The United States has 61 protected areas known as national parks that are operated by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior. An act of the United States Congress must establish national parks. A bill creating the first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, followed by Mackinac National Park in 1875, and then Rock Creek Park, Sequoia and Yosemite in 1890.
PLAY, LEARN AND HAVE FUN!
61 U.S. National Parks
88 U.S. National Monuments
19 U.S. National Preserves
51 U.S. National Historic Parks
78 U.S. National Historic Sites
1 U.S. International Historic Site
4 U.S. National Battlefield Parks
9 U.S. National Military Parks
11 U.S. National Battlefields |
1 National Battlefield Site
29 National Memorials
18 National Recreation Areas
10 National Seashores
3 National Lakeshores
15 National Rivers
2 National Reserves
4 National Parkways
3 National Trails
11 other sites including the National Mall and National Capital Parks |
For a Total of 417 U.S. National Parks, Sites and Monuments
Download the National Park Service Index, a complete administrative listing of the National Park System’s areas and related areas. It has been revised to reflect congressional actions. The entries, grouped by state, include administrative addresses and phone numbers, dates of authorization and establishment, boundary change dates, acreages, website addresses, and brief statements explaining the areas’ national significance. This book is not intended as a guide for park visitors. There is no information regarding campgrounds, trails, visitor services, hours, etc. Those needing such information should go to each park’s website, accessible through the National Park Service home page: www.nps.gov
Next, download the trip planning guide and checklist. Make your fun adventure a safe one too! No one plans to get hurt while out exploring in a National Park. However, nature is unpredictable, structures are historical, and your equipment can unexpectedly fail. Planning can be the key to a fun and safe adventure. Remember, safety starts with you!
Leave No Trace Activity Playbook
DownloadSize 12.41 MB
Leave No Trace - Short Answer Questions Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 1.83 MB
A National Park Service Index 2012-2016
DownloadSize 6.24 MB
Trip Planning Guide National Park Service
DownloadSize 1.81 MB
National Park Finder App
iPhone, iPad, or iPod
Android Devices
"Explore, Learn, and Protect!" The Junior Ranger motto is recited by children around the country; each taking an oath of their own to protect parks, continue to learn about parks, and share their own ranger story with friends and family.
Read More:
National Park Service
Video: Every Kid in a Park
A Youth Educator’s Guide to Leave No Trace Activities, Games, and Experiential Curriculum
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics protects the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly. The Center accomplishes this mission by delivering cutting-edge education and research to millions of people every year.
Read More: LNT.org
Cook Fun Things
Kids love to be involved cooking their own food that can be cooked at the end of a stick. Introduce your kids to the camping tradition of roasting marshmallows and cooking hot dogs over a fire. Cooking in Camp for more tips, tricks and recipes for meals.
Camping Trip Safety Series
- Know Your Limits
- Plan Your Trip
- Park Requirements and Regulations
- In Case of Emergency
- Prepare – Gear Up!
Keep Your Pet Safe Too
If camping with your pet, be sure to follow these guidelines:
- Always keep your pet restrained.
- Check your pet for ticks.
- Do not leave your pet in a closed vehicle.
- If you are camping in bear country, camping with dogs can be more dangerous than elsewhere. Dogs can attract curious bears, and the interaction often leads to conflict, which can put your pet and you in danger.
Read More: Camping with Pets
Respect Wildlife
Follow these basic guidelines to ensure the safety of you and animals in the park with respect to wildlife:
- Do NOT feed wildlife under any circumstances. Feeding wildlife creates an expectation that they can receive food from you (and other campers) in the future. This can make them persistent and sometimes violent, and may attract wildlife to your site.
- Avoid contact with wildlife. While it is certainly tempting to approach wildlife, this can be very dangerous.
- Keep safe viewing distances. When watching wildlife, make sure to keep a safe distance. Your park may or may not have recommended viewing distances regarding certain wildlife.
Avoid attracting wildlife to your campsite with the following methods:
- Keep food secured in airtight containers. Not only will it be fresher, it will attract less unwanted attention from wildlife.
- Keep your food out of reach of wildlife. Generally, food can be stored in your car, but certain campgrounds may require the use of food storage lockers or other means of keeping food out of reach of wildlife.
- Keep your campsite clean. Collect any food packaging and food scraps in a waste bag and dispose of the waste in the campground's receptacle before you leave the camp or turn in for the night.
- Do not feed wildlife. Not only will they become more aggressive toward you, they will be more likely to be a nuisance for campers who use the site after you.
- Do not take food inside your tent. While it's tempting to have that midnight snack on hand, it will attract wildlife.
Outdoor Participation
Running, including jogging and trail running, was the most popular activity among Americans when measured by both number of participants and by number of total annual outings.
Walking for fitness was the most popular crossover activity. 45.8% of all outdoor participants also walked.
Adults who were introduced to the outdoors as children were more likely to participate in outdoor activities during adulthood than those who were not exposed to the outdoors as children. 38% of adults who were introduced to the outdoors during childhood grew up to enjoy outdoor activities as adults. Only 17% of adults who do not currently participate in any outdoor activities had outdoor experiences as children.
Adventure Activity Resources
All downloads in this category include Junior Ranger activity books available in each state park. Explore additional subcategories with activities to download for special exhibits, events and National Park Service programs. Be sure to check out other articles in this section for links to resources, information and videos.
Public Downloads
All items are free to view, share, and download.
Public Downloads - Español (Spanish)
When available, we provide all our content with a Spanish version in our public download section. You can find additional material from sources listed in all our articles.
Download Fishing Activities and Identification
Fish Identification for Common Fish Species PowerPoint
DownloadSize 12.02 MB
Fish Identification for Common Fish Species
DownloadSize 7.93 MB
Let's Go Fishing National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 10.77 MB
15 Awesome Alaska Fish Coloring Book
DownloadSize 5.46 MB
Alaska Sport Fishing Guide
DownloadSize 1.9 MB
Freshwater Fish Consumption Video
DownloadSize 2.22 MB
Guide to Salmon Identification and Fishing
DownloadSize 2.93 MB
Mercury Fish Consumption Video
DownloadSize 3.01 MB
Salmon Lifecycle Coloring Book
DownloadSize 1.56 MB
Saltwater Fish Consumption Video
DownloadSize 2.76 MB
Shellfish Consumption Video
DownloadSize 3.05 MB
Tropical Fish Consumption Video
DownloadSize 2.46 MB
Fishing ABC Coloring Book
DownloadSize 3.37 MB
Download Yellowstone Junior Ranger Activities
Yellowstone Junior Ranger National Park Activity Book 5-7
DownloadSize 2.45 MB
Yellowstone Junior Ranger National Park Activity Book 8-12
DownloadSize 2.87 MB
Yellowstone National Park 1938 Poster
DownloadSize 931.03 KB
Yellowstone National Park Lodges
DownloadSize 6.86 MB
Map of Yellowstone National Park
DownloadSize 3.67 MB
Yellowstone National Park Bison Baby's First Steps Video
DownloadSize 679.67 MB
Yellowstone National Park Safety
DownloadSize 182.1 MB
Download Hiking and Camping Activities, Information, and Resources
Hiking and Camping Picture Checklist Emergency Preparedness Kit
DownloadSize 179.87 KB
Hiking and Camping Picture Checklist Emergency Preparedness Kit Image
DownloadSize 137.14 KB
Smokey Bear Printable Campfire Checklist - Spanish
DownloadSize 1.74 MB
Smokey Bear Printable Campfire Checklist
DownloadSize 2.63 MB
California State Parks Activities Guide
DownloadSize 1.2 MB
Camping Equipment Checklist
DownloadSize 83.68 KB
Educate Kids to find Directions using a Compass Activity Challenges
DownloadSize 1.15 MB
Hiking Environmental Awareness Kids Worksheets
DownloadSize 83.97 KB
Hiking Merit Badge Workbook
DownloadSize 270.31 KB
Hiking Scavenger Hunt Activity Sheet
DownloadSize 1.8 MB
How to Maintain Personal Hygiene While Camping
DownloadSize 505.25 KB
Kids Camping and Recreation Activity Book
DownloadSize 1.28 MB
New York Camping and Recreation Guide
DownloadSize 7.83 MB
Sleepover & Camping Kids Activity Worksheets
DownloadSize 898.44 KB
Summer Camp Checklist
DownloadSize 294.36 KB
Hiking 10 Essentials
DownloadSize 10.2 MB
Download Glacier National Park Activities
Answer Key Glacier National Park Activities
DownloadSize 2.11 MB
Disappearing Glaciers - Connect the Dots Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 957.31 KB
Four Nations - Matching Game Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 1.47 MB
Glacier Bay Bears Sea Lions Gulls and Jays Coloring Sheet 2
DownloadSize 6.23 MB
Glacier Bay Mountains Streams Eagles and Salmon Coloring Sheet 3
DownloadSize 4.07 MB
Glacier Bay Outdoor Fun on the Water Coloring Sheet 1
DownloadSize 4.28 MB
Glacier Plants and Animals from A to Z Glacier National Park
DownloadSize 2.7 MB
Glacier Wildlife Coloring Book Glacier National Park
DownloadSize 491.48 KB
Habitats are Homes - Matching Activity Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 294.94 KB
Leave No Trace - Short Answer Questions Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 1.83 MB
Living Lightly - Crossword Puzzle Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 1.19 MB
Making Peace - Short Answer Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 1.26 MB
Montana Junior Ranger Glacier National Park Activity Book
DownloadSize 17.95 MB
Moving Through Glacier's History - Fill in the Blanks Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 1.19 MB
Native Names - Cryptogram Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 990.89 KB
Native Names - Word Search Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 947.41 KB
Plants and Animals From the Alphabet Coloring Book Glacier National Park
DownloadSize 6.18 MB
See America First - Maze Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 463 KB
Tree Coloring Book Glacier National Park
DownloadSize 2.49 MB
Tree Key 13 Different Conifers in Glacier National Park
DownloadSize 1.18 MB
Web Rangers National Park Service Wrangell-St Elias Activity Book
DownloadSize 596.65 KB
Wildflower and Shrub Coloring Book Glacier National Park
DownloadSize 2.91 MB
Wise About Wildlife - Fill in the Blank Glacier National Park Activity
DownloadSize 1.25 MB
Glacier National Park East Tunnel Video
DownloadSize 19.11 MB
Glacier National Park Oberlin Bend Video
DownloadSize 15.04 MB
GlacierRaw - Bighorn Sheep Video
DownloadSize 8.51 MB
GlacierRaw - Bull Moose Video
DownloadSize 9.88 MB
GlacierRaw - Mountain Goat Kids Video
DownloadSize 6.62 MB
Download Web Ranger Activity Books
A Guide to Web Rangers Activities for Educators
DownloadSize 1.18 MB
All About Bats National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 7.75 MB
Archeologist National Park Service Junior Ranger Ages 6-12 Activity Book
DownloadSize 6.67 MB
Be a Citizen Scientist National Park Service Public Lands Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 4.07 MB
Cave Scientist National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 12.34 MB
Centennial National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 3.59 MB
Eclipse Explorer National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 21.18 MB
Let's Go Fishing National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 10.77 MB
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Turns 50 Activity Book Toolkit and Answer Key
DownloadSize 3.7 MB
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Turns 50 Activity Book
DownloadSize 6.93 MB
Night Explorer National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 19.54 MB
Paleontologist National Park Service Junior Ranger Ages 5-12 Activity Book
DownloadSize 13.8 MB
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 5.35 MB
Underwater Explorer National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book - Spanish
DownloadSize 38.38 MB
Underwater Explorer National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 4.04 MB
Virginia Web Ranger Petersburg National Battlefield Activity Booklet
DownloadSize 1.44 MB
Wilderness Explorers National Park Service Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 3.84 MB
U.S. Forest Service Junior Forest Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 23.88 MB
U.S. Forest Service Junior Forest Ranger Adventure Guide - Spanish
DownloadSize 4.6 MB
U.S. Forest Service Junior Forest Ranger Adventure Guide
DownloadSize 23.88 MB
U.S. Forest Service Junior Snow Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 13.43 MB
MWAC Junior Ranger Archeology Program
DownloadSize 1.95 MB
SEAC Junior Ranger Archeologist Program Book
DownloadSize 4.46 MB
Download Yellowstone Junior Ranger Activities
Yellowstone Junior Ranger National Park Activity Book 5-7
DownloadSize 2.45 MB
Yellowstone Junior Ranger National Park Activity Book 8-12
DownloadSize 2.87 MB
Yellowstone National Park 1938 Poster
DownloadSize 931.03 KB
Yellowstone National Park Lodges
DownloadSize 6.86 MB
Map of Yellowstone National Park
DownloadSize 3.67 MB
Yellowstone National Park Bison Baby's First Steps Video
DownloadSize 679.67 MB
Yellowstone National Park Safety
DownloadSize 182.1 MB
Download Junior Ranger and State Park Program Activities, Information, and Resources
Download Files: Multi-State Parks
Download Files: Songs for Junior Rangers
Download Files: State Parks
A List of Links to Find Junior Ranger Pages for Specific Parks
DownloadSize 217.85 KB
A List of National Trail Junior Ranger Programs
DownloadSize 18.16 KB
Address and Contact Junior Ranger Badges and Patches
DownloadSize 93.03 KB
Find Junior Ranger Pages for Specific Parks
DownloadSize 218.14 KB
Independent State of Samoa Junior Ranger National Park of American Samoa Activity Book Samoan Version
DownloadSize 31.67 MB
Independent State of Samoa Junior Ranger National Park of American Samoa English Activity Book
DownloadSize 7.62 MB
Junior Ranger Book Morse Code
DownloadSize 44.9 KB
Junior Ranger Certificate Printing Guide
DownloadSize 661.29 KB
NASA Spaceflight Explorer Junior Ranger Activity Book
DownloadSize 6.74 MB
United States Territory of Guam Junior Ranger War In The Pacific National Historical Park Activity Book
DownloadSize 7.06 MB
Where to Request Badges and Patches
DownloadSize 92.69 KB
Download National Park Information and Resources
All National Registry of Natural Landmarks Listing by State and County
DownloadSize 570.89 KB
Every Kid in a Park Logo
DownloadSize 112.91 KB
Frederick Douglass Hat National Park Service Teaching with Museum Collections Lesson Plan
DownloadSize 154.77 KB
Introduction to World Heritage
DownloadSize 1.01 MB
Map of Recreational Visitors at each National Park
DownloadSize 571.43 KB
National Park Service Definitions for Fire and Wildfire
DownloadSize 357.84 KB
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes
DownloadSize 761.21 KB
The Roland W Robbins Excavations 1948-1953 Massachusetts Archaeology Saugus Iron Works eBook
DownloadSize 16.45 MB
Trip Planning Guide National Park Service
DownloadSize 1.81 MB
Washington DC National Mall Map
DownloadSize 2.3 MB
Map Learning Park Symbols
DownloadSize 101.24 KB
Map of Yellowstone National Park
DownloadSize 3.67 MB
Do Not Feed Wildlife Poster
DownloadSize 225.98 KB
The First Lady Celebrates the National Park Service Find Your Park
DownloadSize 15.29 MB
Ask a Ranger Getting Lost - Find Your Park
DownloadSize 24.34 MB
Ask a Ranger Wild Animals - Find Your Park
DownloadSize 23.51 MB
Ask a Ranger 10 Essentials - Find Your Park
DownloadSize 20.51 MB
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site Youth Summer Leadership Institute Flyer
DownloadSize 1.42 MB
Download Environmental and Educational Activity Guides, Information, and Resources
A National Park Service Index 2012-2016
HOTDownloadSize 6.24 MB
All Seasons Safety Activity Book
DownloadSize 8.45 MB
An Overview of Nature eBook
DownloadSize 43.9 MB
Book of Stuff To Do
DownloadSize 3.28 MB
Environmental Games and Activities
DownloadSize 3.4 MB
Spend Time in Nature Parent Guide
DownloadSize 375.16 KB
History of the National Park Service from Wikipedia
DownloadSize 1.05 MB
History of Women In the National Park Service
DownloadSize 538.42 KB
Leave No Trace Activity Playbook
DownloadSize 12.41 MB
Do Not Feed Wildlife Poster
DownloadSize 225.98 KB
Finding My Forest Tools to Re-connect with Nature Education Activity Guide
DownloadSize 3.54 MB
Video Playlist: National Park Service
