Last updated: March 12, 2023
Article
Online Junior Ranger: Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
![CEBE Header Online JR Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park](/articles/000/images/Header-Online_1.png)
Let's Explore!
Are you ready to go on an online learning adventure? Grab a pencil or crayons and paper and complete the activities below to learn about the people, places, and stories of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. When you are done print out the badge and cut it out!
This online Junior Ranger program is adapted from the Junior Ranger booklet. If you visit the park ask a ranger for the booklet. If you prefer doing the booklet version, e-mail us at cebe_information@nps.gov and we will mail it to you.
![Indigenous Woman Painting CEBE JR Indigenous Woman Painting](/articles/000/images/web-Indigenous-Woman-1.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
NPS
Activity One: Indigenous History
Historians are always learning about who walked these grounds before us. The Indigenous people (Native American) used this land to survive long before anyone else. They hunted, gathered, grew crops, built camps, and so much more that has yet to be discovered.
Why do you think it is important to tell the stories of all the people who lived in this area?
![Corn Husk Doll CEBE JR Corn husk doll painting on blue paper.](/articles/000/images/WEB-Corn-Husk-Doll_6.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
NPS
Activity Two: Settlement of the Shenandoah Valley
Pretend you are a settler traveling on the Great Wagon Road. You are headed towards your new land that you will turn into your home.
What are the three most important personal belongings you will bring on your journey?
![A cabin, patch of soil, stream, and forest are pasted on green sheet of paper. Captions: This stream can power a mill's water wheel. This patch of soil contains lime, which is wonderful for crops like wheat. Some of your family lives across this stream.](/common/uploads/nri/20230311/articles/34248ED5-DD35-0267-D28AA053B276040C/34248ED5-DD35-0267-D28AA053B276040C.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
Left image
What would you add to this homestead?
Credit: NPS
Right image
This is what the park rangers did with their homestead.
![Family tree including three family members and 8 blank spaces. Hannah is the mother of Adams and Nace.](/common/uploads/nri/20230311/articles/35E729F5-EEDC-5931-716EC21DD47631DE/35E729F5-EEDC-5931-716EC21DD47631DE.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
![Family tree including three family members and 8 blank spaces. Hannah is the mother of Adams and Nace.](/common/uploads/nri/20230311/articles/35F78B6B-E06E-4847-178897CD8F5AC45E/35F78B6B-E06E-4847-178897CD8F5AC45E.jpg?autorotate=false&maxWidth=1300&maxHeight=1020)
Left image
Using the story below, can you fill in the blanks?
Right image
Here are the answers.
![Belle Grove House General Sheridans Headquarters Sketch of the Battle of Cedar Creek raging around the Belle Grove Manor House](/articles/000/images/490-Belle-Grove-House-General-Sheridans-Hd-Qts-600.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
Western Reserve Historical Society
Activity Five: Sketch your favorite place.
James E. Taylor was an artist in the Civil War who sketched, painted, and wrote about his experiences in the area and beyond. His art now acts as a window into the past so we can understand what wartime would have looked like. Check out this drawing he created of the Battle of Cedar Creek around Belle Grove in 1864.Grab a piece of paper and create a sketch of your favorite place to visit and document your observations to give us a glimpse of what the place looks like in your eyes.
Explore your senses and document the following:
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The smell:
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The sound:
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The feeling:
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Why is this place important to you:
![Cell Phone Jr. Ranger Cell phone with blank screen](/articles/000/images/Small-phone.png)
Activity Six: Take A Selfie!
Learn about the people who lived and fought during the American Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley.
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Visit the online Wall of Faces exhibit.
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Choose the most interesting person you learned about.
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Draw their image on a blank piece of paper
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What are some hash tags (#) you would use to describe this person’s life or experience?
![-6-CEBE-Historic-Painting-Sheridan-s_Ride General Sheridan riding his horse Rienzi down a line of soldiers](/articles/000/images/-6-CEBE-Historic-Painting-Sheridan-s_Ride_1.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
Thure de Thulstrup, public domain
Activity Six: Explore the Battlefield
Over time, Americans became divided over the different beliefs about slavery and the future of the country. Following Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860, some Southerners who believed slavery was threatened got their politicians to support leaving the United States and forming the Confederate States. Confederate politicians wanted to defend their rights to own humans as property. In 1861, the Civil War began with the firing on fort Sumter in South Carolina.
Three and a half years later, the Battle of Cedar Creek occurred.
The Shenandoah Valley became an important place to both sides. The abundance of crops an other goods that could be transported using the Valley's streams, roads, and railroads, made this area a warzone. The Battle of Cedar Creek was a significant battle in the war, leading to President Lincoln's reelection three weeks later.
Click here to take a virtual tour of the battle. Which article was your favorite?
![CEBE ONLINE JR CERTIFICATION Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical, Junior Ranger text over picture of mountains and paintings of wheat.](/articles/000/images/CEBE-ONLINE-CERT_1.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
AS A JUNIOR RANGER,
I promise to protect the park from danger.
I won't step on any ants,
and I won't pick any plants.
I will learn all of the history,
and teach others so it's not a mystery.
My job is never done.
Being a Junior Ranger is really fun!
![JR Badge CEBE CEBE Colorful mountains behind a gold badge, making a round logo. The badge says Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Junior Ranger. A dashed line around the circle logo instructs you to cut here.](/articles/000/images/JR-Badge_7.png)