Kansas Forest Service
October
Smokey Bear in Olathe, October 3rd, 2026
Smokey Bear visits the Olathe Fire Department!
Smokey Bear in Overland Park, October 3rd, 2026
Smokey Bear visits the Overland Park Fire Department!
River Explorations: Riparian Forests on the Wakarusa River, October 1st, 2026
On the Wakarusa River west of Lawrence, KS, 4:00 pm-9:00 pm
Join Friends of the Kaw and our special guest, Elizabeth “EJ” Jamison, Northeast District Forester with the Kansas Forest Service, to learn about the relationships between rivers and the trees and other plants that live on their banks. This event and will be held in kayaks on the Wakarusa River in Douglas County, west of Lawrence. Options include: BYOB - bring your own boat - or rent one of ours! Learn more and get your tickets at www.bit.ly/2026RiparianForests.
Celebrate Agriculture Day at K-State, October 10th, 2026
Manhattan, KS
Join Kansas Forest Service staff to explore a real fire truck used to fire wildland fires! Learn more about these and other programs starting three hours before kickoff at the K-State football game outside the staduim.
Fairmount Township 75th Department Celebration, October 10th, 2026
Fairmount, KS, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Join Smokey Bear as we celebrate 75 years of the Fairmount Township Fire Department!
Monster Myths by Moonlight, October 10th, 2026
Milford Nature Center, 4:30 pm-7:00 pm
Join Kansas Forest Service staff to spend a spooky evening learning about—and debunking—the myths and misconceptions surrounding some of our most spectacular native wildlife. While you wait for your hayride to the trail, be sure to stop by our Trunk-or-Treat for some Halloween fun! Learn more on Facebook
Prairie Garden Festival, October 10th, 2026
601 Main St, Hays, KS, 11:30 am-2:30 pm
Join northwest Distirct Forester Chelsea Hanson at the Prairie Garden Festival! Come learn about; water wise gardening, native plants and wild flowers, pollinators and beneficial insects, and native wildlife and habitat conservation. Learn more on Facebook.
Plainville Library Storytime, October 14th, 2026
Fairmount, KS, 10:00 am-10:30 am
Join Smokey Bear at the Plainville Library Storytime!
Rawlins County Museum, October 16th, 2026
Join Smokey Bear at the Rawlins County Museum!
Common Factors Affecting Urban Landscape Trees, October 20th, 2026
Flory Building, Douglas Co Fairgrounds, 5:30 pm-6:30 pm
Join Forest Health Program Coordinator Shad Hufnagel and K-State Extension Douglas County to talk about issues that commonly impact urban trees!
Fall Field Day, October 22nd, 2026
Courtland, KS
Join the Kansas Forestry Association for the 2026 Fall Field Day on October 22 at the Historic Woodland Ranch in Courtland, Kansas! Spend the day exploring the past, present, and future of Kansas woodlands while connecting with fellow landowners, forestry professionals, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're a woodland owner, conservation advocate, or simply interested in learning more about Kansas forests, this event offers valuable insights and real-world tools to help steward our natural resources.
Flint Hills Discovery Center, October 26th, 2026
Join Smokey Bear at the Flint Hills Discovery Center!
Fall Tree Workshop, October 27th, 2026
Elmwood Park, 9:00 am
Join Northwest District Forester Chelsea Hanson to learn more about tree mulchning, winterizing your garden, and pollinators. This program is hosted by K-State Extension Twin Creeks District. Learn more on the event flyer.
Future Events
Tree Care Workshop, November 10th, 2026
Fort Scott, KS, 1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Join Community Forester Kody Kraemer to learn more about tree care including, tree biology, selection, planting, pruning, and watering. Call 620-244-3826 for additional information!
Wabunsee County Career Exploration, November 10th, 2026
Wabunsee County Fairgrounds, 9:00 am-11:00 am
Join Kansas Forest Service staff to learn more about careers in wildland firefighting and forestry!
Right Tree, Right Place, November 10th, 2026
Zoom, 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
Northwest District Forester, Chelsea Hanson will cover the “Right Tree, Right Place” philosophy. This philosophy follows the idea that if the right tree is selected for a given site and ecosystem, it will be significantly better than a tree that is not suited for the site. Sign up for our Between the Branches Newsletter for the Zoom link: https://kfs.myflodesk.com/communitytrees
Work Capacity Test (Pack Test), November 14th, 2026
Arma Fire Department 313 W South Street, Arma, KS, 8:00 am
This is the Arduous Work Capacity Test. The arduous course requires you to carry 45 pounds of weight on a three-mile, flat course within 45 minutes. You may carry the weight in a vest, backpack, etc., according to your personal preference. You are required to provide the weight you will wear for testing. At the discretion of the proctor, your weights may be measured before and/or after the test. Running during the test is not allowed and may result in disqualification.
This is an outdoor activity; participants are expected to dress appropriately for the weather. In the unlikely event that severe or extreme weather is forecast to occur on the date of training, your instructor will notify you by email of any cancelation or schedule changes. The work capacity test is strenuous; you are advised to train before attempting the test. If you have any doubts about your physical capacity to complete the test or have prior medical conditions, you are asked to consult your physician prior to training and/or testing.
The Work Capacity Test offered by the Kansas Forest Service is open to members of Kansas Fire Departments, certain employees of the State of Kansas, and certain partners of the Kansas Forest Service. The Work Capacity Test is not required by the State of Kansas or the Kansas Forest Service in order for members of a local fire department to respond to fires within the State of Kansas. Local Fire Departments may require the Work Capacity Test for their members at the discretion of the department.
NWCG S-130 Basic Wildland Firefighter Course – Instructor Led Field Day, November 14th, 2026
Arma Fire Department 313 W South Street, Arma, KS, 10:00 am-4:00 pm
This course is the instructor led component of the NWCG: S-130 Basic Wildland Firefighter Course. This is an outdoor, fieldwork course and requires the completion of training evolutions and simulated wildland firefighting. While this course requires some physical activity, it is not excessively strenuous. This course is held outdoors; it is the student’s responsibility to dress appropriately for the weather.
If possible, students should wear wildland firefighting PPE. If wildland firefighting PPE is unavailable, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt may be worn for the training. Student’s shoes should be of sturdy construction; wildland firefighting boots are preferred.
Prerequisite Coursework: NWCG S – 130 Basic Wildland Firefighter Blended Course Online Component, NWCG S – 190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, NWCG L – 180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service, ICS – 100: An Introduction to the Incident Command System, and IS – 700, An Introduction to the National Incident Management System.
