ELY – Three classes of Washington School kindergarten students filled a school bus last Friday and took a ride out to the Ely Airport.

Clearly excited and with exclamations of “ooohs,” and “ahhhhs,” the youngsters literally jumped from the bus as teachers and volunteers did their best to herd them into orderly groups to begin the tours. Each of the three groups was taken to different areas of the flight line and aircraft hangars to tour the U.S. Forest Service aircraft parked at the ready to fight wildfires.

The tour guides were peppered with a litany of questions only a kindergartener could ask:

“Where does the pilot sit?”

“Where does the gas go in?”

“How come it’s so windy here?”

“Why are there boats in this garage?”

“Can I climb inside?”

“How come there are no propellers on that one?

“Can I go for a ride?”

“Can I see Smokey the Bear?”

“I have to go to the bathroom!”

The students gawked at the big machines and struggled in the wind to walk to the next aircraft. The groups gathered in the hangar and lined up to enter the office building.

But the secret was out. Some students were prepared in advance by an older brother or sister that Smokey the Bear would be showing up somewhere. As they entered the office, they mobbed the big cuddly bear, all trying to hug him at once.

“This is as big a deal as Santa Claus,” said one teacher.

After the meet-and-greet with the U.S. Forest Service ambassador, the students lined up and were presented with a bag of swag, including stickers and a toy airplane. After a group photo and a big “Thank You!” they headed to the bus for the short trip back to school.