Garden of the Gods Park Junior Ranger Activity Guide

GARDEN OF THE GODS PARK
Have fun learning about the park’s: GEOLOGY ● MAMMALS ● REPTILES ● BIRDS ● INSECTS ● PLANTS ● DINOSAURS

Welcome future Junior Rangers!
You’re on the path to becoming a Junior Ranger and that
means you care about the Garden of the Gods Park.
You’re taking the time to learn about the Park and
want to help protect it. Follow the directions
below and when you finish, you’ll earn a
Junior Ranger Badge and certificate!
How to become a Junior Ranger
1
2
3
Look through this book and choose five pages that you would like
to do. (Of course you may do more than five!) Our Junior Ranger
mascots, Maggie and Theio, will help you pick fun pages.
Choose at least one activity you would like to do from the list.
These activities will help you learn about the Garden of the Gods
Park and they will help you complete the pages in the booklet.
Once again, you may do more than one activity!
When you’ve completed your activities and five pages, take
this booklet to the Information Desk at the Visitor and Nature Center.
Ask a Volunteer or Park Interpreter to look at your work. If you’ve done
a good job, you’ll receive your badge and they’ll sign your certificate!
Hi!
Hi!
I’m Maggie the Magpie. I live year-round in
Garden of the Gods Park. Look for me if you
want activities for
younger rangers.
I’m a dinosaur called Theiophytalia kerri, but you
can call me Theio. My skull was found in Garden
of the Gods Park and nowhere else. Look for me
if you want activities
for older rangers.
Learn more about me in the Geology Hall
at the Visitor and Nature Center.
Learn more about me in the Flora and
Fauna Hall at the Visitor and Nature Center.

ACTIVITY LIST
● Go on a free Nature Walk. Walks are
daily at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. starting
at the Central Garden Trailhead, near
Parking Lot 2.
ADMIT
ONE
● See the Geo Trekker
movie presentation
in the Visitor and Nature Center.
● Listen to a free naturalist’s talk at the Visitor and Nature Center.
What talk did you attend?
_________________________________________________________________
● Visit Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, which is
part of Garden of the Gods Park.
● Do the outdoor “I-Spy” or
the Indoor Scavenger Hunt
in the Visitor and Nature Center. (Ask for the free
sheets at the Information Desk.)
● Talk to a Park Docent. You could ask
them any question about the Park, or
simply tell them about your favorite rocks
or animals.
1

Like Nowhere Else on Earth
What makes the Garden of the Gods Park so special?
Why has the Park been honored with the title of
“National Natural Landmark?” There are many reasons:
GEOLOGY
The Park is a geologist’s dream.
The rocks and landforms
here reveal the history
of this land over time.
Earthquake fault lines,
fossils and the different types
of rocks all tell a story of
changing environments
over millions of years.
UNIQUE
ANIMALS
Two very special and very different animals were discovered
here. A dinosaur named Theiophytalia kerri was found in the
Cretaceous rock layers within the park. Theios means
“belonging to the gods,” and phytalia means “garden.” Kerri is
after James Kerr, the scientist who first discovered the skull.
This dinosaur has not been found anywhere else in the world.
Another animal first discovered here
is a kind of ant, commonly called a
honey ant. Its scientific name,
Myrmecocystus mexicanus hortideorm
means “sac-like Mexican Ant from
Garden of the Gods.” This honey ant
is found throughout the southwestern
U.S. and into Mexico.
SCENERY
The Garden has beautiful scenery and unusual geology.
Over the last 175 years visitors have described the Park as
“majestic” and “fit for the Gods.”
PLANTS &
ANIMALS
The Park has a mixture of plants and animals from the
many ecosystems that are found here. It is the kind of
environment where a Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
may have to step around a Prairie Rattlesnake.
HUMAN VISITORS
This land also has a long history of
human visitors. People have been
coming to these red rocks for over
3,000 years! Before there were the
cities of Manitou Springs and Colorado
City, people in this area did not make or
build a permanent place to live. These
people were called ‘nomadic.’ Nomadic
people, including the American Indians,
were here until the 1870s.
2

How DID Those Red Rocks Get There?
How would you answer that question? After
you’ve explored the geology exhibits and/or
watched the Geo Trekker theater presentation
at the Visitor and Nature Center, you should
be able to complete this page.
What evidence do scientists use to show that Garden of the Gods was
once covered by sand dunes?
____________________________________________________________
Was this area ever covered by an ocean?
____________________________________________________________
How did the rock layers get to be standing up from lying flat?
____________________________________________________________
Now that the rocks are upright, what natural forces helped to shape the rocks?
____________________________________________________________
What do you think this area will look like in 10,000 years?
____________________________________________________________
What formations did you see during your visit?
❑ Kissing Camels ❑ Gateway Rocks ❑ Three Graces
❑ Sleeping Giant ❑ Balanced Rock ❑ Siamese Twins
Draw your favorite rocks!
3

i
i
Honey of an Ant
Ants can be found almost
anywhere. They are social
insects and have large
families or colonies all
living together. In an
ant colony, each ant
has a specific job to
do that helps the
entire colony. Some
ants are workers or
a queen who lays
eggs.
START
An unusual type of ant
was found in the
Garden of the Gods,
called a honey ant.
These ants store food
inside some of their
bodies! The ant storing
the food is called
a replete.
The replete’s only job
is to store food while
the other worker ants
take care of them. If
you were an ant in a
colony who would
you like to be?
❏ Worker
❏ Queen
❏ Replete
Learn more at the Flora and
Fauna Hall at the Visitor
and Nature Center.
END 5
4

Habitat Means Homes
A habitat, or an ecosystem, is where an animal
or a plant lives. There must be enough shelter,
food and water for them to live there.
Can you draw a line to where each animal
would live in Garden of the Gods Park?
P R A I R
I E
F A L C O N
B I G H O R N
S H E E P
ON THE CLIFFS
✘
M U L E D E E R
ON THE ROCKS
✘
M AG P I E
ON THE HILLS
✘
S C R U B
J AY
ON THE BUSHES
✘
IN THE SCRUB OAK
✘
R A B B I T
UNDER BUSHES
✘
R AT T L E S N A K E
BELOW GROUND ✘
IN THE GRASS
5
✘
HO N E Y A N T
Wild animals live here,
please respect their homes.

Pikes Peak Library District photo.
American Indians
in Garden of the Gods
Can you picture what this
land of red rocks looked
like 300 years ago? There
were no towns, no roads and
only well-worn trails. American Indians lived
here during the winter.
The Ute, Comanche, Apache, Cheyenne,
Arapaho and Lakota Indians all traveled
through Colorado. These American Indians did
not build permanent villages but traveled with
the seasons, following the game animals. The
Ute Pass trail, heading northwest from the
Garden of the Gods into the mountains, was
once a major travel route.
For the Ute people, the land near the tall red
rocks was their traditional winter home.
During the summer they moved into the
nearby mountains.
As the settlement of Colorado City grew in the
1870s, the Ute people were forced to give up
their land and move to southwestern Colorado.
Learn more about the Ute people in their exhibit called
“The Red Rock People” at the Visitor and Nature Center.
Word Search
C U T E F X L A K O T A
L F I C O L O R A D O M
Z N P E O P L E B K W E
T S I N D I A N S G
G R
T R A V E L P O U C A I
S L A M I N A L I O R C
E W U I J Q C W Z M D A
A G P X L W H U J A E N
S D O G C H E Y E N N E
O A R A P A H O I C P T
N U G N I D A R T H J G
S U G S K C O R D E R X
❑ UTE ❑ TIPI ❑ INDIANS ❑ APACHE ❑ ANIMALS ❑ FOOD ❑ CHEYENNE
❑ COMANCHE ❑ ARAPAHO ❑ TRAIL ❑ LAKOTA ❑ AMERICAN ❑ RED ROCKS
❑ COLORADO ❑ SEASONS ❑ PEOPLE ❑ GARDEN ❑ GODS ❑ TRAVEL
Note: Some words are backwards!
6

Going Back in Time
Can you imagine camping here and living off the land as the American Indians did over
200 years ago? Explore the history exhibits in the Visitor and Nature Center to help you
find answers to the questions below. Think about this information as you visit the Park.
You need to camp near water. Where could you find water in the Park?______________________________________________________
What type of shelter would you use?______________________________________________________________________________________
What type of food would you eat and how would you get it?________________________________________________________________
What kind of clothes would you wear and where would you get them?_______________________________________________________
What would you do for fun?______________________________________________________________________________________________
What part of your life today would you miss the most?______________________________________________________________________
7

Safety on the Trail
Safety is number one! Are you prepared for a change
in the weather? Do you know what to do if you come
across a snake? Fill in the blanks using the words given.
There is one or more silly word in each list!
Walking Trails
It’s always best to hike with someone else. If you have an accident, you
have someone go for ___________________. Always tell someone about
your walk and when you will return. Always take a bottle of ______________
with you and drink often. If you are ____________________, make a lot of
noise and yell for help.
hot cocoa help dog lost water
Lightning
Summer rain storms in Colorado bring lots of thunder and __________________. In Colorado,
a few people are _______________________ by lightning every year or seriously injured.
At the first sound of __________________head for shelter in either a car or a building. Don’t
run under a __________________, because lightning often strikes them. The safest thing to
do is not to go out in the open when a __________________ is happening.
tree puddles lightning storm struck thunder
8

Watching Wildlife
The Garden of the Gods Park is home for many animals. Most animals
will run or______________off if you walk toward them. Your best chance
to ___________them is to stand still at a distance. If you hike quietly, you
may spot a rabbit, mule deer or even a bighorn ______________.
dance fly sheep watch camel
Close Encounters
Mountain lions and black ____________do
live here in the foothills, but they are rarely
seen. If you should come upon one, do not
run; these animals have a___________
instinct. Put up your _______________ to
make yourself appear bigger, back away
slowly and talk softly to the animal. Try
not to make eye contact.
Rattlesnakes also live in the park. That’s a
good reason to stay on the marked
________________ . If you find yourself
near a snake, just back off slowly.
Rattlesnakes only strike to ______________
themselves. If you are bitten, seek medical
care as quickly
as possible.
arms
bears
chase
protect
tickle
trails
9

Nature Hike
Bingo
Take an adult for a hike in the
Park and look for things that
are on this bingo game.
When you see something
from the squares, make a mark.
If you can mark off five squares
in a row (down, across or
diagonally), you have won the
game! Try to find all of them
for fun!
10
Remember to stay on the trails
and leave each discovery where
you found it so other explorers
can find it, too.

YUCCA
FLOWER
TRASH CAN
SQUIRREL
HOLE IN ROCK
CACTUS
WHITE ROCK ACORN OR SEED NEST TREE GROWING
ON ROCK
FREE SPACE
ROCK CLIMBER
BEE OR OTHER INSECT
GARDEN OF THE GODS
VISITOR CENTER
ROCK PIGEON
PIKES PEAK
GAMBEL OAK LEAVES
KISSING CAMELS ROCK
BALANCED ROCK
PINE CONE
RABBIT
TALL RED ROCK
PINE TREE
MAGPIE
MULE DEER
11

A Time to Discover
Write down things that you:
Find a quiet place in the park, but don’t go off the trail!
Sit down, listen and watch carefully for at least two minutes.
Saw
Heard
Touched
Smelled
What was the weather like?
Whenever you can, sit quietly and listen to the sounds of nature.
12

Draw a picture of what you experienced.
13

The City’s Park
The City of Colorado
Springs is the proud
owner of the Garden
of the Gods Park. The
city was given the land
in December of 1909.
What a great gift!
The family of a wealthy man had owned the
land, but they wanted to preserve and share
the natural beauty. This land was given to the
city on the condition that the Park remain
open and free to the public forever.
The city operates the Park with the assistance
of its dedicated workers and volunteers. These
people are responsible for trail building, litter
control and presenting informative walks and
talks. Read about the land donated to the city
on the dedication plaque located on the south
end of North Gateway Rock in the Central
Garden area.
Find the plaque and fill in the missing words:
THE GARDEN OF THE ___________
GIVEN TO
THE CITY OF COLORADO______________
IN 1909 BY THE _________________
OF CHARLES ELLIOT __________________
IN FULFILLMENT OF HIS ______________
THAT IT BE KEPT FOREVER
_________TO THE PUBLIC
dhilCenr odGs eFer Sngsri
maeCls sWhi ePrikns iytC
14

Leave No Trace
People who come to natural parks or open spaces should leave
the place as it is: natural and wild. This rule is called ‘Leave No Trace.’
It means that people should not change the area by littering,
carving on rocks, or feeding the animals. If you ‘take only pictures,
leave only footprints,’ the natural area stays wild. Plants and
animals will grow and live naturally, without people.
Then, other explorers can enjoy the wild place!
Check the box when you find
these visitors hurting the park.
❑ Person picking flowers ❑ Person off trail ❑ Person picnicking and making a mess
❑ Person carving on the rocks ❑ Person taking a rock ❑ Person feeding wildlife
15

Critters in the Garden
1
Look for animals that live in Garden
of the Gods Park in the puzzle below.
Color in the Nature Neighbors that you find.
DOWN
1. This rodent runs along the ground and
has a bushy tail.
2
2. This big black and white bird has a
loud squawk that sounds like
“mag! mag!”
4
3
3. This animal has big ears, like a mule.
The babies have spots.
5
4. This is the Colorado’s State Mammal.
The males have thick, curled horns.
ACROSS
5. This bird is one of the fastest flyers.
It hunts other birds.
6
6. These flying insects pollinate plants
and build hives of honeycomb.
7. This reptile looks a lot like a
rattlesnake, but is not poisonous.
7
8. These insects live underground
in colonies where they store
food in their bodies for
others to eat.
8
CLUES:
MAGPIE
BIGHORNSHEEP
PRAIRIEFALCON
MULEDEER
ROCKSQUIRREL
BULLSNAKE
HONEYBEES
HONEYANTS
17

What to Take on a Hike
The best way to enjoy nature is to plan and prepare before
you leave. Check the things you should take with you when
you hike a trail.
❏ Jacket
❏ Toys
❏ Water
❏ Skateboard
❏ Snacks
❏ Drone
❏ Sunscreen
❏ Phone
❏ Friend
❏ Hat
❏ Laptop
❏ First Aid Kit
❏ Headphones
❏ Map
Always remember to tell someone where you are going and when you will be back from a hike.
18

What do you know?
Whooo,
me?
Whooo,
me?
Whooo,
me?
Who,
us?
Circle TRUE or FALSE for each statement.
1. The Garden of the Gods Park is free and open to everyone. T F
2. Sometimes there are bighorn sheep and bears in the Park. T F
3. It is OK to carve on the rocks. T F
4. There are rattlesnakes in the Park. T F
5. It is OK to take pictures and share them. T F
6. Walking off the trails does not damage the Park. T F
7. A dinosaur fossil was found in the Park. T F
8. Pikes Peak is over 14,000 feet high. T F
9. The Ute Indians lived in this area. T F
10. It is OK to feed wild animals. T F
19

Thank you for your interest in Garden of the Gods and in our Junior Ranger Program!
We are so glad you became a Junior Ranger.
What was the best thing you experienced? ________________________________________________________________
Acknowledgments
The Garden of the Gods Junior Ranger Program is sponsored by the Friends
of Garden of the Gods (FOGG) a nonprofit organization. FOGG is committed to
children’s education and the goal of encouraging them to help preserve
Garden of the Gods Park.
In Cooperation With:
The City of Colorado Springs,
Cultural Services
The Friends of Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods Foundation
Authors:
Bret Tennis
Jennifer Heiny
Graphic Design & Illustrations:
Maureen Long
Did You Know?
Did you know that Garden of the Gods is
a City park and not a National or State
park? The original piece of land, which
includes most of the majestic rock
formations, was given to the City of
Colorado Springs in 1909. While Garden
of the Gods has changed and grown ever
since, it has remained a City of Colorado
Springs Park.
20

COLORADO
SPRINGS
parks ∙ recreation ∙ cultural services
GARDEN OF THE GODS
VISITOR & NATURE CENTER
1805 N. 30th St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
719-634-6666
www.gardenofgods.com
HABITAT ● WILDLIFE WATCHING ● HIKING TIPS ● PARK HISTORY