In fact, smokey the bear and his message about preventing wildfires is one of the most successful public service announcement campaigns in us history. Smokey bear also sometimes called smokey the bear is a mascot of the united states forest service. Created in 1944, the smokey bear wildfire prevention campaign is the longestrunning public service advertising campaign in u. The smokey bear campaign is one of the most popular and recognized. To help you, we have several helpful educational resources that meet learning objectives. Loss of forest land from fire has dropped from 22 million acres in. Smokey bear is an american campaign and advertising icon created by the u. Beginning in the 1950s, the campaign produced a book called, forest and. Smokey bear has been the longest running public service advertising campaign in history, fi rst appearing in a wildfi re prevention poster in 1944. Only you can prevent forest fires was first used as a slogan in 1947. Indeed, it could be likened to the british victory over american rebels at bunker hill in 1775, about which it was said, a few more such victories would surely spell ruin for the victors.
In the wildfire prevention campaign, which is the longestrunning public service announcement campaign in united states history, the ad council, the. Smokey bear is an american advertising mascot created by the ad council with artist albert staehle, possibly in collaboration with writer and art critic harold rosenberg. Smokey bear, the wildfire prevention icon, now has his own series of digital storybooks. Smokey bear archive beltsville, maryland atlas obscura. The competing interests behind smokey bear and the crying indian. This real life smokey bear became the living symbol of the forest services smokey bear campaign thatto this dayworks. Postal service gave him his own postage stamp in 1984. Virginia has issued license plates plugging smokey. Hotfoot teddy is a very well written book giving a detailed account of the true story of the injured bear cub and his journey to become the personification of smokey bear. A story about how a tribal fire crew rescued the real smokey bear. History of smokey bear national wildfire coordinating group 2006 nfes 2882 course p101. The cub who left his pawprints on history the real smokey is getting a proper tribute, reports the sunsentinel newspaper.
As one of the worlds most recognizable characters, smokey s image is protected by u. A 1955 book in the little golden books series was called smokey the bear. The artwork has been accumulated over the course of the forest services seven decadelong smokey bear public information campaign. Thanks to smokey s important message over the past 60 years. Smokey bears image has been associated with forest fire prevention since august 9, 1944, when he was first described as a fire fighting bear. For his 70th birthday, smokey was awarded a new, more huggable look thanks to a campaign created for free by agency fcb west. Smokey bear to mcgruff the crime dog,a how mcgruff and the crying indian changed america explores the issues and campaigns that have been paramount to the nations collective memory and looks at challenges facing public service campaigns in the current media environment. I appreciate that when the children find themselves lost in the woods, smokey rescues them, but points out that they wouldnt have gotten lost if theyd followed their fathers instructions. Because this bear survived a terrible forest fire and won the love and imagination of the american public, many people mistakenly believe the cub was the original smokey bear but, in reality, he did not come along until the advertising symbol was almost six.
Targeted to grade 5, but can be tailored to meet your students needs. In 1952, congress passed the smokey bear act to preserve his legacy. Special collections of the national agricultural library. For 60 years, smokey bear has successfully championed fire suppression in the united states, but his success has come at considerable cost.
One of the first forest fire prevention campaign posters. Sporting a ranger hat and dungarees, smokey bear has become more than a symbol for protecting americas forests from humancaused wildfi res hes a piece of americana. The smokey paintings were created from 1979 to 1996 by forest. The smokey the bear ad campaign was extremely effective and is still being used today as a way to inform the public of campfire dos and donts. Mar 10, 2020 the story of smokeys rescue can be viewed at smokey bear live from the lincoln national forest. Smokey was soon used to create an animated bear aimed at informing people of forest fires and fire prevention. Created by the us forest service for a 1944 campaign about the dangers of forest fires, smokey bear remains a beloved and nostalgic symbol of americana, standing for an idealized version of the american past in which the protection of nature was conceived as a. The singing woodsman smokey the bear ad campaign 1954. Forest service and must be associated with a message of fire prevention. In 1944, in the midst of world war ii, the smokey bear wildfire prevention public service advertising campaign was introduced.
Smokey the bear lesson plans, activities, scripts, more. Making a difference wildfi re prevention ad council. The life and times of smokey bear welcome to psats 4855. Since 1944, smokeys been working hard to inspire americans to prevent wildfires. Smokey bear is at the heart of the longest running public service campaign in american history. Forest service or a state forestry agency, please refer to the list below to find your state or. Lawters book smokey bear 20252, wendelin related how forest fire. This toolkit has been developed for your benefit and is intended to support your efforts in promoting the campaign and smokey bears 75th birthday, which will occur on august 9th, 2019. Disney loaned bambi to the ad council for one year for their fire prevention effort. A story about how a tribal fire crew rescued the real. The use of smokey bear images requires the approval of the u. The true story of smokey bear wv division of forestry. To understand how smokey bear became associated with wildfire prevention. The smokey bear wildfire prevention campaign is the longestrunning public service campaign in u.
Since 1944, smokey s been working hard to inspire americans to prevent wildfires. As the war raged on, the japanese attempted unsuccessfully to attack coastal oregon forests and ravage the land with wildfires. The first poster of smokey bear debuted on august 9, 1944, and depicted the jeanclad bear pouring a bucket of water on a campfire. The story of smokeys rescue can be viewed at smokey bear live from the lincoln national forest. Smokey bear soon became very popular and his image began appearing on fire prevention materials. The new symbol of fire prevention was a hit, and smokey soon began appearing on other posters and cards. These materials were created in 2007 and linked to the appropriate standards at the time of their development. Simon and schuster issued a golden book on the bear. United states forest service smokey bear collection. Smokey bear s living history began early in 1950 when a burned cub survived a fire in the lincoln national forest near capitan, new mexico.
Sep 08, 2016 smokey was created by animal illustrator albert staehle in 1944. Persuasive appeals have been used throughout history to motivate people to act in. Suggest they take their finished books home and use them to teach family. Featuring lush illustrations and cute animation, these original smokey bear books for early readers are available on apple ipad, iphone, itouch, android devices, and kindle fire. The life and times of smokey bear pa state association. September 27, 20 the company behind iconic public service campaigns like smokey bear and mcgruff the crime dog has been. Indeed, it could be likened to the british victory over american rebels at bunker hill in 1775, about which it was said, a few more such victories would surely spell ruin for.
This toolkit includes a variety of resources for you to use in organizing, planning and promoting local events, including the official 75th birthday logo. Save forests from fire during the war effort who preceded smokey as the symbol of fire prevention. A biography, which is a definitive history of the smokey campaign during its first fifty years. An advertising campaign featuring smokey was started in 1944 with the slogan, smokey says care will prevent 9 out of 10 forest fires. The real smokey bear slideshow by life magazine inventory of the rudolph wendelin papers, 1930 2005 in the forest history society library and archives, durham, nc smokey bear days. As an educator, you can introduce a whole new generation of children to smokey bear and his message of wildfire prevention. It is administered by the ad council, the united states forest service, and the national association of state foresters to educate the public about the dangers of wildfires. The smokey bear campaign was initiated in the 1940s. It has plenty of pictures that are photographs depicting the scenes. Since 1944, the iconic symbol of conservation and protection of americas forests has taught millions about their role in preventing wildfires.
Smokey bear ver the course of its history, the united states has suffered through. In 1952, smokey bear had enough popular recognition to attract commercial interest. Map case number drawer number poster title years map case 3 drawer 28 cffp2a. A boy looks over book titles in the young readers center. Smokey bear free resources teacher guide, activity book, poster. Smokey the bear teaches the swift children about fire safety and some basic survival skills. Bambi could not be used in subsequent campaigns because it was on loan from walt disney studios for only one year. September 27, 20 the company behind iconic public service campaigns like. Smokey the bear little golden book by jane werner watson.
Sep 27, 20 the competing interests behind smokey bear and the crying indian. The smokey bear campaign to prevent forest fires is supported by your state forestry department and the. Follow his history here through memorabilia and print, radio and tv messages. Now read the rest of it the exciting story of the orphan cub who grew up to become smokey, the living symbol of forest fire prevention. Smokey was created by animal illustrator albert staehle in 1944. Using smokey images smokey bear special collections.
The united states forest service felt a national symbol was needed to aid in a fire prevention campaign and after many candidates, decided to use a bear. His accoutrements such as a shovel and rangers hat are never explicitly explained. National wildfire coordinating group nfes 2882 ncwg. Readers digest ran a fullpage color ad to run in its april issue, expo. Have children create their own smokeys story minibook by folding the. This campaign best characterizes the critical message of personal responsibility, which runs through all ad council campaigns. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you. He was made to teach people that forest fires are dangerous and how people can prevent them. Smokey bears living history began early in 1950 when a burned cub survived a fire in the lincoln national forest near capitan, new mexico. Finally, the tips he provides are somewhat dated calling cigarettes smokes and not geared to more modern concerns about forest fires which could foreseeably include this book has a number of. Jackson weaver, a noted radio personality of washington, d. The smokey bear wildfire prevention campaign is the longestrunning public service campaign.
In the wildfire prevention campaign, which is the longestrunning public service announcement campaign in united states history, the ad council, the united states forest service usfs, and the national association of state foresters nasf, in partnership with creative. The longest running campaign in ad council history, smokey bear and his famous warning, only you can prevent forest fires, was introduced to americans in 1944. Smokey bear s image has been associated with forest fire prevention since august 9, 1944, when he was first described as a fire fighting bear. The book is written like a large hard bound childrens book of about forty pages. On paper he was complete, with forest ranger hat, blue jeans, shovel, and fire fighting slogans but there was more. The anthropomorphism smokey undergoes is abrupt and unexplained. Smokey bear simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The forest fire prevention campaign has helped reduce the number of acres lost annually from 22 million to 8. The guardian of our forest has been a part of the american scene.
1399 360 1170 1431 1176 893 1306 505 1046 685 1350 816 1340 806 905 965 527 89 22 1116 18 1098 142 763 1481 1359 380 1084 830 1463 575 195 929 140 8 918 496 80 784 1380 885 389 1492 1377 1271 395 584 90