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Voyageurs Virtual Ranger Online Activity

Jr ranger badge with a beaver in the middle wearing a ranger hat.
Junior Rangers are special people who are dedicated to their National Parks. Their mission is to explore, learn, and protect, and to have fun while doing it!

While you can earn your Junior Ranger badge on your visit to Voyageurs National Park, we have also put together an opportunity for you to become a Voyageurs National Park Virtual Ranger.

Using the pages of our website, you can complete the quiz below to earn your Virtual Ranger badge! When you finish, download and print your badge to add to your collection!

To reveal the answers below, slide over the question when you are ready.
Text that reads How many birds are in voyageurs national park? Text that reads How many birds are in voyageurs national park?

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How many birds are in voyageurs national park?

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Answer: Slide to reveal

Voyageurs has a wonderful assortment of protected habitats that create a swath of relatively untouched wild area stretching across much of the northernmost reaches of Minnesota. Voyageurs is where the southern edge of the boreal forest meets the northern tip of the hardwood forest. The diversity of shapes, sizes, and species of the trees in this forest type provide a wide selection of nesting options. 

How many species of birds are found in Voyageurs National Park? Click here for a hint. 

A white wolf stands in the snow. A white wolf stands in the snow.

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Answer: Slide to reveal

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What is the population of wolves in Voyageurs National Park?

With over 120,000 acres of land, Voyageurs offers abundant forest habitat for the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus). Also called the Timber Wolf, this animal is the dominant predator in Voyageurs and primarily feeds on deer, moose, and beaver. 

What is the population of wolves in Voyageurs National Park? Click here for a hint.

 

Text How long does it take your eyes to adjust to the dark? Text How long does it take your eyes to adjust to the dark?

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How long does it take your eyes to adjust to the dark?

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Answer: Slide to reveal

The night sky is filled with wonder. From the Moon to Mars, the Milky Way to meteors, a whole new world is waiting for you to step outside and look up. With its exceptional dark skies, Voyageurs offers many ways to embrace the night. 

How long does it take your eyes to adjust to the dark? Click here for a hint.

A canoe with the national park service logo sits in the water. A canoe with the national park service logo sits in the water.

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What is the difference between front country and backcountry campsites at Voyageurs National Park?

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Answer: Slide to reveal

All Frontcountry and Backcountry campsites are water-based, require a permit, and can only be accessed by boat. Most campsites in the park are Frontcountry sites, and 15 are in the Backcountry. 

What is the difference between front country and backcountry campsites at Voyageurs National Park? Click here for a hint. 

Text what were the French-Canadian canoemen of the fur trade called? Text what were the French-Canadian canoemen of the fur trade called?

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What were the French-Canadian canoemen of the fur trade called?

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Answer: Slide to reveal

These canoemen paddled large birch bark canoes carrying trade goods and furs between the Canadian northwest and Montreal. 

What were the French-Canadian canoemen of the fur trade called? Click here for a hint. 

A felt top hat. A felt top hat.

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Answer: Slide to reveal

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During the fur trade, what animal’s fur was sought after in order to make fancy hats?

The voyageurs were prompted by competition over the diminishing supply of furs in the east, and were the first Europeans to explore the northwest territory and to engage the indigenous peoples in the trade of furs on a commercial scale. 

During the fur trade, what animal’s fur was sought after in order to make fancy hats? Click here for a hint. 

text reads In 1780,  who were the primary residents in the area that is now Voyageurs National Park? text reads In 1780,  who were the primary residents in the area that is now Voyageurs National Park?

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In 1780,  who were the primary residents in the area that is now Voyageurs National Park?

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Answer: Slide to reveal

They had become the primary residents of the border lakes region, and they played a key role in commerce as suppliers of food, furs, and canoes. They were also guides during the fur trade, their intimate knowledge of the geography and resources was crucial to the European fur traders. 

In 1780,  who were the primary residents in the area that is now Voyageurs National Park? Click here for a hint. 

A glacial erratic (large rock) in sitting in a large body of water. A glacial erratic (large rock) in sitting in a large body of water.

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Answer: Slide to reveal

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How old is the oldest rock in the park?

Voyageurs National Park is one of the few places in North America where you can see and touch rocks half the age of the Earth. The exposed rock you see all around you is the southern edge of the volcanic bedrock that forms the core of the continent and is from the birth of North America. 

How old is the oldest rock in the park? Click here for a hint. 

text reads What frogs are the first to emerge in the spring and start singing? text reads What frogs are the first to emerge in the spring and start singing?

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What frogs are the first to emerge in the spring and start singing?

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Answer: Slide to reveal

As a water-based park, Voyageurs National Park supports many types of wetlands, such as sphagnum-peat bogs, wooded swamps, and marshes. These wetlands, along with the many lakes that make up Voyageurs National Park, provide the habitat that amphibians need to survive and reproduce. This wide array of aquatic habitats is ideal because all amphibians rely on water at some point during their lifetime. 

What frogs are the first to emerge in the spring and start singing? Click here for a hint. 

 

Jr ranger badge with a beaver in the middle wearing a ranger hat.

Great work! Now it's time to collect your badge.


To download your virtual ranger badge, right click and "save image as" jpeg. Navigate to your downloads folder and open the image on your computer. From there you can print.



A few ideas for displaying your badge:
  • Print your badge, use it as a template to cut a piece of cardboard matching the shape, and then glue the paper and a pin onto the cardboard.
  • Use tape to secure it into your passport or scrapbook.
  • Set it as your background on a phone or tablet.

Last updated: November 9, 2020