and Living at Cal Expo
Every August and into September, high school students from the Central Valley join with the Sierra National Forest to participate in Camp Smokey at the California State Fair. The students are paid $75/day and the Forest Service gets young enthusiastic uniformed bi-lingual representatives to help children learn about fire, fire safety and the forest.
While at Cal Expo, the Generation Green students must properly wear a complete Forest Service uniform. Students rotate through six stations where they talk to children and adults about various aspects of fire and fire safety. Students get to be Smokey, Woodsy and Sparky the Fire Dog and give hugs to fair visitors young and old alike. Students need to understand the content of each presentation, including the role of fire in forest ecology, what makes a good campsite, the story of Smokey Bear, home fire safety, and stop-drop-and-roll. Seasoned Forest Service fire prevention employees are also on hand to support the students and give constructive suggestions on how to improve presentations.
The average day runs like a firefighting assignment; students start early and end late. Fifteen hour days are common. The morning begins with breakfast and a career talk by Forest Service employees that are willing to share their career paths, their experience and their life choices. In turn, camp participants share introductions and something about their experience at Camp Smokey. Rushed off to a busy workday and then rushing back from the fair, students grab dinner and participate in public speaking exercises. Daily, each student stands in front of the group and talks about an array of topics, some of which are very personal. “I expect to learn from being here at Camp Smokey how to … When I grow up, I want to be… Speaking in front of a group makes me feel like …”
My job was to chaperone and assist the students with their presentations. I stayed at the McClellan Air Force Base USFS barracks with the students and went along with them to breakfast, morning activities, the State Fair, dinner and evening activities. It was amazing to see these students develop and dramatically improve in a matter of a few days. These images are of the effort, love, support, and change I experienced at Camp Smokey.
