Celebrating Caves at Día del Niño - Event Recap

By Daniel White, Zone Geologist, Region 6

Two people at an event standing behind a table with educational materials. “El Oso Smokey” emerged from hibernation to attend the Día del Niño event at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on May 1, 2022, along with National Park Service staff and USDA Forest Service staff from the White River National Forest, Regions 2 and 6, and the Washington Office. The event was a celebration of children, science, education, and Hispanic/Latino culture, with many organizations and more than 5,000 visitors in attendance. It was also an opportunity to celebrate the International Year of Caves and Karst, the largest global initiative showcasing caves and karst landscapes to create public awareness about the importance of the protection and conservation of these fragile non-renewable resources. The Forest Service and National Park Service coordinated planning and hosted booths dedicated to cave and karst education and general information about geologic and paleontologic resources—including several real vertebrate and invertebrate animal fossils—found on public lands.

Three people in uniform standing next to Smokey Bear at an event. The real star of the event was Smokey Bear, who graced the museum with his furry presence and famous hat. Smokey was a big hit amongst the many children in attendance, who flocked to get their photos taken with him. He was also a big hit with many parents! Smokey educated attendees of all ages about the importance of preventing wildfires by safely extinguishing campfires. In collaboration with the National Park Service, Smokey also helped swear in new rangers to the Junior Cave Scientist program, whose workbook was recently translated into Spanish.

Another popular attraction at the event was the interactive CaveSim exhibit. CaveSim is a simulation that allows people of all ages to crawl inside a man-made cave and learn about the importance of cave conservation and exploration. This is an especially important educational tool for members of the public who may not have the ability to visit a real cave.

Much fun was had at the Día del Niño event by staff and the public. Many stickers and pamphlets were handed out, many photos with Smokey Bear were taken, and many visitors got to learn about cave and karst resources on public lands for the first time. The event was a huge success, and we hope to participate again next year.