Woodsy Owl’s Curiosity Club- Smokey Bear’s ABC’s Safety Disclaimer: This program is designed for children WITH their parent or caretaker. Please review this program and designate a safe place for you and your child to participate. Woodsy Owl’s Curiosity Club usually takes place at the Cradle of Forestry in America during the summer, weekly from 10:30am to 12pm. Since the Corona Virus we are designing new ways for children to learn about nature and stay safe. For 2020 we are offering these Digital Woodsy Owl programs for adults to be able to lead at home. Please enjoy and we hope to see you and your child for our 2021 programs at the Cradle. About Woodsy Owl: Caring, friendly, and wise, Woodsy Owl is a whimsical fellow and he's got his heart set on motivating kids to form healthy, lasting relationships with nature. As Woodsy flies across our land, he encourages youngsters to marvel at and explore the natural world, even in the city. His motto "Lend a Hand - Care for the Land!" encourages everyone to make a positive difference in their world. Woodsy Owl was created by the US Forest Service and these educational programs are brought the you by forest service partners- FIND Outdoors. Story Time: The True Story of Smokey Bear Who is Smokey Bear? The time? The early 1950’s. The place? A forest in New Mexico. The situation? An American black bear cub surrounded by a raging wildfire climbs to the top of a tree to escape the flames. What happens? He survives—thanks to firefighters who find and rescue him. They name him Smokey and send him to live at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. This real life Smokey Bear became the living symbol of the Forest Service’s Smokey Bear campaign that—to this day—works to educate the public about wildfire prevention. Smokey Bear needs your help now more than ever. If our nation’s wildlands (forests, grasslands, and rangelands) are destroyed by fire, Smokey and his animal friends have no home and you can’t enjoy the great outdoors. It can take your lifetime or longer for a forest to recover from a disastrous wildfire. Whenever you are on a trip in our nation’s forests, be sure to remember Smokey Bear’s important message— Only you can prevent wildfires. What are Smokey Bear’s ABC’s? Always Be Careful with fire! Smokey Bear’s Campfire Safety Guide: https://smokeybear.com/prevention/SmokeyCampfireSafetyChecklist.pdf Activity: Fire Safety This would be a good time to talk to your child about fire safety. Smokey bear is most concerned about forest fires but all fires can be dangerous. Discuss what your child should do if there is ever a fire at your home. Discuss who they should notify, where they should go and how to safely get there. Fire cup- Put out the Fire Game Have your child practice “putting out a fire” while having fun playing with water! Materials: • Plastic cups • Fake flames (colored foam works best, but you can use colored paper-it will just bleed) o If you are not artistically inclined, here is a flame template from Brilliant Little Ideas, https://brilliantlittleideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Fireman-Flames.pdf • Some type of water gun or water spray bottle • Bucket of water Directions: Make fake flames to stick onto your plastic cups, little ones can help with this. Set up fake fire outside in an area that can get wet! Gather bucket of water and water gun. Have your child aim their water gun at the fake flames and try to knock them over/put out the flames. Smoke Tunnel- Practicing a fire crawl When talking about what it would be like to be in a real fire in your home, I try to explain that although fire seems bright, it makes lot of smoke and the house would be very dark. Discuss the need to crawl low to get below the smoke. You can use a sheet or blanket to make a smoke crawl practice tunnel. Next try to demonstrate or explain how you would need to crawl really low to get under the smoke (the sheet tunnel). Stop, Drop & Roll- Movement practice Have your little one practice what they do if their clothes catch on fire: stop, drop & roll. Wildlife Rescue- Obstacle course Set up an obstacle course outside with wildlife stuffed animals for your little one to save! Materials: • Obstacle course materials like cones, hula hoops, foam noodles, chairs, or large cardboard boxes • Fake flames from your earlier activity • Stuffed animals • Firefighter outfit if you have one can add to the play Directions: Set up an obstacle course in the backyard for your child to run through. Place fake flames for them to jump over and place stuffed animals along the course for them to collect and save from the forest fire. (FIND Outdoors is not responsible for the contents of any other sites listed. Nor does the inclusion of a link imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the nonprofit.) .