Recent and Upcoming Events

One of our daring Junior Smokejumpers in action

...preparing to jump

Junior Smokejumper Camps

One of many activities and fun photos ops for camp participants

If you're planning a visit to Yellowstone, consider including a couple of hours for a Junior Smokejumper program.

These action packed 2 hour programs introduce visitors to:

Fire Ecology - the science of fire, oxygen and heat and how firefighters work to control fire by removing one of these elements. Discussion touches on forest structure, fire behavior and the positive and negative aspects of fire.
Jump Suit and Parachutes - an upclose look at the gear used by Smokejumpers. Visitors get to do ground activities jumping from the door of our practice plane and some group game activities with a parachute where they learn to work together as a team.
Wildland Gear and Cargo - wildland clothing and gear is critical to wildland fire fighting. Learn how heavy the gear is, how cargo drops supply the firefighters and how cleanup and "taking it all out" is a critical part of firefighting.
Tools and Fire Shelter - the tools and shovels that support the hard work of digging a fire line and the safety aspects of the Fire Shelter. This unit has age-appropriate activities for both older and younger youth and enforces the lessons of the fire ecology lesson about available fuel.
Physical Fitness - this brisk walk on the woodchip trail perimeter reinforces the importance of physical fitness. This activity moves into exercises to allow youth to demonstrate their level of fitness and shows practice exercises to improve fitness.
Graduation - participants complete the graduation test as a group and photos are taken to commemorate.