Smokey Bear celebrates 75th birthday
MADISON, Wis. – 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.
“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 State Fair and learn about how to prevent wildfires. If you can’t get to the Fairgrounds, watch Smokey show off his dancing skills on the steps of the Capitol in a F.I.R.E video with Wisconsin firefighters as they sing happy birthday to the YMCA tune from the Village People.
To honor and observe this historic event, Gov. Tony Evers named August 9, 2019 ‘Smokey Bear’s 75th Birthday’ with an official Governor Proclamation recognizing Smokey’s contribution to the education, health and safety for all Wisconsinites.
On the latest episode the DNR’s podcast “Wild Wisconsin: Off the Record,” hear DNR Wildfire Prevention Specialist Catherine Koele and Property Supervisor Sara Pearson talk all things Smokey Bear from fun facts to wearing the suit. Off The Record brings you inside voices on Wisconsin’s outdoors. Subscribe and listen for free in your favorite podcast app.
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. Many box and birthday celebrations will include a surprise visit by Smokey Bear. DNR forestry staff, acting as Smokey, will also provide fire prevention activities to educate and entertain the children attending each party. This unique partnership helps both organizationsexpand into rural communities and introduce Smokey to children while making them feel special and celebrated on their birthdays.
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.
