Cabrillo AdventureActivities Guide

For Ages 5-7

Cabrillo National Monument

Your Adventure Starts Now!

Thanks for joining us today at Cabrillo National Monument! Here, Rangers and Volunteers work to preserve and protect the many different stories that

you will discover on your visit.

After completing the activities in this packet, return to the Visitor Center and talk to a Ranger or

Volunteer about what you learned. Then you will be given your Cabrillo Adventure Badge.

Have fun adventurers!

Don’t Forget!• Always stay on the sidewalks• Keep plants and animals where they are• Pack it in, pack it out – everything you brought to the park

must leave with you, especially trash

Biodiversity HotspotCabrillo National Monument is home to a lot of animals, both on land and in the sea. These animals are part of what makes

this park so special, but they’re not always easy to spot.

Activity: While walking around the park, use your senses to find any clues that an animal has been here or is possibly

nearby. Check off as many of these clues as you canand add some of your own!

Remember there is no taking anything from the park!

Sea Lion Bark Animal Tracks Bird Song Spider Web

Animal Scat Feather Whale SpoutSpiny Lobster

Molt

Empty Shell Bird Nest Other:__________ Other: _________

Native PlantsThe Kumeyaay have lived in this area for thousands of years.

Where you are now standing is called Mat nilly. The Kumeyaayuse what nature provides, especially plants, to create what

they need, such as food, shelter, and medicine.

Activity: Many of the items we use every day are made from plants, too. Look at the items below: circle those that come

from plants, and put an X through those that do not.

Soda Can

Cotton T-Shirt

Wooden Spoon

Notebook Paper Balloon

The plants that live at Cabrillo National Monument have many special traits to help them stay alive. For example, many of them save water inside thick leaves or have spines to help

protect them from predators. Life in San Diego would be really hard for these plants without special structures,

or adaptations.

Activity: Look at the plants around the Visitor Center. How many of the items below can you find?

Flowers

Red Berries

Plants That Smell

Plants Without Leaves

Plants With Small Leaves

Plants With Spines

Plants Taller Than You

Plants Smaller Than You

Total Number of Plants

What is your favorite plant at the park? Draw it below!

Plant Name

Juan Rodriguez CabrilloJuan Rodriguez Cabrillo was a Spanish sailor and the first

European to explore the West Coast of the United States. His flagship, named San Salvador, sailed from Mexico to San Diego

Bay in the year 1542.

Activity: Cabrillo’s journey was not easy. Complete the maze to help the San Salvador safely find its way.

End –San Diego Bay

Start – Mexico

Military HistoryActivity: Find the bolded words in the word search below.

During World War II, Cabrillo National Monument was closedto visitors and became a full-time military base called FortRosecrans. Fort Rosecrans was important to the defense ofSan Diego Bay. Some soldiers on duty here were on thelookout for enemy ships and submarines. Other soldiers werein charge of the radio, where they talked to other bases acrossthe United States. Finally, some soldiers were in charge offiring the guns. The largest gun at Fort Rosecrans was 16-inches across and could fire up to 26 miles!

C Y S O L D I E R S

P F U X R Q F V L Z

J D B D O G U N S U

I D M S S G X B P W

X E A J E A I X U R

A F R A C Q K Y W A

C E I T R I Z W E D

T N N T A J Z S V I

M S E D N G B P O O

T E S K S E U Z R X

Old Point Loma LighthouseThe Old Point Loma Lighthouse at Cabrillo National Monument shined bright over the waters of San Diego from 1855 to 1891. Lighthouse Keepers and their families lived in the lighthouse

and called Point Loma their home. While life was much different in the 1800s than it is today, the children who lived in the lighthouse went to school, did chores, and played games,

just like you!

Activity: Explore the Lighthouse Museum and try to find the items below!

Glasses

Firewood

Candle

Saw

Tea Kettle

Garlic

Guitar

Hairbrush

Book by John Wiley & Sons

Bar of Soap

Newspaper

Bonus! There are many framed photos on the walls and on bookshelves throughout the lighthouse. How many

can you find?

Life in the OceanFrom December to March, Cabrillo National Monument visitors can spot Pacific Gray Whales making one of the longest animal migrations in the world. These large mammals travel from their

feeding grounds in Alaska to give birth in the warm bays of Baja California. By the time they return home, they will have

traveled over 10,000 miles!

Activity: Connect the dots to complete the picture below.

12 3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

1718

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2627

2829

What did you draw?

Preserve & Protect

The role of the National Park Service is to preserve and protect America’s special places for generations to come. But, it’s not

just the Rangers’ job to protect these beautiful places and stories – we need your help, too! There are many things you

can do to help protect places like Cabrillo National Monument.

Activity: Some ways you can help protect the park are listed below. With the help of your group, try to think of three more

ideas. Then, circle one thing your group will promise to do today.

1. Pick up five (or more) pieces of trash.

2. Make a plan to visit other National Parks.

3. Tell someone what you learned. Use the

postcard on the next page to send a letter.

4. _

5. _

6. _

Congratulations Adventurer!You have completed your journey and learned so much! Make sure

to stop by the Visitor Center to pick up your Cabrillo Adventure badge. And remember, now that you’re an official Cabrillo

Adventurer, it’s your job to:

• Enjoy and learn more about your National Parks.

• Protect wildlife by leaving animals alone.

• Protect plants by not picking them.

• Help protect Cabrillo National Monument and other National Parks so that kids in the future can enjoy them too.

Old Point Loma LighthouseCabrillo National MonumentSan Diego, CAPhoto: Bill Griswold

Recipient’s Address

Place Stamp Here

Cut here

Connect With Us!Website: www.nps.gov/cabr

Facebook: CabrilloNPSInstagram: @cabrillonps

Share your photos using the hashtag #CabrilloAdventure

Hello From

U.S. Department of InteriorNational Park Service

Cabrillo National Monument