For 75 years, Smokey Bear has been protecting our forests and getting the word out about wildfire prevention. In honor of Smokey Bear’s 75th birthday on August 9, 2019, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is celebrating the nation’s favorite bear.
You can help the beloved fire prevention icon Smokey Bear celebrate his 75th birthday at the Wisconsin State Fair this Friday. Enjoy family-friendly activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Smokey appearances for a special birthday ceremony throughout the day. There will be fun activities and a chance to earn a Smokey birthday gift bag.
“Smokey Bear ranks right up there behind Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse,” says Catherine Koele, DNR wildfire prevention specialist. “Many of us remember Smokey from our childhoods. We’d see him in parades, on posters, in magazines or occasionally in TV commercials.If we were lucky enough, maybe he’d stop by the classroom and teach us about fire safety.”
The DNR is once again in the north building at Exploratory Park located on the south side of Main Street across from the Original Cream Puff Pavilion. If you can’t make it for his birthday, you are never too old to visit Smokey’s Schoolhouse throughout the State Fair and learn about how to prevent wildfires.
To honor and observe this historic event, Gov. Tony Evers named August 9, 2019 ‘Smokey Bear’s 75thBirthday’ with an official Governor Proclamation recognizing Smokey’s contribution to the education, health and safety for all Wisconsinites.
Throughout his birthday year, Smokey will be giving back to communities across Wisconsin. The DNR is partnering with the non-profit organization Box of Balloons to support fire prevention and the mission to make a child’s birthday happy, celebrated and memorable.
Coordinated by eleven chapters across the state, Box of Balloons provides birthday boxes to children in need. This year, Box of Balloons is highlighting outdoor recreation and Smokey Bear themed birthday boxes for Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd Grade.
Smokey will also be making appearances at several of our state parks and forests in the coming weeks.
On August 10, Mirror Lake State Park is having a party with games, goodie bags and a reading of the “True Story of Smokey Bear.” Kohler-Andre State Park is also having a party August 10 with fire equipment, party snacks and a skit by the Madison All-Stars 4-H Club.
Visit the DNR website to find other Smokey Bear events at our state parks and forests in the coming weeks by searching “Smokey” within the event calendar. Looking to do more? Visit Box of Balloons to help give a Smokey Bear themed birthday kits to kids in need.
