O’Bannon Woods State Park will be celebrating Smokey Bear’s 75th birthday with several Smokey-related activities on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hickory Hollow Interpretive Center.

Participants can hear Smokey’s story, sing his song, sign a birthday card, and have birthday cake with party favors. They will also get to sing “Happy Birthday” to Smokey himself. There will be a free raffle of Smokey Bear items, and other Smokey memorabilia will be on display inside the nature center.

A celebration of Smokey Bear would not be complete without learning about fire safety. Participants can learn how to build a campfire as well as how to use a fire extinguisher while also learning the benefits of prescribed fires.

There will also be other fire safety activities. The Palmyra and Leavenworth volunteer fire departments will have firetrucks and equipment on display, and firefighters from both departments, as well as a firefighter from Harrison Crawford State Forest, will answer questions about fire safety.

The United States Forest Service will be on hand to help children learn basic compass skills as they complete activities to become a Junior Forest Ranger.

Just before the party at 9:30 a.m. there will be a short nature hike with the theme of learning about black bears.

The event is free after paying the regular park gate entrance fee of $7 per in-state vehicle and $9 per out-of-state vehicle.

O’Bannon Woods State Park (on.IN.gov/obannonwoodssp) is at 7234 Old Forest Road SW, Corydon, 47112.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.

Media contact: Jarrett Manek, interpretive naturalist, O’Bannon Woods State Park, 812-738-8234.