Smokey Da Bear Crew Neck Sweatshirt. Screen printed with plastisol ink. Created for Smokey Da Bear, 2022.
The Story of Smokey Da Bear
Although the exact location is unknown, like his older cousin Smokey The Bear, Smokey DA Bear was born in the forest and mountains of New Mexico, born Clyde Bearsworth, he loved playing in the trees and looked up to his famous older cousin for his love for nature and for protecting his neighborhood, families, and friends against forest fires.
Clyde Bearsworth shared many of the same loves as his older cousin. Clyde sensed he had another purpose and yearned to experience more of the world outside of the forest. He often would fantasize about the stories his older cousin Smokey the Bear told him about the tall, shiny structures he would see on his travels. Smokey would describe how these structures reached high into the skies and were wider than the trees in the forest. He would even tell stories about the sporting events that were in places called stadiums, where crowds of humans would chant their team’s names in excitement.
When Clyde turned 21, he decided to go on an adventure to see what the world outside of his beautiful neighborhood in the forests and mountains had to offer.
Clyde thought to himself, “I will get out my map of the United States, close my eyes, and whatever location my finger lands on is where I will go!”
He took out his map, closed his eyes, raised his arm high in a circular motion, extended his index finger, and then quickly lowered it until his finger pushed into the map. When he opened his eyes, he saw the word CHICAGO in large bold letters. Clyde was leaving the New Mexico forest and Mountains and heading toward the great city of Chicago!
A few days later, Clyde packed his belongings in his backpack, kissed his family goodbye, and started on his adventure. Before he left, Smokey the Bear hugged Clyde and gave him one of his ranger hats. Smokey the Bear told him that the ranger hat would always remind him of where his home was and how it represented pride and love for his community and nature, as well as being a service to others.
As Clyde set off on his adventure, he thought about how excited he was to see and learn so many new things. Clyde did just that.
On his way to Chicago, he caught a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, in Kansas Clyde went 65 stories below the ground to tour the Underground Salt Museum and even rafted through the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.
Clyde finally neared Chicago on a Sunday morning.
Tired from his nearly 1,200-mile journey, a jolt of energy shot through his body when he looked up and saw the Chicago Skyline on the horizon. It was even more beautiful than he had imagined.
As Clyde drew closer to the city, he saw a structure with orange and blue flags waving high! The flags reminded him of a story his older cousin told him about the Chicago Bears stadium! Flags with a bear on it, check, brown oval building that looks like a spaceship has crashed in it, check! He couldn’t believe he was almost there!
As he picked up his pace, he heard music playing and saw smoke in the air.
As much as he wanted to get to the stadium to check it out, he could hear his older cousin’s voice telling him to check out the smoke; someone could be in trouble, and it was his duty to help in any way he could.
As he got closer to the smoke, he saw vans, cars, and hundreds of people having a good time. He could also see not only where all of the smoke was coming from, but he could smell all of the different smells his nose could smell! People were grilling chicken, sausages, hamburgers, and hot dogs!!!
As he walked into the parking lot to investigate more, people dressed in Orange and Blue took notice of him too! A few started pointing at him and commenting on his size, his fur, and his ranger hat! One person yelled, “Look it is Smokey DA Bear!” As more and more people turned around, they started yelling, “Look at Da Bear, Da Bear….it’s SMOKEY DA BEAR!” Clyde tried telling them his name, but they kept cheering and chanting SMOKEY DA BEAR! They offered him all the burgers and sausages he could eat and then marched him right into the game! Clyde was having a great time!
At halftime, the camera pointed at him, and a video of him immediately showed up on the Jumbotron. The bottom of the Jumbotron read, “Welcome, Smokey Da Bear!” In unison, the whole stadium started chanting Smokey the Bear over and over again. Clyde raised his hands in the air, and the crowd cheered… the rest is history.
By the way, just as predicted, the Chicago Bears won that game 134 to 6. DA BEARS!
Clyde Bearsworth shared many of the same loves as his older cousin. Clyde sensed he had another purpose and yearned to experience more of the world outside of the forest. He often would fantasize about the stories his older cousin Smokey the Bear told him about the tall, shiny structures he would see on his travels. Smokey would describe how these structures reached high into the skies and were wider than the trees in the forest. He would even tell stories about the sporting events that were in places called stadiums, where crowds of humans would chant their team’s names in excitement.
When Clyde turned 21, he decided to go on an adventure to see what the world outside of his beautiful neighborhood in the forests and mountains had to offer.
Clyde thought to himself, “I will get out my map of the United States, close my eyes, and whatever location my finger lands on is where I will go!”
He took out his map, closed his eyes, raised his arm high in a circular motion, extended his index finger, and then quickly lowered it until his finger pushed into the map. When he opened his eyes, he saw the word CHICAGO in large bold letters. Clyde was leaving the New Mexico forest and Mountains and heading toward the great city of Chicago!
A few days later, Clyde packed his belongings in his backpack, kissed his family goodbye, and started on his adventure. Before he left, Smokey the Bear hugged Clyde and gave him one of his ranger hats. Smokey the Bear told him that the ranger hat would always remind him of where his home was and how it represented pride and love for his community and nature, as well as being a service to others.
As Clyde set off on his adventure, he thought about how excited he was to see and learn so many new things. Clyde did just that.
On his way to Chicago, he caught a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, in Kansas Clyde went 65 stories below the ground to tour the Underground Salt Museum and even rafted through the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.
Clyde finally neared Chicago on a Sunday morning.
Tired from his nearly 1,200-mile journey, a jolt of energy shot through his body when he looked up and saw the Chicago Skyline on the horizon. It was even more beautiful than he had imagined.
As Clyde drew closer to the city, he saw a structure with orange and blue flags waving high! The flags reminded him of a story his older cousin told him about the Chicago Bears stadium! Flags with a bear on it, check, brown oval building that looks like a spaceship has crashed in it, check! He couldn’t believe he was almost there!
As he picked up his pace, he heard music playing and saw smoke in the air.
As much as he wanted to get to the stadium to check it out, he could hear his older cousin’s voice telling him to check out the smoke; someone could be in trouble, and it was his duty to help in any way he could.
As he got closer to the smoke, he saw vans, cars, and hundreds of people having a good time. He could also see not only where all of the smoke was coming from, but he could smell all of the different smells his nose could smell! People were grilling chicken, sausages, hamburgers, and hot dogs!!!
As he walked into the parking lot to investigate more, people dressed in Orange and Blue took notice of him too! A few started pointing at him and commenting on his size, his fur, and his ranger hat! One person yelled, “Look it is Smokey DA Bear!” As more and more people turned around, they started yelling, “Look at Da Bear, Da Bear….it’s SMOKEY DA BEAR!” Clyde tried telling them his name, but they kept cheering and chanting SMOKEY DA BEAR! They offered him all the burgers and sausages he could eat and then marched him right into the game! Clyde was having a great time!
At halftime, the camera pointed at him, and a video of him immediately showed up on the Jumbotron. The bottom of the Jumbotron read, “Welcome, Smokey Da Bear!” In unison, the whole stadium started chanting Smokey the Bear over and over again. Clyde raised his hands in the air, and the crowd cheered… the rest is history.
By the way, just as predicted, the Chicago Bears won that game 134 to 6. DA BEARS!
