Since 1944, Smokey Bear has been a mascot for wildfire prevention and forest conservation around the country. The creation of the mascot was inspired by an orphaned black bear who was rescued from a wildfire, and ever since then, Smokey Bear has been a figure encouraging Americans to be more aware and involved in the tragedies that can come from wildfires. Throughout its history, the U.S. Forest Service has highlighted the importance of spreading the message of wildfire prevention across all age groups. As early as the 1950’s, the U.S. Forest Service used their mascot of Smokey Bear to encourage children to become more involved in the outdoors and adventure through Junior Ranger membership kits and educational outreach like Smokey bear themed school supplies. For more information on the history of Smokey Bear, check out the American Library Association’s Smokey Bear and Fire Suppression article written by Susanne Caro.
Celebrate Smokey Bear’s legacy and 80th birthday by participating in the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge at your local library. The challenge runs from January 1st to November 28th to encourage youth across the country to engage in reading while also learning about forest conservation and wildfire prevention. The Smokey Bear Library Toolkit is a helpful resource that provides libraries with materials to promote a summer of adventure and reading while helping kids and communities to become more informed about protecting our forests and natural resources.