Contact: Ashley Peebles, 302-698-4551 or Ashley.Peebles@delaware.gov

Smokey Bear will be back in Delaware schools starting this October, visiting first-graders throughout the First State to remind children that “only you can prevent wildfires.” October is a time to highlight fire prevention and safety because the second week is National Fire Prevention Week, observed annually in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Under the guidance of award-winning trainer-educator Ashley Peebles, Smokey Bear has become one of the Delaware Forest Service’s most successful educational programs. In the past two years, the Delaware Forest Service (DFS) has provided an average of 90 Smokey Bear fire education programs per year to about 8,250 students — almost 75% of the first-graders in the entire state.

*** SCHEDULE OF SMOKEY BEAR PROGRAMS BY COUNTY AND DATE  (below) ***

Nationwide fire data continue to show that human activity causes the largest number of forest fires, which is why Smokey teaches children at a very early age that they should never play with fire or use matches. During a typical Smokey Bear program, first-graders learn about the many natural benefits that trees provide: oxygen, shade, wood products and wildlife habitat. Then, students learn about how harmful a fire can be to the forest. After discussing how a fire can start, students watch a video about how children playing who discover a box of matches are tempted to start a campfire. When the “real” Smokey finally appears on the scene, the children are asked to pledge to “not play with matches ever again.”

Every student receives a gift bag of complimentary Smokey Bear materials and school supplies. Many of the bags were assembled by senior citizen volunteers from the Modern Maturity Center in Dover’s RSVP Program. This year, volunteers put together more than 6,000 bags containing Smokey-themed comic books, wrist bands, rulers, pencils, and bookmarks.

Created in 1944, the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign is the longest-running public service advertising campaign in U.S. history, educating generations of Americans about their role in preventing wildfires. As one of the world’s most recognizable characters, Smokey’s image is protected by U.S. federal law and is administered by the U.S. Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council. Despite the campaign’s success over the years, wildfire prevention remains one of the most critical issues affecting our country. Smokey’s message is as relevant and urgent today as it was in 1944.

Smokey’s original catchphrase was “Smokey Says – Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires.” In 1947, it became “Remember… Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires.” In 2001, it was updated to its current version of “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” in response to an outbreak of wildfires in natural areas other than forests and to clarify that Smokey is trying to prevent unwanted and unplanned outdoor fires versus prescribed fires.

So how exactly did Smokey Bear become associated with wildfire prevention?

The answer begins with World War II. On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor. The following spring, Japanese submarines surfaced near the coast of Santa Barbara, California, and fired shells that exploded on an oil field, very close to the Los Padres National Forest. Americans were shocked that the war had come directly to the American mainland. Fear grew that more attacks would bring a disastrous loss of life and destruction of property. There was also a fear that incendiary shells exploding in the forests of the Pacific Coast would ignite numerous raging wildfires.

With experienced firefighters and other able-bodied men deployed in the war, communities had to deal with wildfires as best they could. Protection of forests became a matter of national importance, and a new idea was born. If people could be urged to be more careful, perhaps some of the fires could be prevented. To rally Americans to this cause, and convince them that it would help win the war, the Forest Service organized the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP) program with the help of the War Advertising Council and the Association of State Foresters. Together, they created posters and slogans, including “Forest Fires Aid the Enemy,” and “Our Carelessness, Their Secret Weapon.”

In a stroke of luck for the cause, in 1942, forests and their animal inhabitants were celebrated in Walt Disney’s wildly popular motion picture, “Bambi.” Disney allowed the CFFP program to use the film’s characters on a 1944 poster. The “Bambi” poster was a success and proved the success of using an animal as a fire prevention symbol. However, Disney had only loaned the characters to the campaign for one year. The CFFP would need to find an animal symbol that would belong to them, and nothing seemed more fitting than the majestic, powerful (and also cute) bear.

On August 9, 1944, the creation of Smokey Bear was authorized by the Forest Service, and the first poster was delivered on October 10 by artist Albert Staehle. The poster depicted a bear pouring a bucket of water on a campfire. Smokey Bear soon became popular, and his image began appearing on more posters and cards. By 1952, Smokey Bear began to attract commercial interest. An Act of Congress passed which removed Smokey from the public domain and placed him under the control of the Secretary of Agriculture. The Act provided for the use of collected royalties and fees for continued wildfire prevention education.

(DOVER) – To honor October as “National Fire Prevention Month,” Smokey Bear will visit Delaware schools to teach children that “only you can prevent wildfires.” Nationwide fire data continue to show that human activity causes the largest number of forest fires, which is why Smokey teaches children at a very early age that they should never play with fire or use matches. During a typical Smokey Bear program sponsored by the Delaware Forest Service (DFS), first-graders learn about how trees provide natural benefits such as oxygen, shade, wood products and wildlife habitat. Then, students learn about how harmful a fire can be to the forest. After discussing how a fire can get started, students watch a brief video about how children playing in the woods discover a box of matches that tempts them to start a campfire. When the “real” Smokey finally appears on the scene, the children are asked to make a solemn pledge to him that they “will not play with matches ever again.” Ashley Peebles, trainer-educator for the Delaware Forest Service, oversees the annual Smokey Bear program.

Last year, the Delaware Forest Service provided 104 fire education programs to 9,410 students, a record number of school programs for the agency. 2015 marks the 71st Anniversary of Smokey Bear’s introduction as part of a public service effort to prevent forest fires during World War II.

Since he was created in 1944, the Smokey Bear campaign has evolved into the longest running public service campaign in history. Smokey’s first forest fire prevention message remained unchanged for 50 years until April 2001, when the Ad Council updated his message to address the increasing number of fires in the nation’s wildland areas. As one of the world’s most recognizable fictional characters, Smokey’s image is protected by U.S. Federal Law and administered by the U.S. Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council. Surveys have shown that “Smokey Bear” (not “Smokey the Bear”) is recognized by over 95 percent of respondents.

Delaware Forest Service contact: Ashley Peebles, 302-698-4551 or Ashley.Peebles@delaware.gov

2015 Schedule of Smokey Bear Fire Prevention Programs (subject to change)

Smokey Bear celebrates 70^th year by visiting over 90 First State schools

(Dover) – To honor October as “Fire Prevention Month,” Smokey Bear will visit over 90 Delaware schools to teach children that “only you can prevent wildfires.” Because human activity causes the largest number of forest fires nationwide, Smokey teaches children at a very early age that they should never play with fire or use matches.

During a typical Smokey Bear program sponsored by the Delaware Forest Service (DFS), first-graders learn about how trees provide natural benefits such as oxygen, shade, wood products and wildlife habitat. Then, students learn about how harmful a fire can be to the forest. After discussing how a fire can get started, students watch a brief video about how children playing in the woods discover a box of matches that tempts them to start a campfire. When the “real” Smokey finally appears on the scene, the children are asked to make a solemn pledge to him that they “will not play with matches ever again.” Ashley Peebles, trainer-educator for the Delaware Forest Service, oversees the annual Smokey Bear program. Last year, the DFS presented 78 fire prevention programs to almost 8,000 children.

2014 marks the 70^th Anniversary of Smokey Bear’s introduction as part of a public service effort to prevent forest fires during World War II.  Since he was created in 1944, the Smokey Bear campaign has evolved into the longest running public service campaign in history. Smokey’s first forest fire prevention message remained unchanged for 50 years until April 2001, when the Ad Council updated his message to address the increasing number of fires in the nation’s wildland areas. As one of the world’s most recognizable fictional characters, Smokey’s image is protected by U.S. Federal Law and administered by the U.S. Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council. Surveys have shown that “Smokey Bear” (not “Smokey the Bear”) is recognized by over 95 percent of respondents.

2014 Schedule of Smokey Bear Fire Prevention Programs (subject to change)
Delaware Forest Service contact: Ashley Peebles, 302-698-4551 or Ashley.Peebles@delaware.gov

Social Media: Smokey 70^th Birthday video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfaf0XseVB0

• This year’s theme is “Trees are Terrific… In Cities and Towns!”
• Free pine seedlings offered to all contest participants

The Delaware Forest Service’s 2014 Arbor Day Poster Contest is now open to all Delaware students in grades K to 5. Public, private and home schools are encouraged to participate as well as after-school groups and youth organizations. Posters are due by April 4th, 2013. This year’s poster contest theme  – “Trees are Terrific…In Cities and Towns!”  – is dedicated to the important role that trees play in our communities and schoolyards. The Arbor Day Poster Contest is designed to help teachers incorporate trees into classroom learning and help students foster an appreciation for nature all around them. As in previous years, the Delaware Forest Service will provide all participating classes with free loblolly pine seedlings, which will be delivered to schools for planting during the last week of April.

• Complete Arbor Day Poster Contest guidelines and rules.
• Teacher lesson plan and activity guide.

State Judging Critteria
On a scale of 1-5, the following criteria are used to judge posters on the county and state level. These should be kept in mind when submitting posters:

• Use of Theme
• Originality
• Neatness
• Artistic Expression

Judges will be selected by the Contest Coordinator and judging will take place at the Delaware Department of Agriculture in Dover. Winners will be announced in early April.

Prizes Awarded to Winners
A winner for each county (New Castle, Kent, and Sussex) will be selected for each entry category (Grades K, 1-2, 3-4, and 5). From these 12 winners, an overall state winner will be selected to represent Delaware as we celebrate Arbor Day 2014. Please note: the National Arbor Day Foundation is no longer hosting a National Poster Contest for fifth grade winners. The Delaware Forest Service is committed to continuing the Arbor Day Poster Contest at the state level.

County winners receive:

• $25 gift card
• ceremonial tree planting held at their school
• invitation to the State Arbor Day Ceremony (attended by the Governor)
• “Tree inspired” children’s book
• winning posters will be reprinted on canvas, framed for display, and given to winner as a keepsake
• winning posters will be displayed online

In addition to the previous prizes, the State Winner will receive an additional $25 gift card.

Please visit the DDA Forest Service website to see the 2013 Arbor Day winners.

Posters must be received by April 4, 2014. Entries should be mailed or delivered to:

Ashley Peebles, Contest Coordinator
Delaware Forest Service
2320 S. DuPont Highway
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 698-4551
Email: ashley.peebles@delaware.gov

The poster contest is designed to supplement student learning in other subject areas by increasing their knowledge about how community trees have a direct impact on Delaware’s health and well-being.  Schools are a perfect setting to incorporate the role of urban trees into a wide range of subjects. Community trees are working trees that provide a variety of important natural benefits:

• provide beauty that can enhance neighborhoods
• shade streets and schoolyards
• create habitat and food for wildlife
• improve air quality and moderate air temperatures
• muffle noise and create privacy screens or windbreaks
• improve water quality by filtering runoff into streams and rivers
• reduce energy consumption

The Arbor Day Poster Contest also offers students the opportunity to plant their own pine seedlings as a great extension of their lessons about trees.

Teachers and parents who are interested in programs designed to increase their knowledge of trees, the many important functions of community trees, or to learn about grant opportunities to make their schools more “green,” visit www.plt.org.

Website link for 2014 Arbor Day Poster Contest Registration and Information
This link will help teachers and individual participants to:

1. Register a class for participation in the contest
2. Reserve free loblolly pine seedlings
3. Access the poster  guidelines and rules
4. Download a curriculum guide.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

• Deadline to register and reserve free seedlings: March 14th
• Deadline to submit posters for state contest: April 4th
• Arbor Day in Delaware: April 25th
• Seedling delivery: Week of April 28th

Click here for Delaware Forest Service – 2013 Smokey Bear Programs in each county. News media are kindly asked to contact each school for permission to visit and take photos.

As part of National Fire Prevention Month in October, Smokey Bear is once again prowling the First State to spread the timeless message that “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.” The iconic public service mascot is the centerpiece of the Delaware Forest Service’s annual fire prevention education programs targeted primarily to first-grade students in all of the state’s private, public, and charter schools. Ashley Peebles, an award-winning Trainer-Educator for the Delaware Forest Service, coordinates the successful effort that reaches around 9,000 students annually.

As part of the interactive school programs, children learn about the many benefits trees provide – oxygen, shade and heat, wildlife habitat, and valuable wood products – which are why trees need to be protected from the destruction caused by wildfires, which needlessly burn millions of acres each year in the United States. After watching an informative video about fire prevention, students learn the ABC’s (Always Be Careful) of fire prevention, after which they get to meet Smokey Bear in-person. Every student is asked to personally make the Smokey Pledge to never play with matches and be careful around fire.

Ashley Peebles is as optimistic as ever that children will pay attention and heed the important warning against playing with matches.

“When children shake Smokey’s hand, every child has to make a solemn promise that they will never, ever play with matches. If a child should find matches, they are told to tell an adult immediately,” she said.

Created in 1944, the Smokey Bear campaign is the longest running public service campaign in U.S. history. Smokey’s forest fire prevention message remained unchanged for 50 years until April 2001, when the Ad Council updated his message to address the increasing number of wildfires in the nation’s wildlands. As one of the world’s most recognizable fictional characters, Smokey’s image is protected by U.S. Federal Law and is administered by the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council. A wealth of information can be found on the internet at www.smokeybear.com.

For more information about Delaware’s Smokey Bear program, please contact Ashley Peebles at 302-698-4551, ashley.peebles@delaware.gov