Description
What is the Smokey Bear Only You Pin?
This is a photo dome pin with a full-color image of Smokey Bear holding his shovel, paired with his signature phrase “Only you.” The image sits under a clear domed lens, which gives the artwork depth and a collectible feel. The pin attaches with a rubber stud clutch, the same type used on most quality enamel and photo dome pins.
It’s made by Impact Photographics, a Petaluma, California company that supplies souvenir products to national parks, forests, and monuments across the country. Impact Photographics holds an official USDA Forest Service Smokey Bear license, so this is a genuine licensed product. Royalties from Smokey Bear licensed products fund wildfire prevention education programs.
BHPFA carries it through the Black Hills National Forest store. Proceeds from your purchase support the Black Hills National Forest and other BHPFA partner parks and forests.
About the “Only You” campaign
Smokey Bear became the face of wildfire prevention on August 9, 1944, when the USDA Forest Service and the Ad Council introduced the campaign. The full slogan, “Only YOU can prevent wildfires,” became one of the longest-running public service messages in American advertising history. The original 1944 wording was “Only you can prevent forest fires.” The Forest Service updated it to “wildfires” in 2001 to reflect the broader range of fires Smokey’s message applies to, including grassland and brush fires.
Smokey’s image is a Congressional trademark under federal law (Public Law 82-359). The Forest Service licenses it to approved manufacturers, and the royalties go toward wildfire prevention education. Buying an officially licensed Smokey Bear product puts a small amount of money directly into that work.
One clarification worth making: the character’s official name is Smokey Bear, not “Smokey the Bear.” The middle word comes from a 1952 song by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins that needed an extra syllable to fit the melody. The Forest Service, the Ad Council, and all official licensing have always used “Smokey Bear.”
Specifications
- Type: Photo dome pin
- Dimensions: 1″ x 3/4″
- Weight: 0.4 oz
- Attachment: Rubber stud clutch
- Design: Full-color photo dome front, Smokey Bear with shovel, “Only you” text
- Manufacturer: Impact Photographics (Petaluma, CA)
- License: USDA Forest Service official Smokey Bear licensee
Who is this for?
Pin collectors will recognize the photo dome format as different from flat enamel or soft enamel pins. The domed lens over the full-color art reads as a collectible rather than a promotional giveaway. For people building out a national-lands or wildfire-prevention pin collection, this is a core piece.
It also works as a small add-on gift for anyone who visits the Black Hills, volunteers with fire prevention programs, or has a Forest Service connection. It fits easily into a care package or a register grab.
Kids who collect Junior Ranger badges tend to gravitate toward Smokey Bear items. This pin fits on a vest, hat brim, or backpack strap alongside a badge collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an enamel pin or a photo dome pin?
Photo dome. The image sits under a clear domed lens rather than being filled with enamel. This gives it a slightly different look than flat or soft enamel pins. The attachment is the same rubber stud clutch either way.
Is this an officially licensed Smokey Bear product?
Yes. Impact Photographics holds an official Smokey Bear license from the USDA Forest Service. Royalties from licensed Smokey Bear products go toward wildfire prevention education.
Is the slogan “Only you can prevent forest fires” or “Only you can prevent wildfires”?
Both are correct, depending on the era. The original 1944 campaign used “forest fires.” The Forest Service officially updated the slogan to “wildfires” in 2001 to cover grassland and brush fires too. This pin uses the short “Only you” phrasing that works with either version.
Why does the product say “Smokey Bear” and not “Smokey the Bear”?
“Smokey Bear” is the official name. The “the” was added in a 1952 song to fit the melody. The Forest Service and all official licensing use “Smokey Bear.”
How does the rubber stud clutch work?
Push the post through the fabric, then press the rubber clutch onto the post from the back. It holds the pin in place without scratching. To remove, pull the clutch straight off the post.
Does buying this support national parks and forests?
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
What other Smokey Bear items does BHPFA carry?
Several pins, patches, and keychains. See the collection links below.
Smokey Bear collection
BHPFA carries several Smokey Bear items in the Black Hills National Forest store:
