Smokey Bear Reading Challenge

The USDA Forest Service, in collaboration with the Georgia Public Library Service, is excited to announce the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge in celebration of Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday in 2024! They’re collaborating with public library systems across the country for this year-long challenge. This challenge is meant to complement CSLP's “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” and is designed to be a fun and easy way to engage children in reading about wildfire prevention, forests, and natural resource careers, while exploring their local environment. Celebrate Smokey’s 80th Birthday by joining the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge. Public libraries are invited to run the challenge for those 4 to 10 years of age, from January 1st to November 28th, 2024.

We are asking Michigan library systems sign-up under 1 point of contact, using this form: https://forms.gle/wmwhc8ZubCEQy2VN9

Important things to note:

• CSLP “Adventure Begins at Your Library” – The Collaborative Summer Library Program is partnering with the US Forest Services and these themes will tie nicely together! Be on the lookout this winter to hear who the 2024 Summer Reading Champion is… (If you attended CSLP's Summer Symposium last week, you may have heard about this!  Session recordings should be available soon, FYI.)
• READsquared – I am working with US Forest Services and R2 to try get this in as a pre-made challenge. You can also use the art from the toolkit to make your own challenge. Beanstack is also apparently offering this as a challenge, too.
• Reporting – In Dec 2024 I will be asking all libraries who signed-up to complete a survey that includes the number of your participants & their zip codes, so be sure to track that information.
• Toolkit –You can download and print these materials in-house or send to a printer: https://smokeybear.com/library-toolkit-reading-challenge.
• Note: No alterations or variations should be made to graphics or promotional materials.
• This toolkit includes poster, bookmarks, sticker/button, reading log, and numerous incentives and marketing materials.

Cathy Lancaster

Youth Services Coordinator

Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48915
My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See www.mypronouns.org to learn more.

LancasterC5@michigan.gov | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan
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