Smokey Bear Awards - Past Winners

Past Award Winners (2025)

To see award winners from this year (2026), please click here.

Gold: Nationwide Wildfire Prevention

This is the highest honor given to organizations, teams, or individuals for outstanding wildfire prevention service over at least a two-year period that is national in scope. A maximum of three Gold Smokey Bear Awards may be given annually.

Rex Thompson

Rex Thompson is a Fire Prevention Technician on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests and a key contributor to Wildfire Prevention Spatial Assessment and Planning Strategies (WPSAPS) and National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) courses, which help train wildfire prevention and investigation practitioners. In his local Lakeside Ranger District, Rex created a “Pin Flag” program, placing flags with “no campfire” symbols in campfire rings during fire restrictions and developed educational handouts in multiple languages. He also enlisted local sheriff auxiliary volunteers to help patrol the forest and educate visitors about fire safety.

Silver: Regionwide Wildfire Prevention

This is the highest honor given to organizations, teams, or individuals for outstanding wildfire prevention service over at least a two-year period that is regional (multi-state) in scope. A maximum of five Silver Smokey Bear Awards may be given annually.

Sandra Carpenter

Sandra Carpenter is a Fire Prevention Technician on the Stanislaus National Forest. Her career with the Forest Service spans more than 30 years in which Sandra has patrolled for fires, provided technical expertise to timber and service contractors, assisted with prescribed burning, and created educational materials. Sandra has worked with National Cinema Movies (NCM) to create and distribute wildfire prevention commercials in movie theaters throughout the West and even created black-and-white silent films about Smokey Bear and wildfire prevention.

Bronze: Statewide Wildfire Prevention

This is the highest honor given to organizations, teams, or individuals for outstanding wildfire prevention service over at least a two-year period that has impact within a state. A maximum of ten Bronze Smokey Bear Awards may be given annually.

Krystle Gleason

Krystle Gleason is a Forestry Technician on the Stanislaus National Forest and has been the Incident Commander and Committee Chair of the Camp Smokey exhibit at the California State Fair for over four years. Her leadership has united state and federal agencies and local organizations to teach wildfire prevention information through the interactive exhibit. Krystle constantly searches for ways to expand and improve Camp Smokey, such as with updated signage, home-hardening props, and youth volunteers. California and the Stanislaus National Forest continue to see a downward trend in human-caused wildfires.

South Carolina Forestry Commission,

The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) protects, promotes and enhances the state’s forests. In 2021, SCFC created the “Cancel Wildfires in South Carolina” campaign after seeing a need for more virtual outreach. The team created a short commercial featuring the head coaches of college football teams Clemson and the University of South Carolina who helped get residents excited about wildfire prevention. The commercial reached around 1 million people and extended its impact through an easily accessible website. Over the course of three years, the number of wildfires in South Carolina dropped by nearly 60%.

Certificate

Certificates are awarded to recognize local achievements and the potential to earn a Smokey Bear Award in the future.

Todd Chlanda

Todd Chlanda is a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist with the Florida Forest Service and a recipient of a 2023 Bronze Smokey Bear Award. He has worked with local Braille organizations, Florida libraries, and the U.S. Forest Service to develop a Braille edition of The True Story of Smokey Bear.

Jennifer Erickson

Jennifer Erickson is a Prevention Officer on the Klamath National Forest and overcame challenges in her remote area to share wildfire prevention messages with hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail through the use of flyers, pack animals, and more.

Laura Hayes

Laura Hayes is a Wildland-Urban Interface Specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources who organized an ATV ride for Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday. She engaged dozens of partners over the 80th birthday year including fire departments, libraries, schools, youth camps, and more.

Janice Naylor

Janice Naylor is a GIS Specialist in U.S. Forest Service Region 2 who developed a wildfire prevention tracking and data analysis tool. Her tool helps wildfire prevention professionals determine where the greatest risks and common occurrences of human ignitions happen to improve their outreach.

Nan Stinson

Nan Stinson is a Prevention Education Specialist on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and focused on introducing Smokey Bear’s wildfire prevention message to all kids ages 3 to 14 in Sublette County, Wyoming. She has dedicated many hours to after school and evening events to inspire the next generation of wildfire prevention professionals and land stewards.

Submit a nomination or apply to the Smokey Bear Awards

For the latest nomination criteria and application form, please visit: https://www.stateforesters.org/smokey-bear/. Submissions typically open late spring.