To celebrate Smokey the Bear’s 80th birthday on August 9 of this year, the Ad Council, the USDA Forest Service, and the National Association of State Foresters are sponsoring the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to engage young readers and encourage them to read about wildfire prevention, forests, and natural resource careers and to explore their local environment.
Libraries can run the challenge in conjunction with their summer reading program, or any time January 1-November 28, 2024. The challenge is geared for children ages four to ten, but all ages are welcome to participate. Libraries can use Beanstacker or a printable challenge paper log for participants to track their progress during the challenge.
Resources and incentive kits are available to participating libraries. For more information visit the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge website or e-mail Letitia Wyoming State Library Youth Services Consultant at letitia.bulic@wyo.gov. Interested libraries may sign up here.