gunflint trail explorer adventure booklet - Chik

GUNFLINT TRAIL EXPLORER
ADVENTURE BOOKLET
This booklet belongs to:
Name: Date:
WELCOME TO
THE GUNFLINT TRAIL!
The Gunflint Trail area is filled with things to discover and activities to do. People have lived here
for thousands of years. It is a place of beauty, wonder, and stories.
A Gunflint Trail Explorer is a very important person who appreciates plants and animals that live
here and who understands Gunflint Trail history. When you have completed this adventure booklet,
you’ll be able to teach others about what makes this place special.
To become a Gunflint Trail Explorer:
THINGS YOU’LL NEED:
r Gather all the “Things You’ll Need.”
RED SQUIRREL
TRACKS
5-7 years old
BLACK BEAR
TRACKS
8-11 years old
©Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway • www.chikwauk.com
MOOSE
TRACKS
12 and up
White-tailed Deer
Red Squirrel
Age Groups
Moose
White-tailed Deer
Ruffed Grouse
Red Squirrel
White-tailed Deer
r Return to Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature
Center or the Gunflint Ranger Station with
your completed booklet to receive your
Gunflint Trail Explorer award.
Ruffed Grouse
Black Bear
r Complete four additional sections that match
your age group. Look at the animal tracks
below to find your age group and find these
tracks at the top of each activity.
Black Bear
Moose
•This booklet
•A pencil
•Crayons/markers
•A ruler
•Extra supplies if you decide to
do the “Pond in a Jar” activity
•Curiosity!
r Complete Section One: “The Wilderness.”
Each year, thousands of people come to the Gunflint Trail to do countless activities like camp,
hike, fish, canoe, boat, and experience the area’s beauty. The Gunflint Trail is sometimes called
a “wilderness” because it is an area where few people live. A special part of the Gunflint Trail region
is called the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. To make sure people enjoy their time here
and to keep the wilderness from being damaged, we need to understand what makes this area special.
To complete this section, do one of the activities listed below.
OPTION ONE:
BWCAW
Informational Video
Ask a ranger at the Gunflint
Ranger Station to show you
the short video about the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness. Watch carefully;
the ranger will ask you some
questions as soon as you’re
done watching.
Have the ranger sign below
once you’re done with the
quiz:
OPTION TWO:
Becoming a Boundary
Waters Family Seminar
OPTION THREE:
Naturalist
Presentation
Attend a Becoming a Boundary Waters Family outfitter
seminar. (Schedule available
at the Grand Marais Tourism
Office, the Gunflint Ranger
Station, or at Chik-Wauk front
desk.)
Attend a hike or naturalist
presentation at Chik-Wauk
Museum and Nature Center.
(Schedule available at the
Gunflint Ranger Station, the
Grand Marais Tourism Office,
or at Chik-Wauk front desk.)
Have the outfitter sign below
at the end of the program:
Have the naturalist sign
below after the program:
Moose
Moose
Black Bear
Black Be
Red Squi
Ruffed Grou
Ruffed Gro
White-tailed
Moose
Black B
Ruffed Gro
SECTION ONE: The Wilderness
It may seem that humans have hardly touched this area of the world, but people have been living
and working here for thousands of years. If you look carefully, you can see signs of the humans who
came before us.
To complete this section, visit one of the historical places listed.
OPTION ONE:
Chik-Wauk Museum &
Nature Center
For nearly a century (100 years)
the Gunflint Trail and the area
surrounding has been a popular
vacation spot where people come
to fish, camp, hike, enjoy winter
recreation and relax. More than
60 businesses have existed here,
providing visitors with places
to stay, food to eat, and other
supplies.
One of these businesses was
Chik-Wauk Lodge, located on
Saganaga Lake at the end of the
Gunflint Trail. Chik-Wauk Lodge
closed in 1980, but in 2010, the
lodge building reopened as the
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature
Center.
When you visit the museum
you’ll learn a lot about the people
and animals who live and have
lived in the Gunflint Trail area.
To get to Chik-Wauk, you’ll need
to drive approximately 55 miles
up the Gunflint Trail and turn
right onto Moose Pond Drive,
Country Rd. 81.
The museum is open daily from
10 a.m. - 5 p.m., from mid-May
until mid-October.
For your human history activity, answer these questions
during your visit:
Why is the museum building made of stone?
How long did it take the Voyageurs to receive payment?
What are some things that brought people to the Gunflint
Trail area years ago?
Moose
Moose
Black Bear
Black Be
Red Squi
Ruffed Grou
Ruffed Gro
White-tailed
Moose
Black B
Ruffed Gro
SECTION TWO: Human History
OPTION TWO:
Centennial Trail
Since the 1870s, people have
believed that land in the Gunflint
Trail region might contain valuable
rocks and minerals that could be
used to build cars and buildings.
Some people think there might
even be gold!
Over the years, people have tried
many times to mine (dig up) these
minerals with little success. When
you hike the Centennial Trail, you’ll
learn about a mining attempt that
failed. Along the trail you’ll see test
mine shafts, a fire lookout tower
and the remains of an abandoned
railroad.
For your human history activity, answer these questions
during your visit:
What is the name of the railroad that went from Port
Arthur (now called Thunder Bay) to the Paulson Mine?
What holds up a railroad bridge?
What mineral do historians believe the miners wanted
to mine for in the Paulson Mine?
The Centennial Trail is located
approximately 47 miles up the
Gunflint Trail. The trail begins,
and parking is available, in the
Kekekabic Parking Lot.
The Centennial Trail makes a
3.3 mile loop. Be sure to wear
sturdy, closed-toe footwear.
An informational brochure
accompanies the hike and will
be needed to help answer the
questions at the right.
Fire is a natural part of the forest. We call controlled fires with no bad effects on the area around
them “good fires.” Uncontrolled fires that cause damage are called “bad” fires.
Wildfires can be scary when animals, homes and people are in danger. However, all fires have some
good results. Some plants (like jack pines) aren’t able to grow new plants without fires. Wildfires
also help to clean up the forest.
Everyone still needs to be careful when dealing with fires. Many wildfires are started accidentally
by humans, which is why Smokey Bear says “Only you can prevent wildfires.” Many people work
very hard to make sure that good fires remain controlled and that bad fires are stopped as quickly
as possible. You can do your part by not playing with matches and reporting any fires you see to a
grown-up.
To complete this section, do the activities below and on the next page.
Did you know?
Jack pine trees’ pine cones
use fire to release their
seeds. No fire, no seeds!
A WILDFIRE IS…an unwanted or unplanned fire burning in shrub, grass, or a forest.
Wildfire on the Gunflint Trail
In the spring of 2007, the Ham Lake Wildfire burned through the upper Gunflint Trail area. No one was
hurt in the blaze, but 140 buildings were destroyed. Much of the land burned in the fire now looks black
and bare. For your fire activity take a walk along the Big Sag Trail at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature
Center and see what you can find growing along the trail. After your hike, answer these two questions.
Name one good effect of the fire:
Name one bad effect of the fire:
Black Bear
Red Squi
Ruffed Grou
White-tailed
Moose
Black B
Ruffed Gro
SECTION THREE: Fire
Good Fire/Bad Fire
Good Fire, Bad Fire Activity Sheet
Draw a line from the good fire symbol to the good fires. Draw a line from the bad fire symbol to bad fires.
Draw a line from the
happy flame to good fires.
Draw a line from the
angry flame to bad fires.
(Stop, drop, roll)
Many families live along the Gunflint Trail. School-aged kids growing up on the Gunflint Trail have
one of the longest bus rides to school in the entire state of Minnesota! But most families living on
the Gunflint Trail don’t have to worry about long bus rides. That’s because the majority of families
in these woods are families of wild animals. Babies in these families might not have to go to school,
but they certainly don’t get summer months off to play. They only have from the time they’re born
in the spring until early autumn to learn everything they need to know to survive their first winter.
To complete this section, do the activity below.
I’m Just a Baby!
Just like you’re called a “child” or “kid,” young animals are often called something different than their
grown-up relatives. Learn some of these names by matching the baby animals below with the correct
baby name.
Baby Names
MOOSE
GROUSE
BEAVER
BLACK BEAR
MERGANSER
WALLEYE
EAGLE
FOX
Cub
Pup
Kit
Fry
Calf
Whelp
Chick
Tadpole
Eaglet
Duckling
Cheeper
(Answers on back cover)
FROG
LOON
OTTER
Black B
Red Sq
Ruffed Gr
White-tail
Moo
Black
Ruffed G
SECTION FOUR: Animals
Dinosaurs never roamed these woods, but if you
look carefully, you’ll see signs from a time before
even dinosaurs existed. Almost all the rocks you’ll
see in the Gunflint Trail area were formed during
the Precambrian time period, which means “the
time before life.” Many of the rocks were formed
by volcanoes that erupted billions of years ago.
As time passed, the volcanoes stopped erupting
and the earth cooled.
Over millions of years, wind and water shaped
the rock into peaks and valleys: this is called
erosion. Eventually the earth cooled so much
that the land was covered with massive sheets
of ice called glaciers. As the glaciers moved over
the land, melting and refreezing, the weight of
the frozen water shaped the rock underneath
with ridges and canyons. The glaciers also snapped off bits of rocks and moved them away from
the place where they had been formed.
To complete this section, do the activity below.
Gunflint Trail!
Take a walk on a Gunflint Trail hiking trail. On your walk, select a rock (big, small, or huge) that you want
to learn about and answer these questions:
Does your rock feel smooth or rough?
Take a Hike!
What do you think makes it feel that way?
Looking for a good place to
“Adopt A Rock?” The following
trails are great places to take
a “rock hunting” hike:
How do you think your rock ended up where you found it?
• Chik-Wauk Museum
and Nature Center
• “Big Sag” Nature Trail
• Centennial Trail
What’s something special about your rock?
• Magnetic Rock Trail
Remember: stick to established trails. When you’re done observing your rock, leave it where you found it.
Moose
Moose
Black Bear
Black Be
Ruffed Grou
Ruffed Gro
SECTION FIVE: Rocks
AN ECOSYSTEM IS… a community of living things and the non-living
things that interact and exchange materials necessary for survival.
The forest is home to many different plants and animals. In any corner of the woods, you’ll see all
sorts of different creatures and plants interacting in nature. If you sit quietly for a while anywhere
in the woods, you’ll be amazed to see all the things that are going on around you in the daily life
of the woods.
To complete this section, do the activities below and on the next page.
North Woods Scavenger Hunt
Find a small section of the woods and go on a scavenger hunt. Check off the items listed below as you
discover them. You don’t need to find everything listed below, but spend at least fifteen minutes looking.
You’re welcome to look and gently touch, but please don’t collect any of the items you find.
r A bird
r A berry
r Something prickly
r A tree with flat needles
r A plant that smells nice
r A leaf that has been chewed by an insect
r A dead branch on a living tree
r A small animal
r An animal track
r A flower
r A plant growing on a non-living thing
r Something that is changing back into soil
r A bug
r A plant that is shaded by a plant
r A pine cone that has been pulled apart by a squirrel
r A bit of sap on a tree
r Something bumpy
r Something scratchy
Black Bear
Red Squi
Ruffed Grou
White-tailed
Moose
Black B
Ruffed Gro
SECTION SIX: Ecosystems
Natural Sounds Tic-Tac-Toe
Part of coming to the woods is hearing natural sounds instead of people sounds. Have a grown-up,
brother, sister, or friend play this game with you. Find a good spot where you can sit down. One of you
should listen for nature sounds (on the plain background). The other should listen for human-made
sounds (on the blue background). See who can get three in a row first.
RUSTLING LEAVES
MOVING WATER
SINGING BIRDS
A CAR
PEOPLE TALKING
CRUMBLING PAPER
ANIMAL FOOTSTEPS
WATER DRIPPING
NUTS OR TWIGS
FALLING TO THE GROUND
HUMAN FOOTSTEPS
A SIREN
AN AIRPLANE
A CHATTERING SQUIRREL
A TREE CREAKING
IN THE BREEZE
AN INSECT SINGING
A RADIO
A BARKING DOG
A POWER TOOL
When you get home, draw a picture of the ecosystem you observed:
Everything alive needs water to survive, which means water is one of the most important things
in the world. Both your own body and Planet Earth are made almost entirely out of water. Water is
everywhere along the Gunflint Trail, in lakes, streams, ponds, and rivers. We use water for all sorts of
things. On the Gunflint Trail, we use water as a way to get from place to place. Water is also used for
cooking, cleaning, and playing. Bodies of water are homes to plants and all sorts of animals, like fish,
bugs and some tiny creatures only visible through a microscope.
To complete this section, do the activity below.
Pond in a Jar
In the box below, draw a picture of what you see:
YOU’LL NEED:
• A grown-up to help you
stay safe around water
• Clothes and shoes you
don’t mind getting wet
• A bucket
• A clear jar
• A white container
• Magnifying glass
• Turkey baster
Take your grown-up and your
container to the edge of a pond.
Scoop up some water with the
bucket. Scoop through the weeds
so you can catch creatures that
live there. Look in your bucket in a
well-lighted place. Do you see any
little living things moving around?
Use a turkey baster to transfer
the ones you want to see, along
with water, into a jar. Look through
the sides of the jar to see what you
can see. Pour the water into a thin
layer in a white plastic container
or in a glass pie pan set on a piece
of white paper. Look at the living
things with a magnifying glass.
If you have a microscope, look at
a drop under the microscope.
Write down three interesting things you noticed about
your “pond in a jar.”
1)
2)
3)
Black B
Red Sq
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White-tail
Moo
Black
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SECTION SEVEN: Water
Living things you
might find in your
“Pond in a Jar”:
Algae are rootless plants
that grow in water. This
slimy plant is food for fish
and other creatures that
live in ponds and water.
Amoebas are protists that
live on the bottom of water.
They are capable of changing their shape all the time.
They eat by wrapping themselves around food. To see it,
you’d need to look through a
microscope.
Bacteria are itty-bitty
creatures that can’t be seen
without a microscope. They
help to break down dead
things and turn the material
back into other life supporting materials like soil. Small
creatures eat bacteria.
Water Striders can be found
“skating” on the surface of
water. They feed on other
insects that become trapped
in the water.
Tadpoles are baby frogs.
They spend their lives in
ponds until they develop
legs. When they have grown
up into frogs they spend
their time in and out of
water.
Duckweed is a plant that
grows in still or slow moving water. The leaves of this
plant are flat and small and
its roots hang into the water. The plant is food for fish
and ducks.
r Animals (like insects
and tadpoles)
r Plants (like duckweed)
r Fungi (like slime molds)
r Protists (like amoebas,
paramecia, microscopic
algae—living things that
are not animals, plants,
or fungi)
r Monerans (bacteria)
Paramecia are small, oval
shaped protists that live in
freshwater. These little creatures are covered with cilia,
which are little hairs that
they use to move around.
They are too small to be
seen without a microscope.
Black B
Red Sq
Ruffed Gr
White-tail
Moo
Black
Ruffed G
SECTION EIGHT: Forest Products
Not only is the Gunflint Trail a place where people
come to relax and explore, it’s also a working forest
where people do their daily work. Some people
work to maintain the forest and make sure the
animals and plants are healthy. Other people log
the area and turn the forest’s timber into products
you use in your everyday life, like the boards your
house is built from, the books you read, or even
the napkin you use at supper.
Long before the area was being logged, the Native
American people of the area, called the Ojibwe,
were using the products of the forest. They fished,
hunted animals and gathered berries, nuts, and
seeds for food. They also used the bones of animals
to make tools, musical instruments, and sewing needles.
Today, people still hunt and fish the area to provide food for their families. You might have gone
on a berry picking excursion yourself. Strawberries, raspberries, thimbleberries, blueberries, and
highbush cranberries can all be found in the forest, along with other edible things like mushrooms.
(Remember, never eat anything you find in the woods without asking an adult first.)
You might not think of dirt as being a valuable forest product, but it takes lots of sand, gravel, and
rock to build and maintain roads and driveways. There are gravel pits along the Gunflint Trail where
people gather truck loads of dirt for building projects. If you stop by one of the gravel pits, you might
see someone filling up their dump truck.
To complete this section, do the activities below and on the next page.
Tree Cookie
Every part of the Gunflint Trail’s natural world
has a special role. (Even pesky black flies that
bite you pollinate blueberry plants.) To use
forest products wisely, humans must realize
the impact they have on the Gunflint Trail’s
natural world. Visit Chik-Wauk Museum and
Nature Center and take a look at the tree
cookie on display in the front room.
How old were you when the tree was cut down in 2007?
About how old was the tree when it was cut down?
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could
you
do
for
fun?
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15
15
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CONGRATULATIONS!
You’ve completed the Gunflint Trail Explorer Booklet. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning
about this special place.
Here are a couple ways you can help keep this area beautiful and help others understand
its importance:
· Tell your friends and relatives about your time on the Gunflint Trail.
Bring them here so they can experience it too.
· Visit other natural and historical areas near your home and try to learn as
much as you can about them. Share their stories with friends and relatives.
GUNFLINT TRAIL
EXPLORER PLEDGE
As a Gunflint Trail Explorer, I understand that the Gunflint Trail is
a special place and I promise to help protect it for future generations.
I will also do my best to protect what is special about the place where I live.
Gunflint Trail Explorer Signature
Chik-Wauk/Ranger Signature
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center
and the Superior National Forest work
in partnership to promote educational
opportunities along the Gunflint Trail.
Answers
Section 4: Frog = Tadpole, Grouse = Cheeper, Beaver = Kit, Moose = Calf, Black Bear = Cub, Walleye =
Fry, Loon = Chick, Merganser = Duckling, Fox = Pup, Eagle = Eaglet, Otter = Whelp
Section 8: 1) Wigwam, 2) Wild Rice, 3) Birchbark Canoe, 4) Moccasins, 5) Storytelling