Wildfire Prevention - State Fair

Voice of Smokey Bear at the MN State Fair

Purpose: Assist the individual wearing the Smokey Bear costume. Promote wildfire prevention using Smokey Bear catchphrases. Distribute Smokey Bear trinkets to fairgoers.

Authorized Duties:

• The Voice of Smokey assists the Smokey Bear volunteer as they get in and out of the Smokey costume. A checklist for how to do the costume is provided.
• Arrive on-time for your shift at 10:30. Dressing time for Smokey is part of the shift and part your responsibility, as they need help getting the costume on.
• Plan ahead so that transportation delays, finding parking, navigating the fairgrounds, etc. do not prevent you from being on-time.
• Help Smokey walk among the crowds in the DNR Park area twice a day for one-hour intervals. Vision is limited in the suit.
• Give verbal instructions to help direct Smokey, like:
  • “Be careful of the step down in front of you.”
  • “Smokey, let’s say hi to this family on your right.”
  • "A child to your left is running up to us."
  • “Smokey, do you need a rest/drink?”
• Smokey appearances are scheduled daily for:
  • 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM and
  • 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
• Hand out Smokey Bear trinkets and information to fairgoers.
• Help fairgoers take photos with Smokey.
• Be aware and keep Smokey safe. Don’t allow anyone to jump on Smokey, pull on the costume pieces or otherwise put the Smokey volunteer in danger.
• Answer fairgoers’ questions or refer them to the DNR Information Booth on the North side of the DNR Building.
  
• Smokey does not speak (Federal rule) so the voice should share Fire Prevention messages with people you encounter. The Fair is our largest public outreach opportunity each year. Messages can be things like:
  • “Smokey says, when you’re enjoying the outdoors, make sure your campfires are dead out.”
  • “Do you know Smokey’s message?” (Only YOU can prevent wildfires), etc.
• The Voice volunteer is responsible for making sure Smokey does not overheat by bringing Smokey into the employee area every 15 minutes (or as needed), out of sight of the public to remove the costume head, get a drink of water and cool off.

Restricted:

• NO PHOTOS ARE ALLOWED OF SMOKEY IN LESS THAN COMPLETE COSTUME. This is a Federal rule. Additional rules regarding do’s/don’ts of Smokey Bear costume usage are available at smokeybear.com
• Smokey is to remain on the grounds of the DNR Park area.
• Do not discuss issues or topics unrelated to fire prevention. Direct questions on unrelated topics to the Information Booth on the North side of the DNR Building.

Qualifications – The Voice of Smokey must be:

• 14 years of age or older.
• Friendly and confident talking to people.
• Physically capable of climbing the stairs to the employee area inside the DNR Building
• Physically capable of assisting the Smokey volunteer with getting into and out of the costume.
• Physically capable of leading Smokey around the DNR Park area.
• Physically capable of carrying a bag of giveaway trinkets.
• Able to keep track of time for when Smokey needs a break and to stay on schedule.

Time Commitment:

• Volunteers must be present on the DNR Park grounds for the entire shift from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Shifts will not be split.

An admission ticket will be provided for each day you volunteer. Maps, tickets, and instructions will be mailed to you ahead of your shift date(s).

Please note: if friends/family accompany you to the fair they MUST be signed up as DNR Volunteers and take the safety training in order to help you.

All volunteers 18 years of age and older must pass a background check.

State Fair Safety Training

• All volunteers must complete the annual online safety training – including quiz – to be eligible to work at the Minnesota State Fair.
• Please go to the DNR State Fair Safety Training page for instructions.