.

OF THE WEST

4 5
6
2
22

21 3
20

75 7
19
18
74
73
17
16
71
72
10 11 14
15 69 70 66
65

12 13
25 68 67
6 1 23 24
26
28
9
64 8
27

Fun fact! 31
32
44 45
63
62

43 42
Seeds were brought 29
60 61
30 33
on the trail to plant 34 35
47 46

5 on homesteads. Some 37 36
49
59 58

families put seeds in a 40

41
48
56
57
stuffed animal to store 55
4 them safely for the 38 39 50
54

kids to carry along the 53

Oregon Trail.
51

3 52

Fun fact!
Pioneers lived out of their wagon for the first winter
1
in Oregon because they couldn’t build in the snow.
They would start building their cabin in the spring
when the weather improved.

______ Bonnet ______ Wooden Axle ______ Wooden Wheel

The bonnet was double layered The axle kept the wheels The front wheels were
and could be pulled shut for together. Axle grease was also smaller so the wagon could
added weather protection. used as lip balm. turn more easily.

______ SideBoard ______ Yoke ______ Iron Tire

The U.S. Bureau
The wagon was water- The yoke was designed The wooden wheels were of Land Management
proofed by painting or specifically for oxen because rimmed with iron to
invites you to visit Wildwood
oiling it. they push with their shoulders. prevent wear.
Recreation Site. Walk in the footsteps of pioneers in the forest along a portion of the

2 1=Yoke; 2=Bonnet; 3=Wooden Wheel; 4=Wooden Axle; 5=Iron Tire; 6=Sideboard

Oregon Trail, relax in a river they once forded and picnic at the remnants of an old settlement.
19
 Pioneers had to make some hard choices about
what to bring on the trail. If they didn’t bring
enough supplies, they risked hunger and
disease. If they brought too much, the wagon
would slow down or break. Can you decide
1 Camp Along The Oregon Trail what you would take? Circle the items you
4 Encounter the Animals
Experience a night on the trail at Farewell Bend
of the Oregon Trail want to pack, add up each column, then add
State Recreation Area. Pioneers enjoyed this
last night spent on the Snake River before they Head to the Columbia Gorge your grand total at the bottom. Remember, a
began to tackle the difficult terrain of Oregon. Discovery Center & Museum to wagon can hold between 1,800-2,000 pounds!
learn about the animals that live along
the Oregon Trail. Be sure to check out their Raptor
2 Ready Your Wagon Center for up-close encounters with live birds of prey. ITEM WEIGHT Item Weight
Take a hike through the National
Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive
FOOD SUPPLIES Other SUPPLIES
Center’s trails that take you by authentic 5 Travel The Barlow Road Bacon 300 Art Supplies 25
wagon ruts and remnants of a former gold The
mine and wagon encampment. Want to learn more about the
Oregon Trail? Download the Mt. Beans 200 Axle Grease 15
Hood Territory Heritage
3 Learn About Native American Tribes $
5 WAGON Coffee 80 Bedrolls & Blankets 30
Trail app (mthoodterritory.
EACH

Visit the Tamástslikt Cultural com/heritage-trail) to hear

Communications
EACH

.1o Hea Dried Beef 100 Bolts of Fabric 50

$ d of
LIVESTOCK
Institute, the only museum on about the rich history at
the Oregon Trail that documents
how the arrival of the pioneers
forever changed
with
NATIVE numerous sites along the
Barlow Road, including an
original tollgate you can visit.
American Tribes
Dried Fruits 80 Books 75

Flour 500 Candles 10

tribal life.
Astoria Lard 200 Extra Boots 10

Rice 200 Farming Tools 50

buffalo
3
Rive r 4 peace RIVER Salt 50 Fiddle 10
ia Pendleton
mb The Dalles
Portland Colu
Mt. Hood Sugar 40 Gunpowder 80
8 7

r
Rive
Oregon City 6 5 Vinegar 15 Heavy Rope 40

Snake
horse fire friend Cooking SUPPLIES Medicine 10
Salem
Baker City Bellows for Fire 10 Mirror 15
BONUS 2
CHALLENGE Butter Churn 40 Rifle & Lead Shot 40
Willam e t te

Can you find what

pages the images inside camp axe FISH Cooking Utensils 40 Sewing Machine 100
the circles are from?
1 Dish Set 20 Soap 20
River

Bend Ontario
Eugene Dutch Oven 10 Tent & Camp Gear 150
Dried Fruits
These were a good source of energy and
quering
Fry Pan 10 Toys 15
6 Walk In the Footsteps 7 Build a Log Cabin vitamins and helped to prevent scurvy. They

ure l
of Pioneers Visit Philip Foster Farm, the preserved historic also lasted a long time before going bad. Kettle 10 Trunk of Clothes 100
Wildwood Recreation Site has miles home of an early pioneer family, where you can
of wooded trails, some of which follow try your hand at pioneer activities like grinding Water Barrel 10 Wagon Repair Kit 40
Extra Boots
H i ll
routes the pioneers traveled. corn or building a log cabin.
Look for swails from Shoes would wear out quickly from walking Column Total Column Total
their wagons that are 10-15 miles a day for several months. If
still visible today.
8 HURRAY! the End of the Oregon Trail! pioneers didn’t have extra shoes, they Grand Total
While you’re there, The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center sometimes went barefoot in the prairies to
(Remember: The weight limit is between
visit the Cascade brings history to life with modern pioneers who save their shoes for the rugged mountains. 1,800 – 2,000 pounds. Choose wisely!)
Streamwatch will teach you skills like candle making or butter
underwater fish churning. Snap a photo at the official end of the
viewing window. Oregon Trail – you made it!
Farming Tools
In addition to items for the journey, pioneers
Ashland needed to bring tools to build a cabin and farm
Brookings
on their new land in Oregon. Sometimes they If you packed all of these items in your
brought only the heads of tools and would carve wagon, it would weigh 2,800 pounds!

18 new handles once they arrived.

3
 Pioneer Modern
Life
VS.
Comforts
Once they began their journey, daily life for pioneers on the Oregon Trail was very different from
life today. Below are a few pioneer activities and their modern-day equivalents. For each pair of
activities, circle the one you prefer to see how you might have enjoyed life on the trail.

bathe in a river take a shower

build a log cabin build a pillow fort
eat bacon every day eat broccoli every day
pet an ox pet a dog
go camping sleep in your bed
drink coffee or drink juice
write in a journal send a text
wear a straw hat or bonnet wear a baseball hat
sing around a campfire listen to music with headphones
cook over a fire microwave a meal

Now add up your total score. Give yourself 2 POINTS for every answer in the PIONEER LIFE column
and 1 POINT for every answer in the MODERN COMFORTS column.

TOTAL

10 13
Majorly modern
You’re rarely spotted without your
14
Best of both
16

You’re not afraid to journey off the

17
Proud pioneer
20

Pack your wagon, Pioneer! You are Dis co v e r

TH E
Every day was full of exploration and discovery
for pioneers that headed west on the Oregon Trail.
Imagine seeing giant rock formations, huge snow-

Hidden
ear buds in or phone in hand. You beaten path, but you also enjoy your ready for adventure. It might look
will always choose the comfort of modern creature comforts. You a little odd when your ox carries
your modern home over the trials find innovative ways to merge the your backpack to school, but your capped mountains and new trees, plants and animals
of pioneer life. The bad news? You two together – like a microwave in appreciation for hard work and for the first time! Get into the spirit of discovery by

IMAGE
may not have made it on the Oregon your Prairie Schooner! With a mix curiosity for the unknown make
Trail. The good news? You don’t of today’s technology and pioneer you a great candidate for the Oregon coloring in all of the shapes that only have three sides
have to! practicality, anything’s possible. Trail. Keep exploring! in the image above.
4 17
 A RE YO Having good tracking skills helped pioneers

OW U hunt, find fresh water and keep their families

away from danger. Test your tracking skills

R
H
below by matching the animals with their tracks.

a. _____

1 Jackrabbit
b. _____

2 Bald Eagle c. _____

d. _____

4 Raccoon e. _____
Human
Deer
3
5

f. _____

6 Bear
g. _____
7 Fox
8 Cat
h. _____
9 Snake
11 Buffalo
i. _____

j. _____
10 Prairie Dog k. _____

16 a=9; b=1; c=6; d=8; e=7; f=10; g=11; h=5; i=4; j=2; k=3
5
 Hunting
Buffalo produced valuable resources for pioneers
que ring
on their journey, including their poop! Buffalo chips
Conl
e
contained mostly grass, which would burn very
Fo r

BuCfHfI PaSlo
easily, so it was gathered and used as campfire fuel.
Because there were few toys on the trail, buffalo
chips were also used as frisbees. How many buffalo
Lau r
chips can you find in this scene? (Watch out! Don’t
get confused by the rocks!)
H i l l
Other uses for buffalo
Horns
for storing gunpowder

Meat
for making dried jerky

Hide
for making blankets

Laurel Hill was

one of the last major
obstacles that pioneers
had to conquer on their
way to Oregon City. They
tied a rope to their wagon and
looped it around a tree. Using the
tree as a pulley for the rope, they
would slowly lower their wagons down
the steep hill all the way to the bottom.
Try creating your own pulley using the
same idea below!

D.I.Y. Laurel Hill Pulley

Items needed: Spare change (small handful) Pencil
Small plastic bag String (about 12”)

1 Place your coins in 2 Gather the top of the plastic bag 3 Wrap the middle of
the small plastic bag. together and tie one end of the string the string around
around it using a simple knot. the pencil one time.

4 Hold the pencil in front of you 5 Pull back on the string and 6 Ta-dah! This is how the basic Laurel
horizontally with your left hand see your bag of coins raise up. Hill pulley worked. Pioneers could use
and the loose end of the string Next, loosen your tension on the friction of the rope against the tree
with your right hand. the string and let the weight of to slow down or stop the wagon as it
the bag pull itself down. descended the steep hill.

6 10 total buffalo chips (excluding chips in the title).

15
 Pioneers would forage for naturally growing food

K L E B E R R Y all along their journey. Huckleberries at Summit

H UC Meadow were a great source of nutrition and

Campsite
N T
energy. How many huckleberries

H U at Summit Meadow
can you find?

Hardtack Biscuits on the

Trail
Ingredients Directions
2c flour Preheat oven to 350°F.
¾c water Mix the flour and salt together and add a little
1 tsp salt water at a time until it’s a consistency that can
be mixed by hand.

Roll out the dough with a rolling pin on a

floured surface. Once the dough is ¾ inch
thick cut into 3 inch by 3 inch squares.

Arrange dough on a cookie sheet and bake for

25 minutes. Flip the biscuits over and bake for
another 25-30 minutes. Biscuits will harden as
they cool.

How to Cook with a

Dutch Oven
1 Place ingredients inside pot
and place the lid on the pot.
2 Place dutch oven on fire.
3 Take hot coals from fire
and place on top.
4 The inside becomes a
hot sealed area like
your oven at home.

14 26 total huckleberries (excluding berries in the title).

7
 At night travelers would
set up camp, typically
The
with the wagons in a
circle. There would be
music, dancing, dinner,
weddings and holiday
celebrations. Some
travelers would choose
to sleep under the stars
while others would
$
5 WAGON
EACH

empty their wagons and

EACH

.1o
sleep inside. Head ofCK
$ LIVESTO

Travelers had to pay a toll

to use the Barlow Road.
Can you figure out Ezra
and Lucy’s tolls
using the fees
on the sign
above?

Wagons Wagons

3 X $
5 = 5 X $
5 =
Head of LIVESTOCK Head of LIVESTOCK

$ $
8 X .1o = 11 X .1o =

EZRA’S TOLL: LUCY’S TOLL:

8 Fun Fact: Multiply the fees by 25 to see how much the toll would cost today.
Ezra=$15.80; Lucy=$26.10
13
 Near the end of the journey, the trail forked, and
pioneers were faced with a difficult decision: river
or mountain? Floating down the Columbia River

N Communications
was faster, but pioneers risked drowning
and losing all of their possessions. The
safer route was around Mt. Hood on the
MOUNTAIVS.
Barlow Road, the most challenging
terrain of the journey. Which way
would you choose?
RAPIDS
with
NATIVE
American Tribes

buffalo
peace RIVER

horse fire friend

camp axe FISH

Pioneers heading west on the trail would encounter many different Native
American tribes along the way. Since nearly all of the tribes had their own
unique languages, communication was difficult. Trading and guidance was often
provided through hand gestures. Try communicating using some of these signs
and see if you can point some of them out on the page to the left.
12 9
 Pioneers often faced the threat of
TRAVEL serious illness throughout their
KEEP YOU R journey. Help Lucy and Ezra avoid
We are
ALTHY common Oregon Trail ailments and
BUDDIES HE make it to Oregon without getting sick.
We are

DipHtheria
Airborne
bacteria
that caused skin
ST
lesions, respiratory problems
AR
and in severe cases a gray T
material covering airways and
uncontrollable
drooling.

cholera
A
viral
disease
that was very
contagious, Measles Most deadly illness on the Oregon Trail.
causing
Caused by polluted water, it led to
Something isn’t quite right at the Trading Post! high fever and
dehydration.
diarrhea, vomiting and pain. Victims
Can you spot the differences between these two scenes? Color in the often died within 12 hours of the
first symptoms.
drawings and circle all 30 differences as Lucy and Ezra shop for supplies.

We are

Drastic
We are
weather
changes caused
ia
this respiratory Pneumon
sickness.

Used to
Inflammation
refer to several
of the intestines Dysentery
types of
caused by unsanitary
high fever
conditions. Could lead to
and headache
extreme dehydration
including typhoid
and sometimes
fever and scarlet fever.
death.
Usually not fatal.

Mountain
Fever

!
T
N
E
M

O
O
C
Lack

G
L
E

E
W
of Vitamin C

R
on the Oregon Trail

O
could lead to weakness
and tiredness. Malnutrition SCURVY

10 22) onion on shelf, 23) missing vinegar jug, 24) celery, 25) fabric missing stripes, 26) tea kettle steaming, 27) “soup” label, 28) mop, 29) cheese wedge, 30) beard
13) curtains open, 14)“Trading Spot”, 15) ruler, 16) leaves missing from tree, 17) missing drawer, 18) envelope, 19) sausage links, 20) pencils, 21) empty cash drawer,
1) one skillet, 2) snake, 3) fish, 4) pickaxe, 5) missing scoop, 6) missing barrel bands, 7) mouse, 8) closed sign, 9) door panels, 10) boy in window, 11) lolipops, 12) football,
could be prevented by bringing
dried fruits or citrus oils on the trail.
11
 Pioneers often faced the threat of
TRAVEL serious illness throughout their
KEEP YOU R journey. Help Lucy and Ezra avoid
We are
ALTHY common Oregon Trail ailments and
BUDDIES HE make it to Oregon without getting sick.
We are

DipHtheria
Airborne
bacteria
that caused skin
ST
lesions, respiratory problems
AR
and in severe cases a gray T
material covering airways and
uncontrollable
drooling.

cholera
A
viral
disease
that was very
contagious, Measles Most deadly illness on the Oregon Trail.
causing
Caused by polluted water, it led to
Something isn’t quite right at the Trading Post! high fever and
dehydration.
diarrhea, vomiting and pain. Victims
Can you spot the differences between these two scenes? Color in the often died within 12 hours of the
first symptoms.
drawings and circle all 30 differences as Lucy and Ezra shop for supplies.

We are

Drastic
We are
weather
changes caused
ia
this respiratory Pneumon
sickness.

Used to
Inflammation
refer to several
of the intestines Dysentery
types of
caused by unsanitary
high fever
conditions. Could lead to
and headache
extreme dehydration
including typhoid
and sometimes
fever and scarlet fever.
death.
Usually not fatal.

Mountain
Fever

!
T
N
E
M

O
O
C
Lack

G
L
E

E
W
of Vitamin C

R
on the Oregon Trail

O
could lead to weakness
and tiredness. Malnutrition SCURVY

10 22) onion on shelf, 23) missing vinegar jug, 24) celery, 25) fabric missing stripes, 26) tea kettle steaming, 27) “soup” label, 28) mop, 29) cheese wedge, 30) beard
13) curtains open, 14)“Trading Spot”, 15) ruler, 16) leaves missing from tree, 17) missing drawer, 18) envelope, 19) sausage links, 20) pencils, 21) empty cash drawer,
1) one skillet, 2) snake, 3) fish, 4) pickaxe, 5) missing scoop, 6) missing barrel bands, 7) mouse, 8) closed sign, 9) door panels, 10) boy in window, 11) lolipops, 12) football,
could be prevented by bringing
dried fruits or citrus oils on the trail.
11
 Near the end of the journey, the trail forked, and
pioneers were faced with a difficult decision: river
or mountain? Floating down the Columbia River

N Communications
was faster, but pioneers risked drowning
and losing all of their possessions. The
safer route was around Mt. Hood on the
MOUNTAIVS.
Barlow Road, the most challenging
terrain of the journey. Which way
would you choose?
RAPIDS
with
NATIVE
American Tribes

buffalo
peace RIVER

horse fire friend

camp axe FISH

Pioneers heading west on the trail would encounter many different Native
American tribes along the way. Since nearly all of the tribes had their own
unique languages, communication was difficult. Trading and guidance was often
provided through hand gestures. Try communicating using some of these signs
and see if you can point some of them out on the page to the left.
12 9
 At night travelers would
set up camp, typically
The
with the wagons in a
circle. There would be
music, dancing, dinner,
weddings and holiday
celebrations. Some
travelers would choose
to sleep under the stars
while others would
$
5 WAGON
EACH

empty their wagons and

EACH

.1o
sleep inside. Head ofCK
$ LIVESTO

Travelers had to pay a toll

to use the Barlow Road.
Can you figure out Ezra
and Lucy’s tolls
using the fees
on the sign
above?

Wagons Wagons

3 X $
5 = 5 X $
5 =
Head of LIVESTOCK Head of LIVESTOCK

$ $
8 X .1o = 11 X .1o =

EZRA’S TOLL: LUCY’S TOLL:

8 Fun Fact: Multiply the fees by 25 to see how much the toll would cost today.
Ezra=$15.80; Lucy=$26.10
13
 Pioneers would forage for naturally growing food

K L E B E R R Y all along their journey. Huckleberries at Summit

H UC Meadow were a great source of nutrition and

Campsite
N T
energy. How many huckleberries

H U at Summit Meadow
can you find?

Hardtack Biscuits on the

Trail
Ingredients Directions
2c flour Preheat oven to 350°F.
¾c water Mix the flour and salt together and add a little
1 tsp salt water at a time until it’s a consistency that can
be mixed by hand.

Roll out the dough with a rolling pin on a

floured surface. Once the dough is ¾ inch
thick cut into 3 inch by 3 inch squares.

Arrange dough on a cookie sheet and bake for

25 minutes. Flip the biscuits over and bake for
another 25-30 minutes. Biscuits will harden as
they cool.

How to Cook with a

Dutch Oven
1 Place ingredients inside pot
and place the lid on the pot.
2 Place dutch oven on fire.
3 Take hot coals from fire
and place on top.
4 The inside becomes a
hot sealed area like
your oven at home.

14 26 total huckleberries (excluding berries in the title).

7
 Hunting
Buffalo produced valuable resources for pioneers
que ring
on their journey, including their poop! Buffalo chips
Conl
e
contained mostly grass, which would burn very
Fo r

BuCfHfI PaSlo
easily, so it was gathered and used as campfire fuel.
Because there were few toys on the trail, buffalo
chips were also used as frisbees. How many buffalo
Lau r
chips can you find in this scene? (Watch out! Don’t
get confused by the rocks!)
H i l l
Other uses for buffalo
Horns
for storing gunpowder

Meat
for making dried jerky

Hide
for making blankets

Laurel Hill was

one of the last major
obstacles that pioneers
had to conquer on their
way to Oregon City. They
tied a rope to their wagon and
looped it around a tree. Using the
tree as a pulley for the rope, they
would slowly lower their wagons down
the steep hill all the way to the bottom.
Try creating your own pulley using the
same idea below!

D.I.Y. Laurel Hill Pulley

Items needed: Spare change (small handful) Pencil
Small plastic bag String (about 12”)

1 Place your coins in 2 Gather the top of the plastic bag 3 Wrap the middle of
the small plastic bag. together and tie one end of the string the string around
around it using a simple knot. the pencil one time.

4 Hold the pencil in front of you 5 Pull back on the string and 6 Ta-dah! This is how the basic Laurel
horizontally with your left hand see your bag of coins raise up. Hill pulley worked. Pioneers could use
and the loose end of the string Next, loosen your tension on the friction of the rope against the tree
with your right hand. the string and let the weight of to slow down or stop the wagon as it
the bag pull itself down. descended the steep hill.

6 10 total buffalo chips (excluding chips in the title).

15
 A RE YO Having good tracking skills helped pioneers

OW U hunt, find fresh water and keep their families

away from danger. Test your tracking skills

R
H
below by matching the animals with their tracks.

a. _____

1 Jackrabbit
b. _____

2 Bald Eagle c. _____

d. _____

4 Raccoon e. _____
Human
Deer
3
5

f. _____

6 Bear
g. _____
7 Fox
8 Cat
h. _____
9 Snake
11 Buffalo
i. _____

j. _____
10 Prairie Dog k. _____

16 a=9; b=1; c=6; d=8; e=7; f=10; g=11; h=5; i=4; j=2; k=3
5
 Pioneer Modern
Life
VS.
Comforts
Once they began their journey, daily life for pioneers on the Oregon Trail was very different from
life today. Below are a few pioneer activities and their modern-day equivalents. For each pair of
activities, circle the one you prefer to see how you might have enjoyed life on the trail.

bathe in a river take a shower

build a log cabin build a pillow fort
eat bacon every day eat broccoli every day
pet an ox pet a dog
go camping sleep in your bed
drink coffee or drink juice
write in a journal send a text
wear a straw hat or bonnet wear a baseball hat
sing around a campfire listen to music with headphones
cook over a fire microwave a meal

Now add up your total score. Give yourself 2 POINTS for every answer in the PIONEER LIFE column
and 1 POINT for every answer in the MODERN COMFORTS column.

TOTAL

10 13
Majorly modern
You’re rarely spotted without your
14
Best of both
16

You’re not afraid to journey off the

17
Proud pioneer
20

Pack your wagon, Pioneer! You are Dis co v e r

TH E
Every day was full of exploration and discovery
for pioneers that headed west on the Oregon Trail.
Imagine seeing giant rock formations, huge snow-

Hidden
ear buds in or phone in hand. You beaten path, but you also enjoy your ready for adventure. It might look
will always choose the comfort of modern creature comforts. You a little odd when your ox carries
your modern home over the trials find innovative ways to merge the your backpack to school, but your capped mountains and new trees, plants and animals
of pioneer life. The bad news? You two together – like a microwave in appreciation for hard work and for the first time! Get into the spirit of discovery by

IMAGE
may not have made it on the Oregon your Prairie Schooner! With a mix curiosity for the unknown make
Trail. The good news? You don’t of today’s technology and pioneer you a great candidate for the Oregon coloring in all of the shapes that only have three sides
have to! practicality, anything’s possible. Trail. Keep exploring! in the image above.
4 17
 Pioneers had to make some hard choices about
what to bring on the trail. If they didn’t bring
enough supplies, they risked hunger and
disease. If they brought too much, the wagon
would slow down or break. Can you decide
1 Camp Along The Oregon Trail what you would take? Circle the items you
4 Encounter the Animals
Experience a night on the trail at Farewell Bend
of the Oregon Trail want to pack, add up each column, then add
State Recreation Area. Pioneers enjoyed this
last night spent on the Snake River before they Head to the Columbia Gorge your grand total at the bottom. Remember, a
began to tackle the difficult terrain of Oregon. Discovery Center & Museum to wagon can hold between 1,800-2,000 pounds!
learn about the animals that live along
the Oregon Trail. Be sure to check out their Raptor
2 Ready Your Wagon Center for up-close encounters with live birds of prey. ITEM WEIGHT Item Weight
Take a hike through the National
Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive
FOOD SUPPLIES Other SUPPLIES
Center’s trails that take you by authentic 5 Travel The Barlow Road Bacon 300 Art Supplies 25
wagon ruts and remnants of a former gold The
mine and wagon encampment. Want to learn more about the
Oregon Trail? Download the Mt. Beans 200 Axle Grease 15
Hood Territory Heritage
3 Learn About Native American Tribes $
5 WAGON Coffee 80 Bedrolls & Blankets 30
Trail app (mthoodterritory.
EACH

Visit the Tamástslikt Cultural com/heritage-trail) to hear

Communications
EACH

.1o Hea Dried Beef 100 Bolts of Fabric 50

$ d of
LIVESTOCK
Institute, the only museum on about the rich history at
the Oregon Trail that documents
how the arrival of the pioneers
forever changed
with
NATIVE numerous sites along the
Barlow Road, including an
original tollgate you can visit.
American Tribes
Dried Fruits 80 Books 75

Flour 500 Candles 10

tribal life.
Astoria Lard 200 Extra Boots 10

Rice 200 Farming Tools 50

buffalo
3
Rive r 4 peace RIVER Salt 50 Fiddle 10
ia Pendleton
mb The Dalles
Portland Colu
Mt. Hood Sugar 40 Gunpowder 80
8 7

r
Rive
Oregon City 6 5 Vinegar 15 Heavy Rope 40

Snake
horse fire friend Cooking SUPPLIES Medicine 10
Salem
Baker City Bellows for Fire 10 Mirror 15
BONUS 2
CHALLENGE Butter Churn 40 Rifle & Lead Shot 40
Willam e t te

Can you find what

pages the images inside camp axe FISH Cooking Utensils 40 Sewing Machine 100
the circles are from?
1 Dish Set 20 Soap 20
River

Bend Ontario
Eugene Dutch Oven 10 Tent & Camp Gear 150
Dried Fruits
These were a good source of energy and
quering
Fry Pan 10 Toys 15
6 Walk In the Footsteps 7 Build a Log Cabin vitamins and helped to prevent scurvy. They

ure l
of Pioneers Visit Philip Foster Farm, the preserved historic also lasted a long time before going bad. Kettle 10 Trunk of Clothes 100
Wildwood Recreation Site has miles home of an early pioneer family, where you can
of wooded trails, some of which follow try your hand at pioneer activities like grinding Water Barrel 10 Wagon Repair Kit 40
Extra Boots
H i ll
routes the pioneers traveled. corn or building a log cabin.
Shoes would wear out quickly from walking Column Total Column Total
Look for swales from
their wagons that are 10-15 miles a day for several months. If
still visible today.
8 HURRAY! the End of the Oregon Trail! pioneers didn’t have extra shoes, they Grand Total
While you’re there, The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center sometimes went barefoot in the prairies to
(Remember: The weight limit is between
visit the Cascade brings history to life with modern pioneers who save their shoes for the rugged mountains. 1,800 – 2,000 pounds. Choose wisely!)
Streamwatch will teach you skills like candle making or butter
underwater fish churning. Snap a photo at the official end of the
viewing window. Oregon Trail – you made it!
Farming Tools
In addition to items for the journey, pioneers
Ashland needed to bring tools to build a cabin and farm
Brookings
on their new land in Oregon. Sometimes they If you packed all of these items in your
brought only the heads of tools and would carve wagon, it would weigh 2,800 pounds!

18 new handles once they arrived.

3
 Prairie
Wagons were used to carry all of the food, Congratulations! You made it all the
clothing and supplies that pioneers would way to your Oregon settlement. Connect
need for the journey and to start their new the dots below to build your new cabin.
life in Oregon. The trail was so bumpy that Welcome home!
people rarely rode in the wagons unless
they were sick or injured. Get to know this
important vehicle by correctly naming the

inal
OrigMinivan
THE parts of the Prairie Schooner wagon below.

OF THE WEST

4 5
6
2
22

21 3
20

75 7
19
18
74
73
17
16
71
72
10 11 14
15 69 70 66
65

12 13
25 68 67
6 1 23 24
26
28
9
64 8
27

Fun fact! 31
32
44 45
63
62

43 42
Seeds were brought 29
60 61
30 33
on the trail to plant 34 35
47 46

5 on homesteads. Some 37 36
49
59 58

families put seeds in a 40

41
48
56
57
stuffed animal to store 55
4 them safely for the 38 39 50
54

kids to carry along the 53

Oregon Trail.
51

3 52

Fun fact!
Pioneers lived out of their wagon for the first winter
1
in Oregon because they couldn’t build in the snow.
They would start building their cabin in the spring
when the weather improved.

______ Bonnet ______ Wooden Axle ______ Wooden Wheel

The bonnet was double layered The axle kept the wheels The front wheels were
and could be pulled shut for together. Axle grease was also smaller so the wagon could
added weather protection. used as lip balm. turn more easily.

______ SideBoard ______ Yoke ______ Iron Tire

The U.S. Bureau
The wagon was water- The yoke was designed The wooden wheels were of Land Management
proofed by painting or specifically for oxen because rimmed with iron to
invites you to visit Wildwood
oiling it. they push with their shoulders. prevent wear.
Recreation Site. Walk in the footsteps of pioneers in the forest along a portion of the

2 1=Yoke; 2=Bonnet; 3=Wooden Wheel; 4=Wooden Axle; 5=Iron Tire; 6=Sideboard

Oregon Trail, relax in a river they once forded and picnic at the remnants of an old settlement.
19
 Washington Maine
C
olu m
bia
R i v er
Oregon City

I
North Dakota
Montana
The
Dalles n the mid-1800s over 300,000 men, women and
Minnesota
children soldNew
their possessions, packed their
York
Oregon Wisconsin wagons and embarked on an epic journey to
Idaho Oregon, driven by the promise of better health and
South Dakota
good farmland.
Wyoming Michigan
Three
Island Crossing Fort TheyPennsylvania
traveled 2,000 miles over 5-6 months passing
Laramie waterfalls, vast open grasslands, traversing
Independence Chimney Nebraska Iowa mountains, crossing rivers and seeing famous
Rock Rock Ohio
landmarks like Chimney Rock and Soda Springs.
Nevada Courthouse
Indiana They encountered herds of buffalo and met many
Illinois
Rock Native American tribes.
West
Virginia Virginia
Utah
Life on the trail was difficult.
California
Colorado Independence Pioneers faced hunger,
Kansas Kentucky
Missouri North disease and injury. They
Carolina walked 10-15 miles
a day, and everyone
Tennessee
worked hard. Even
South
Carolina very young children
Oklahoma
Arizona Arkansas would use their tiny
New Mexico fingers to help clean
Georgia
Mississippi out the oxen’s noses so
Alabama
they could breathe on the
Cut with care! dusty parts of the trail!
Louisiana
Be sure to include the clothing Although the journey was
tabs when you cut out each piece.
The tabs will allow you to secure
Texas long, the pioneers were
clothing to the bodies. driven by the promise of a
better life in Oregon.

Florida Follow along with Ezra

and Lucy as they travel
the Oregon Trail and
learn about this great
migration west!

20 1
 Help Ezra and Lucy get dressed for
their journey on the trail. Cut out the
characters below and cut a slit on
the dotted lines. Then, slip the two
Washington slits together to form a crossed
Maine base.
C Next, color and cut all the clothes and
olu m accessories on page 20 to mix and
bia
R i v er match their outfits.
Oregon City North Dakota
Montana
The
Dalles Minnesota
New
York
Oregon Wisconsin
Idaho
South Dakota
Wyoming Michigan
Three
Island Crossing Fort Pennsylvania
Laramie
Independence Chimney Nebraska Iowa
Rock Rock Ohio

Nevada Indiana
Courthouse Illinois
Rock West
Virginia Virginia
Utah

California
Colorado Independence
Kansas Kentucky
Missouri North
Carolina

Tennessee

South
Oklahoma Carolina
Arizona Arkansas
New Mexico
Georgia
Mississippi
Alabama

Louisiana

Texas

Florida

21
 OUDLY PRESENTED
DVENTURE IS PR TO YOU
A
THIS BY:

Designed & Illustrated by

Commuter Industries
http://commuter.industries
Q: What is a pioneer's favorite Land Claim Document of the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
sport?
A: Cross-country. Greetings, Pioneer! The Surveyor General of the Public Lands in Oregon hereby awards
the donation of One Section of Land of Clackamas County, then Oregon Territory, to
Q: Why couldn't the tree travel ________________________ ________________________, aged ____,
the Oregon Trail? First Name

who has made the journey to this new land from

Last Name Age

A: Nothing fit in its trunk. __________________________________________,

Street Address

Q: If you brought 15 cows and 5 __________________________, ____, ____________ T. HOOD

SM
goats on your journey, what
City State Zip Code

TE
OREGON’
I, Abraham Lincoln , 16 th President of the United States of America,

RRITORY
would you have?
do grant and give this land forever to the aforementioned and their heirs. Given on this
A: Plenty of milk! 12 th day of July in the year One Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty-One.
Not an official document
Your special reward for completing the Oregon Trail Activity Book will be mailed to the
address provided above. If you would like to receive more information about travel and events in
Mt. Hood Territory, please also provide an adult’s name and email address below.
mthoodterritory.com/oregon-trail Name______________________________________ Email____________________________________________
Q: Why did the pioneers cross
the country in covered
wagons?
A: Because they didn’t want to
wait 40 years for the train.
Q: What did the buffalo say
to his son as he left for
college?
A: Bye, son.
Q: Where do fish keep their
money?
A: River banks.