Theodore Roosevelt National Park scavenger hunt for kids

What makes Theodore Roosevelt National Park worth investigating

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a national park in North Dakota. When Theodore Roosevelt came to Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883, he was a skinny, young, spectacled dude from New York. He could not have imagined how his adventure in this remote and unfamiliar place would forever alter the course of the nation. The rugged landscape and strenuous life that TR experienced here would help shape a conservation policy that we still benefit from today.

Theodore Roosevelt came to North Dakota in 1883 to hunt bison and ended up buying a cattle ranch. His experiences here inspired him to become America's greatest conservation president.

Painted Canyon with layers of red, brown, and gray rock. Wild horses and bison roaming freely. Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin. Petrified forest with ancient stone trees. The best seasons to visit are spring, summer, and fall. In winter, some or all park roads may be closed due to snow.

10 things to look for

Use this as an observation menu, not a race. Choose fewer items for younger children, pause for questions and sketches, and leave every natural and historic object where it belongs.

• Painted Canyon Geology
  A colorful canyon with bands of red, orange, and gray
• Wild horses Wildlife
  Feral horses roaming free through the badlands Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Bison Wildlife
  Large shaggy animals grazing in the valleys Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Maltese Cross Cabin History
  Theodore Roosevelt's original log cabin from the 1880s
• Petrified wood Geology
  Ancient trees turned to colorful stone
• Prairie dog town Wildlife
  A colony of prairie dogs with many burrow holes Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Coal vein Geology
  Dark layers of coal exposed in the canyon walls
• Cannonball concretions Geology
  Perfectly round rock balls formed by minerals
• Elk Wildlife
  Large deer with impressive antlers Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Cottonwood trees Nature
  Trees along the Little Missouri River

Checklist items describe things a visitor might observe. A sighting is never guaranteed. Do not approach wildlife, cross barriers, leave approved areas, or handle protected objects to complete an item.

Adapt the hunt by age

Turn “I want to go there” into a family plan

1. The child finds Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the HomeSchool.You park catalog and taps the heart.
2. The parent receives an in-app alert that the child wants to visit.
3. Theodore Roosevelt National Park appears in the child’s Travel Wish List inside the parent area.
4. The family chooses timing together, checks current conditions, and prints or opens this hunt.
5. After exploring, the child can save visit memories and progress in the park passport.

Respect the place

An adult should supervise the entire visit. Observe wildlife from the required distance, stay on allowed routes, follow posted and ranger instructions, pack out waste, and do not collect plants, rocks, cultural objects, or animals. HomeSchool.You is an independent learning platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service or any state or local park agency.

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