Smokey Bear Head Hiking Medallion
$7.00
In stock
Shipping calculated in cart/checkout:Â Shipping rates for first items start at $7, calculated based on weight of total order.
Officially licensed Smokey Bear hiking stick medallion with a full-color enameled portrait of Smokey himself. The face that reminded a couple of generations of Americans that only they can prevent wildfires, now sized for a hiking staff.
- 2″ x 2″, enameled photo image on metal with a brushed reverse finish
- Weight: 1 oz
- Officially licensed Smokey Bear product (USDA Forest Service campaign, 1944 to present)
- $4.99 at BHPFA. Other park stores carry the same or a similar version at $6.99
- Proceeds support education, conservation, and visitor services at BHPFA partner parks and forests
In stock
60-day returns · Ships from South Dakota via USPS
Smokey Bear Head Hiking Medallion
$7.00
In stock
Shipping calculated in cart/checkout:Â Shipping rates for first items start at $7, calculated based on weight of total order.
Officially licensed Smokey Bear hiking stick medallion with a full-color enameled portrait of Smokey himself. The face that reminded a couple of generations of Americans that only they can prevent wildfires, now sized for a hiking staff.
- 2″ x 2″, enameled photo image on metal with a brushed reverse finish
- Weight: 1 oz
- Officially licensed Smokey Bear product (USDA Forest Service campaign, 1944 to present)
- $4.99 at BHPFA. Other park stores carry the same or a similar version at $6.99
- Proceeds support education, conservation, and visitor services at BHPFA partner parks and forests
In stock
60-day returns · Ships from South Dakota via USPS
Real USPS rates, no markup. The money we save funds trail crews and internships.
Join BHPFA for $30 a year -> get your code by email in seconds. -> Use it at checkout today. Show your card at hundreds of nonprofit park stores nationwide for 10% off.
Every item is selected or approved by rangers and staff. Your purchase keeps them on the front lines.
Real USPS rates, no markup. The money we save funds trail crews and internships.
Join BHPFA for $30 a year -> get your code by email in seconds. -> Use it at checkout today. Show your card at hundreds of nonprofit park stores nationwide for 10% off.
Every item is selected or approved by rangers and staff. Your purchase keeps them on the front lines.
Description
What is this medallion?
A 2″ x 2″ hiking stick medallion with a full-color enameled portrait of Smokey Bear’s head, the campaign mascot introduced by the US Forest Service in 1944 to teach the public about preventing forest fires. The front is an enameled photo image, sealed so the color holds up outdoors. The reverse is brushed metal.
It is an officially licensed Smokey Bear product. USDA Forest Service controls the Smokey Bear likeness under federal law (18 U.S.C. 711), and only approved licensees can manufacture and sell merchandise with the character. The licensee mark appears on the product card.
A short history of Smokey
Smokey Bear launched on October 10, 1944, on a US Forest Service fire-prevention poster. The poster was a joint effort by the Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters, and the Ad Council, and came out during World War II when the US was especially worried about wildfire damage to timber resources needed for the war effort. The first slogan read “Smokey says, Care will prevent 9 out of 10 forest fires.”
In 1947 the line was shortened and sharpened to “Remember, Only YOU can prevent Forest Fires.” That phrasing ran for more than 50 years and became one of the most recognized advertising lines in American history. In 2001 the Ad Council updated “forest fires” to “wildfires” to reflect that fires also happen on grasslands, shrublands, and the wildland-urban interface, not only in forests. The current line is “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.”
Specifications
- Size: 2″ x 2″
- Weight: 1 oz
- Construction: Full-color enameled photo image on metal, brushed reverse finish
- Licensing: Officially licensed Smokey Bear product, USDA Forest Service
- Manufacturer: Unknown, needs HQ verification
- Country of origin: Unknown, needs HQ verification
How to attach it
Pre-drill small pilot holes in your wooden hiking stick or staff where the medallion will sit, then press the included brads through the medallion and into the holes with a small hammer. If you want to mount it flat on a display board, a bike frame, or an RV panel, skip the drilling and use a strong adhesive instead.
Who is this for?
Hikers collecting medallions for a staff. At 2″ x 2″, this one runs bigger than the standard 1 3/4″ park medallion, so it earns a prominent spot on the stick.
Fans of the Smokey Bear campaign and the Forest Service generally. If you grew up hearing “only you can prevent forest fires” from a cartoon bear with a ranger hat and a shovel, this is the small tribute version.
Gift buyers. Small, inexpensive, and recognizable. Works well as a stocking stuffer or a thank-you for a forest-service volunteer, firefighter, or camp host.
Smokey and the Black Hills National Forest
The Black Hills National Forest covers about 1.25 million acres across South Dakota and Wyoming and is managed by the US Forest Service. Wildfire prevention is a year-round concern across the ponderosa pine stands, the grasslands at lower elevations, and the heavily-visited areas around Pactola Reservoir, Spearfish Canyon, and Black Elk Peak. The Smokey Bear message is part of the forest’s public education program.
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of the Black Hills National Forest. The Smokey Bear Head Hiking Medallion is one of several Smokey items BHPFA carries for the forest.
Frequently asked questions
How big is this medallion?
2 inches by 2 inches. The standard park hiking medallion in the L.W. Bristol Classics line runs about 1 3/4″ diameter, so this one is a little larger. The extra surface area is what lets the full-color photo image of Smokey’s face fit.
Is this officially licensed?
Yes. Smokey Bear is protected under federal law (18 U.S.C. 711), and only approved licensees can manufacture products with the character. This medallion carries the official licensee mark. Buying official merchandise is one small way to support the campaign since licensing royalties go back into Smokey Bear programs.
Does it come with what I need to mount it?
Brads are included with the medallion. Pre-drill small pilot holes in your wooden hiking stick before pressing the brads in. For flat surfaces like a display board or bike frame, use a strong adhesive instead of the brads.
Why is the BHPFA price lower than other park stores?
BHPFA prices this medallion at $4.99. Some fellow cooperating associations price the same or a similar medallion at $6.99. Both prices are standard cooperating-association pricing. BHPFA absorbs a slightly tighter margin here because Smokey merchandise moves well and supports the Black Hills National Forest partnership directly.
Is Smokey Bear real?
The campaign character is a mascot, but there was a real cub named after him. In 1950 firefighters rescued a burned bear cub from the Capitan Gap fire in New Mexico. The cub lived at the National Zoo in Washington, DC until 1976 and was called Smokey, formally tying the campaign to a living animal. The cartoon mascot came first (1944); the real bear came later (1950).
When did the slogan change from “forest fires” to “wildfires”?
2001. The Ad Council updated “Only YOU can prevent forest fires” to “Only YOU can prevent wildfires” to cover fires in grasslands and the wildland-urban interface, not only forested land. Before 2001, the line was “Only YOU can prevent forest fires,” which ran from 1947 onward.
Does buying this support national parks or forests?
Yes. Proceeds support the Black Hills National Forest and other BHPFA partner 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.
Can I get my Passport to Your National Parks stamped here?
The Passport program is NPS only. The Black Hills National Forest is a USFS site and does not have a Passport cancellation stamp. If you have a Passport book, you can get stamps at BHPFA’s four NPS partner sites: Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
More BHPFA Smokey Bear items
Every Purchase Makes a Difference
When you shop with Black Hills Parks & Forests Association, you are directly funding:
- Education programs — nature workshops, Junior Ranger activities, and homeschool adventures for kids across the Black Hills
- Trail maintenance — keeping hiking trails safe and accessible at Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and the Black Hills National Forest
- Visitor services — park store operations, interpretive programs, and the staff who help millions of visitors each year
- Conservation — supporting the long-term health of public lands in the Black Hills and Nebraska
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service in the Black Hills region. We have supported these public lands since 1946.
Additional information
| Weight | 1 oz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 2" x 2" |
| Weight | 1 oz |
| Material | Enameled metal with photo image |
Note on International Orders
Some countries charge import duties, VAT, or handling fees on delivery. These are set by your local government and are not included in our checkout total. Customers are responsible for paying any such charges before receiving their package.
