DELTA, Colo. (KREX) — Smokey Bear is about to turn 80, and to celebrate the milestone the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests is challenging families to hit the books.
GMUG announced Thursday that the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge is targeted at kids — ages 4 to 10 — and their families to engage with reading and learn about wildfire prevention, forest conservation and Smokey Bear’s legacy. The organization teamed up with local libraries to introduce the reading challenge.
The challenge also aims to have youths read about careers in natural resources, environmental stewardship and how to prevent wildfires while exploring their environment, GMUG said.
Participants can read from a list of books, earn badges, receive prizes and meet Smokey Bear.
Community members can take part in upcoming library events:
- July 23 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Montrose Regional Library, 320 S. Second St., in Montrose.
- July 25 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Gunnison County Library, 1 Quartz St., in Gunnison.
- July 30 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Crested Butte Library, 504 Maroon Ave., in Crested Butte.
- Aug. 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Crawford Community Library, 545 Highway 92, in Crawford.
- Aug. 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Hotchkiss Public Library, 149 E. Main St., in Hotchkiss.
- Aug. 8 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St., Ridgway, Colorado.
- Aug. 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Paonia Public Library, 80 Samuel Wade Road, in Paonia.
- Aug. 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Delta County Library, 124 E. Sixth St., in Delta.
Families can sign up for the reading challenge by visiting smokeybear.com/reading-challenge.