Armor Advance at Big Bend National Park

Armor, Spikes & Shields Adventure Pack

Across the rugged canyons and desert plains of Big Bend National Park, defense systems are failing.

Protective shells are cracking. Spines and quills are not deterring predators. Camouflage patterns are mismatched to rocky terrain, and mimicry signals are confusing the food chain. Ari Raider has detected a disruption in the defense network and needs explorers to restore balance before vulnerable species lose their protection.

In Armor Advance at Big Bend National Park, students are dropped into a high-stakes life science mission focused on physical and behavioral defenses. By learning how armor, scales, shells, spines, and quills protect animals — and how defense behaviors, camouflage, and mimicry reduce predation — explorers must rebuild the protection system and stabilize the ecosystem.

This adventure blends foundational survival and adaptation concepts with story, exploration, and optional hands-on discovery.

About This Adventure Pack

Armor Advance at Big Bend National Park is designed for elementary explorers and connects directly to an interactive online adventure.

Students can complete the Armor Advance at Big Bend National Park adventure online for free, including access to free printable trading cards that match this experience. The online adventure delivers the full learning and story-driven mission without requiring a physical kit.

👉 Explore the free Armor Advance at Big Bend National Park adventure here:
Coming Soon

For families or classrooms that want to extend the experience, this Adventure Pack adds a hands-on excavation and collectible cards that bring the desert defense mission into the physical world.

The learning experience is the same whether students use the physical pack or not. The pack simply adds a tactile, collectible layer to the adventure.

What This Adventure Covers

Each Armor Advance at Big Bend National Park Adventure Pack explores core animal defense concepts, including:

• Armor – Hard body covering for protection
• Scales – Overlapping plates that protect skin
• Spines – Sharp protective structures
• Shell – A rigid outer covering
• Quills – Modified hairs used for defense
• Defense Behavior – Actions that deter predators
• Camouflage – Blending into surroundings
• Mimicry – Imitating another species for protection
• Predators – Animals that hunt other organisms

Each topic appears naturally within the adventure and is required to move the story forward, reinforcing learning through exploration rather than memorization.

What’s Inside the Pack

• Adventure-Filled Field Pack (6×9 Adventure Pouch)
• Adventure Mission Card
• Interactive Online Adventure
• Knowledge Card Pack
• Mystery Dig Kit
• Dig Stick Tool
• Cleaning Wipe
• Mystery Collectible Specimen (Gemlet)
• Gemlet Storage Container
• Excavating Adventures Sticker

Why Kids Love It

Testing protective strategies, decoding camouflage clues, defending habitats, and uncovering a real mystery specimen makes learning feel like leading a wilderness survival mission.

Why Teachers and Parents Love It

Armor Advance at Big Bend National Park supports elementary life science standards through clear explanations of animal defenses, predator-prey interactions, and adaptation strategies. The adventure works for whole-class instruction, science centers, small groups, or independent learning — with or without the physical pack.

Free Adventure Option

Armor Advance at Big Bend National Park is also available online for free, including free printable trading cards that align directly with this adventure. No purchase is required to participate.

This reflects our mission at Excavating Adventures: to make engaging, story-driven adventures accessible to everyone.

👉 Explore the free Armor Advance at Big Bend National Park adventure here:
Coming Soon