Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home. Photo Credit: Visual Image Photography

Since 2009, Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl have been making the rounds from coast to coast on a green-built, interactive traveling exhibit called Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home created by the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in collaboration with the Forest Service.

The educational exhibit features Smokey and Woodsy inspiring children and families to discover and care for natural resources. Visitors are led into imaginary woodland and urban settings where children learn to be explorers and caretakers of the land. Hands-on activities underscore the importance of protecting forest ecosystems and highlight ways to reduce, reuse and recycle valuable resources. Read more »

For nearly 70 years, Smokey Bear has been a fixture in America’s history as the stalwart defender of our forests and his “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” resonates no matter how young or old you are.

So it is apropos that Smokey will help entertain children during the 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn. The 134^th annual event kicks off April 9 with the theme, Let’s Go! Let’s Play!, Let’s Move!, a reference to First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative to encourage healthy activities for children.

More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the day-long event. Activities will include egg rolling, sports courts, cooking demonstrations and “meet and greets” with Smokey and a host of other characters.

Smokey has been immortalized as a wildfire prevention symbol since 1944.

The Forest Service Conservation Education Program works closely with Smokey and other programs, such as the Junior Forest Ranger, to instill in young people their responsibility in helping to protect our natural resources. To find out more about the many programs designed for children and young adults, contact the Forest Service Conservation Education office.

Many tourists in the nation’s capital have stumbled into the historical Sidney R. Yates Federal Building which houses the Forest Service national headquarters by mistake — they were looking for the Holocaust Museum or the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which is just down the street.  But once inside the Forest Service facility, visitors from all over the world are surprised by the warm welcome they receive and the information available on the importance of forests and wildlife habitats.

Smokey Bear greets visitors and reads his mail at Forest Service Information Center.

This year the information center will welcome its 250,000 visitor. Read more »

Regional Forester Chuck Myers of the U.S. Forest Service's Eastern Region presented the Gold Smokey Bear Award to Fern Shupeck, executive director of the Betty Brinn Children's Museum in Milwaukee Sept. 27.

An exciting and interactive exhibit has reached more than 400,000 museum goers across the country and has been given the highest national award for fire prevention activities. Read more »

On May 27, Vaibhavi Patankar of Woodland Hills, Calif., was named the top winner in the 2011 Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl Poster Contest.

What better way to celebrate wildfire prevention education than saluting a 9-year-old girl and an organization that has roots dating back to 1891. Read more »

A bust of Stephen Colbert sculpted in cheddar from the largest organic dairy cooperative in the country.

Last night, I stopped by the Colbert Report to talk about the critical role the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plays in promoting healthy eating.  I am familiar with Stephen’s unfortunate bear phobia, so Smokey Bear  was asked to stay back at headquarters. The topics of hunger and nutrition, however, are no laughing matter, so I was excited to have the opportunity to discuss these important issues with Stephen and his viewers.   Read more »