Part Three

graphic, illustration, virtual junior ranger program, keeping history alive, graphic of arch monument

NPS Graphic / Gregory Purifoy

Stories of the Past Help Us Look Towards the Future

Valley Forge became the first state park in Pennsylvania in 1893, and became a National Historical Park in 1976.

Since then, the National Park Service has worked with volunteers, members of the community, and junior rangers like you to protect and preserve the stories of Valley Forge.

 
 
graphic, logo, National Park Service, mountain, lake, trees, bison.
The official National Park Service arrowhead symbol can be found on ranger uniforms, park publications, signs, and buildings.

NPS Image

Activity 1 – The Arrowhead Emblem

The arrowhead is the official emblem of the National Park Service and the mission of the National Park Service is to help take care of and protect the special places and stories of the United States of America and its people. As a Virtual Junior Ranger, you're helping with this important mission!

Did you know that every detail of the arrowhead was chosen to represent something that the National Park Service cares about and protects within its parks? Let's take a closer look at the arrowhead and see what symbols we can find.

Instructions

Look closely at the arrowhead emblem to the right and identify which detail represents the parts of Valley Forge from the list below. Slide the bar to the right to reveal the answer!

 
Wildlife, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead, the bison represents protected wildlife Wildlife, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead, the bison represents protected wildlife

Left image
Which part of the arrowhead represents wildlife?

Right image
Credit: NPS Image

 
Plants, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead, the trees represent protected plants. Plants, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead, the trees represent protected plants.

Left image
Which part of the arrowhead represents plants?

Right image
Credit: NPS Graphic

 
Beautiful Scenery, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead, the mountain and lake represent protected scenery Beautiful Scenery, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead, the mountain and lake represent protected scenery

Left image
Which part of the arrowhead represents the scenery?

Right image
Credit: NPS Graphic

 
Water Quality, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead,  the lake represents protected rivers, lakes, streams and oceans Water Quality, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead,  the lake represents protected rivers, lakes, streams and oceans

Left image
Which part of the arrowhead represents water?

Right image
Credit: NPS Graphic

 
History and Culture, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead, highlighted shape, the arrowhead shape represents protected human history and culture History and Culture, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead, highlighted shape, the arrowhead shape represents protected human history and culture

Left image
Which part of the arrowhead represents human history and culture?

Right image
Credit: NPS Graphic

 
Outdoor Recreation, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead, tree, mountain, and lake highlighted,  the mountain, lake, and forest represent the places protected for outdoor recreation Outdoor Recreation, slide right for the answer, national park service arrowhead, tree, mountain, and lake highlighted,  the mountain, lake, and forest represent the places protected for outdoor recreation

Left image
Which part of the arrowhead represents protected areas for outdoor recreation?

Right image
Credit: NPS Graphic

 
outdoors, living history reenactment, log huts, snow, firewood, soldiers, women
The Valley Forge winter encampment in 1777-1778.

NPS Image

Activity 2 – Valley Forge Scavenger Hunt

The encampment at Valley Forge included people from many different backgrounds, and they all made sacrifices in order to achieve America's independence from Britain.

Today, we work to keep history alive by telling the stories of the people who were at Valley Forge and by protecting monuments that have been built to commemorate them. There are also many stories that haven't been told yet, and require more research to uncover.

As a Virtual Junior Ranger you will do a little of your own research – and help to keep history alive!

Instructions

Read each question below and decide whether to follow the link for "People" or for "Monuments" to look for the answer. Write your response to each question on a piece of paper. After you've answered all of the questions, click on Check Your Answers below to see how you did.

 

People

Monuments

  1. Which officer's wife visited her famous husband during every winter encampment of the Revolutionary War?

  2. What very large monument in the park is a simplified version of a similar monument in Rome?

  3. In 1778, General Washington praised warriors from which two American Indian Nations for their help at Valley Forge?

  4. What state was General Nathanael Greene from?

  5. Which monument depicts three soldiers, one facing left, one facing right, and one in the middle facing straight ahead?

  6. The fort named after Washington's aide-de-camp Dr. James McHenry is famous in American history. Why?


 

Have you completed the scavenger hunt? Click below to check your work!

  1. Martha Washington
  2. National Memorial Arch
  3. The Oneida and Tuscarora Nations
  4. Rhode Island
  5. Patriots of African Descent Monument
  6. The Star-Spangled Banner

 

Next Page →

Finished with these activities? Click below to proceed to the next page!

Take the Pledge

 

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Want to go back? Click below to head back to Part Two.

Part Two - The Valley Forge Encampment

 

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Click below to go back to the Virtual Junior Ranger program welcome page and Table of Contents.

Welcome to the Valley Forge Virtual Junior Ranger Program

Last updated: September 1, 2022

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1400 North Outer Line Drive
King of Prussia, PA 19406

Phone:

610 783-1000

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