The National Park Rangers who work for Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail need your help to protect and preserve the Trail. Many different people and groups help rangers to do their jobs. You can help too. As a junior ranger, you help by learning about the stories of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and sharing these stories with others.

How can you become a Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Junior Ranger?

First you'll need to print out the questions. You can save paper by clicking the "Printer Friendly" button in the upper right corner of this page. If you are able to download a large file, you can also print a PDF file (634kb) of the questions.

Step 1: Answer the questions.
If you are from7 to 10 years old, answer at least 10 questions to earn your junior ranger patch.
If you are from11 to 111 years old, answer at least 15 questions to earn your junior ranger patch.

Step 2: Tell us who you are.
After you’ve answered the questions, complete the “Who Am I” information so we know where to send your patch.

Step 3: Mail it in.
Mail your answers to the address listed below. A Park Ranger will review your work. If you've done a good job and seem to be pretty knowledgeable about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Ranger will mail you a patch and you will be certified as an official Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Junior Ranger.

Here’s a Hint Just for You
The answers to the first 15 questions can be found somewhere on our website. We've provided some clues about where to search.

The answers to the first three questions can be found right on our home page (www.nps.gov/lecl):
1. In 1803 the President of the United States gave instructions about what the Expedition should do. One of the main goals was to search for what?

2. Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail can be found in what eleven states?

3. Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery explored mountains, prairies, deserts, and many different waterways. What were the two primary rivers that they traveled?

Answers to the next three questions can be found on the  Frequently Asked Questions (www.nps.gov/lecl/faqs.htm) section of our web site:
4. The members of the Corps of Discovery must have been very brave to leave their homes for such a long time and explore territory unknown to them. What date did they leave Camp Dubois to begin the trip? What date did the expedition finally return to St. Louis?

5. What was the name of the only member of the Corps who died during the Expedition? What is thought to be his cause of death?

6. Approximately how many miles is the Trail?

Many people were involved - directly and indirectly - in the Expedition. Learn more about a few of them by answering the next six questions. All the answers can be found somewhere within the People (www.nps.gov/historyculture/people.htm)pages. Start your research here:
7. What are the first names of Captains Lewis and Clark?

8. The Expedition wasn't the first time Lewis and Clark worked together. How did they first meet?

9. In 1803, Lewis was a student. While preparing for the expedition he studied under some of Philadelphia's best scientists. Name at least three of the other jobs and titles he held in his lifetime?

10. Which of our Presidents sent Lewis and Clark to explore the land of the Louisiana Purchase?

11. Name the American Indian woman who traveled with Lewis and Clark? What is the name of her tribe?

12. Name of the only African-American on the expedition? What were some of his contributions to the Corps of Discovery?

Drawing an accurate map was one of Captain Clark’s most important jobs. Examine the map (www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/upload/lecl%20map.pdf) of the National Historic Trail to answer the next three questions.
13. On their journey, the Corps of Discovery traveled up the Missouri River until they reached the headwaters, or the very beginning of the river. Then they traveled over the mountains. In what state are the headwaters of the Missouri River?

14. On the map you will find the names of more than thirty different American Indian tribes whose homelands Lewis and Clark passed through. List at least five of the tribes.

15. Look at the map and see if the trail is near your hometown. Even if you live far away, what trail site appears to be the closest to your home? Also look at the map and list the trail site that you think would be the most interesting to visit. Why is it interesting to you?

PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAPS… The last five questions don’t really have any right or wrong answers. Be creative and have fun!
16. In 1803, as he planned for the journey, Captain Lewis bought many things. His purchases included gifts for the American Indians he met, medicine in case of illness, and tools to repair the boats. If you were going to travel the Trail today, what would you take with you? Why would you take those things?

17. Complete the following sentence:
If I were a Park Ranger and worked on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, I would help preserve and protect the Trail’s important places by…

18. Many members of the Corps of Discovery kept journals and wrote about what they saw and did on the journey. In his very first entry of the journey, Captain Clark wrote, “I set out at 4 o'clock P.M. in the presence of many … and proceeded on under a gentle breeze up the Missouri.” If you read the journals (http://libtextcenter.unl.edu/lewisandclark/index.html) from their journey, you'll discover that Captains Lewis and Clark were not very good spellers.
Imagine that you are on a similar expedition and heading out on your very first day. Write about how you feel and what you’re thinking about. (For fun you may try to spell incorrectly.)

19. Many of the stories of the Expedition come from the journals, or diaries, that Lewis, Clark and other men in the group kept. Instead of writing down their stories, American Indian tribes have long told stories of what happened in the past. Ask one of your relatives to tell you a family story that you've never heard before and then write it down in your own words. (You can use additional pages if necessary.)

20. One of William Clark's missions was to draw a map of the land as they traveled. Your last mission is to draw a map from your house to your nearest library. At the library, you can find books to help you learn more about Lewis and Clark. (Use an additional page.)

You did it!
Now fill out your name and address and mail your work to:
Lewis and Clark Junior Web Ranger
601 Riverfront Drive
Omaha, NE 68106

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