junior refuge ranger activity booklet - fwsmake you an official junior refuge ranger. about wheeler...
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
WheelerJunior Refuge RangerActivity Booklet
WheelerNationalWildlife RefugeDecatur,Alabama
America’sNationalWildlifeRefuges...Where WildlifeComes Naturally
Table of Contents1. Introduction2. Trail Information3. Orientation Video Information (all ages)
4. Museum Exhibits (ages 5 - 7)5. Museum Exhibits (ages 8 - 10)6. Museum Exhibits (ages 11 - 13)7. Tree Discovery (ages 5 - 7)8. Tree Activity (ages 8 - 10)9. Tree Activity (ages 11 - 13)
10. Animal Activity (ages 5 - 7)11. Animal Activity (ages 8 - 10)12. Animal Activity (ages 11 - 13)13. Endangered and Threatened Species (all ages)
14. Wetlands (all ages)15. Tracks (all ages)16. Scavenger Hunt (all ages)17. Certificate18. Wildlife Jokes
How to Become A Junior Refuge RangerTo become a Junior Refuge Ranger,you must complete the activities in thebooklet for your age group. When youare finished, take the booklet to theRefuge Visitor Center. The staffperson will sign your certificate andmake you an official Junior RefugeRanger.
About Wheeler NationalWildlife RefugeWheeler NWR wasestablished in 1938 asan area for ducks,geese, and othermigratory birds tospend the winter. Today,Wheeler Refuge is oneof over 500 refuges inthe National Wildlife
Refuge System administered by theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The 34,500 acre refuge supports awide range of plant and animal life.Some of the plants and animals foundon Wheeler Refuge are listed on theendangered or threatened specieslists.
NATIONALWILDLIFEREFUGE
UNAUTHORIZED ENTRYPROHIBITED
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Marsh Scene
cover photo:Wood duck byJ. Greene
Look at the National WildlifeRefuge System Map in the VisitorCenter. What Refuges are located inthe State you live?
State in whichyou live
Refuges in yourstate
Refuge closest toyou
Trail Descriptions(200 yards)-walking, wheelchairaccessible
(0.5 miles)-walking, wheelchairaccessible
(1.5 miles)-walking, wheelchairaccessible
(2 miles)-walking
(0.75 miles)-walking, wheelchairaccessible
ObservationTrail
Atkeson CypressTrail
EnvironmentalTrail
DancybottomTrailBeaverdamBoardwalk
US
FW
S
Bald Eagle
Orientation Video Information (all ages)Watch the orientation video and haveyour booklet signed by the person atthe front desk.
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Questions About The Video
List 3 types of waterfowl shown inthe video.
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List 2 types of endangered orthreatened species shown in thevideo.
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List 2 other types of wildlife foundon the Refuge.
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Name 2 ways Refuge staff helpwildlife.
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Name 2 activities people can do forfun on the Refuge.
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Signature
Date
Canada Geese
Canvasback Duck
Pitcher Plant
Prairie Warbler
photos: USFWS
Museum Exhibits (ages 5 - 7)Name something Canada geese eat.
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Name a poisonous snake displayedin the exhibits.
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Name a non-poisonous snakedisplayed in the exhibits.
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How many fish are in the aquarium?
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Draw one of the fish
Museum Exhibits (ages 8 -10)Take a good look at the “Wetlandsfor Wildlife Display”.
Draw one of the birds in the Display.
Raccoon
Orchard
Name 2 types of fish in the aquarium.
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What are the 4 requirements for ananimal’s habitat?
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Which flyway is Wheeler Refuge in?
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Museum Exhibits (ages 11 -13)Whom was the Visitor Center namedafter?
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Name two ways a refuge helpspreserve the natural habitat ofwaterfowl.
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Which flyway is Wheeler includedin?
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What is the number one reason forthe decline in waterfowlpopulations?
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Rabbit
Mud Salamader
Wood ducks
Butterfly
photos: USFWS
Which duck has a strangely shapedbill?
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Which bird has a red tip on its wing?
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What formation do Canada geese flyin?
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After reading and looking over theWoodduck Exhibit, explain about the“Success Story”.
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Alligator
Barred Owl
Tree Discovery (ages 5 - 7)Find a tree. Look at your tree. Lookaround your tree (on the ground, inthe sky, everywhere).
Describe your tree. What colors doyou see?
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Name some of the shapes the treehas on it.
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How tall do you think your tree is?
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Make a bark rubbing of your tree.
To make a rubbing, lay the paperagainst the bark of the tree and rubthe pencil over it.
Draw a leaf from your tree.
Tundra Swans
Turkey Vulture
Nic
k M
ilam
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FW
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What could live in your tree?
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What could live on your tree?
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Tree Activity (ages 8 - 10)Solve the riddles below and discoverjust a few of the important parts of atree.
I’m dead on the outside, but alive onthe inside.
I come in many colors. Protection ismy job. Some would say I am thetree’s skin. Dogs always have this.What am I?_____________________
I am not fond of heights. I am oftennot visible. I have “hair.” I help keepthe tree standing. I am very thirsty.What am I?_____________________
The tree needs me and I need thetree. I am a factory. I help feed thetree both when I am alive and whenI am dead. My job is photosynthesis.Check me out this fall.What am I?_____________________
White-tailed Deer
Red-headed Woodpecker
Nic
k M
ilam
Nic
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US
FW
SGadwall
Tree Activity (ages 11 13)A deciduous tree looses its leaves inthe winter. The leaves are generallybroad and rounded.
An evergreen tree keeps its leavesall year. The leaves are long andpointed. They are generally calledneedles.
List 2 types of deciduous trees foundon the Refuge.
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Draw a leaf of a deciduous tree.
Make a bark rubbing of a deciduoustree.
List 2 types of evergreen treesfound on the Refuge.
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photos: USFWS
Raccoon
Draw a leaf of an evergreen tree.
Make a bark rubbing of anevergreen.
Swallowtail Butterfly
Animal Activity (ages 5 - 7)Sometimes we divide people into groups. The groups maybe boys and girls. Groups could also be children andadults. All animals can be divided into five groups. Theseare mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, or reptiles.
In each group circle one animal that does not belong withthe others.
Duck
Heron
Eagle
Dragonfly
Opposum
Bream
Bass
Crappie
Snake
Lizard
Bullfrog
Alligator
Deer
Muskrat
Fox Turtle
Animal Activity (Ages 8 -10 )Baby wildlife sometimes have different names than theiradult parents. On the left side of thepage is an adultwildlife. On the right side of the page are their young, butthe pictures are all mixed up. Can you match the youngwith their parents?
Frog
Goose
Dragonfly
Frog
Fish
Fry
Tadpole
Gosling
Nymph
Fawn
Animal Acitivity (ages 11 - 13)The words below are all names of wildlife found on theRefuge, but they are scrambled. Can you unscramble theletters to correctly spell the names? Then draw a linefrom the wildlife’s name to its picture.
carcono
tbiarb
frgollub
shif
urtlet
veraeb
lfytetubr
mansalader
Endangered and Threatened Species(all ages)If a living thing is called anendangered species, that means notmany of them are left. Withoutproper management and protection,they are “in danger” of becomingextinct. A threatened species canbecome endangered if not carefullysupervised. If a plant or animalbecomes extinct, that means thatnone are left in the entire world, andthey are gone forever.
National Wildlife Refuges helpendangered and threatened speciesby protecting their habitats.
Below are descriptions ofendangered or threatened speciesfound on the Refuge. Guess who.
This bird is our national symbol.Earlier this century, a pesticidecalled DDT weakened the eggshellsso that baby birds couldn’t hatch.
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This animal is the only trueflying mammal. Thisparticular species lives inlocal caves. They eat greatquantities of night-flyinginsects.
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List some things youcan do to help protect
endangered andthreatened species.
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Bald Eagle
Wetlands (all ages)Wetlands are special places that arehabitat for many different animals.Wheeler Refuge has a variety offreshwater wetlands. The wetlandsare managed to provide food andresting areas for migratory birdsand other wildlife.
Why Are Wetlands Wonderful?Wetlands store flood waters.
Wetlands are nurseries for manyfish, crabs, and other shellfish.
Some wetlands store water in thewet time of year to release later.
Wetlands help to purify water.
Wetlands are home to many animalsand vacation spots for others.
Wetlands offer a place to hunt, fish,and to explore nature.
Wetlands protect shore areas fromwaves and storms.
We use wetlands for some of ourfish, shellfish, and
cranberries.
Take a walk downthe Atkeson
Cypress trail.While on the
boardwalk, closeyour eyes for 2
minutes. Listen tothe sounds of the
swamp.
Name 3 sounds you heard.
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Flood Reducers
Nurseries
Water Banks
Nature’s Filters
Homes forWildlife
Fun
Buffers
Food
SouthernLeopard Frog
Tracks (all ages)Have you ever seen animal tracks?All land animals and birds maketracks. People who spend timeoutdoors learn to know which tracksgo with each animal.
Draw a line from the track to theanimal that made it.
As you are walking the trails on theRefuge or around your home, checkmuddy areas for animal tracks thatmay be present.
Scavenger Hunt (all ages)Using your keen senses of sight,hearing, touch, and smell, explorethe Refuge. Try to find one exampleof each of the objects listed below.
Please remember to leave thenatural object in place. Instead,draw a picture or write its name.
Something that smells good.
Something that feels cool.
Something an animal lives in.
Something high in the air.
Something older than you.
Something younger than you.
Something growing on somethingelse.
Something that makes you happy.
Something that is noisy.
Something that is pretty.
United States DeparFish and Wild
This Certi
has successfullyJunior Refuge RaWheeler Nationa
Signed
rtment of the Interiordlife Service
ifies That
y completed theanger Program atal Widlife Refuge.
Date
Wildlife JokesHow do bees go to school? By buzz.
What do snakes do after they fight?Hiss and makeup.
What kind of rabbit can fix a flat?Jack rabbit.
Why are frogs such liars? They areamFIBians.
What do you call five toads stackedon top of each other? A toadem pole.
What hot cereal do ducks like best?Quacker Oats.
Snowy Egretph
oto:
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FW
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This blue goose,designed by“Ding Darling,”has become asymbol of theRefuge System.
What do birds like to do in the park?Go on a PECKnic.
What kind of people do deer likebest? vegetarians.
What animals live in computers?CHIPmunks.
What did the beaver say when itheard a chain saw? They’re playingmy song.
Southern Fishing Scene
WheelerNational Wildlife Refuge2700 Refuge Headquarters RoadDecatur, Alabama 35603256/350 6639http://www.fws.gov/~r4eao
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service1 800/344 WILD
November 1998