ESCAPE to Colorado National Monument Stop 4

Scenic stop on the Alcove Nature Trail

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Colorado National Monument

This is the fourth stop along the ESCAPE to Colorado National Monument experience. The purpose of this activity is to build your mental agility by solving logic questions. There are two activity options. One is more challenging, and one is less challenging. You can do both, but only one is needed to reveal the next code word. Once the activity is complete, you can answer the clue to release the fourth code word. 

Less Challenging Problem-Solving Question 

Animals adapt to the environments they live in. These changes help animals survive. There are several cool animals at Colorado National Monument that thrive in this environment because of their special adaptations. Can you match the adaptations to the animals? Choose from the following animals:

Desert Cottontail, Striped Skunk, Lizard, Mule Deer, Peregrine Falcon, Red-spotted Toad.    

Adaptation 1: I skydive from canyon rims as fast as 200 mph to capture prey, usually smaller birds, or rodents.  

Adaptation 2: My big ears release heat to help me regulate body temperature  

Adaptation 3: I have a seat patch that helps me absorb water from the soil  

Adaptation 4: I am an omnivore, so I eat plants and animals  

Adaptation 5: I eat only plants. I am an herbivore.   

Adaptation 6: When it is cold outside, I store fat in my tail.
    

Select from the list of animals above and match to their adaptation.

More Challenging Problem-Solving Question

Layers of soil, rock, and debris are called “stratigraphy.” There are many layers within Colorado National Monument. Unfortunately, we have mixed up the order of the layers and we need your help putting them back in order from oldest to youngest. The layers include the following:

Wingate, Entrada, Morrison, Kayenta, Precambrian Basement, and Chinle.    

Follow the hints to put these in the correct order from oldest to youngest:   

Hint 1: Precambrian Basement must come before all.   

Hint 2: Entrada is not the newest layer  

Hint 3: Entrada comes after Wingate but is not directly above it   

Hint 4: Chinle came before Wingate  

Hint 5: Wingate is older than Kayenta  

Hint 6: Morrison comes after Entrada

Put the six layers in order from oldest to youngest.

Fourth Code Clue

Less challenging clue: “When it is cold outside, I store food in my fat tail. What animal am I?”  

More challenging clue: In order from oldest to youngest, what is the fifth layer?  

Write down your answer(s) and save it/them for later. Consider designating a “code keeper” in the group to remember or keep track of the code-words.    

Now that you have your word(s), move to “ESCAPE to Colorado National Monument Stop 5” to continue.

Want More?

Did you enjoy working on your mental abilities? Consider doing both activities on this page. If you want even more, ask in the Visitor Center about the Junior Ranger Program!