Smile.news

Author: Jacob

  • Vermont Air National Guard Airmen Return Home to Their Families and Communities

    Vermont Air National Guard Airmen Return Home to Their Families and Communities

    Families and communities across Vermont have a little more time together this fall. Airmen assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing returned to South Burlington on Sept. 6 after an overseas deployment, according to a report from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.

    The return brought the unit back to the people who had carried on at home: family members, employers, neighbors, chaplains and readiness teams. The wing’s airmen serve in communities throughout Vermont and the surrounding region, the report says, so a homecoming reaches well beyond one base.

    A welcome shaped by the people at home

    Maj. Gen. Henry Harder Jr., Vermont’s adjutant general, described the day as a chance to welcome airmen home and recognize the commitment of their families. Unit leadership, chaplain services and Military and Family Readiness programs supported deployed members and their families throughout the deployment, according to the report, and those resources will continue as airmen reconnect with civilian work, family life and their communities.

    Editorial illustration of a multigenerational Vermont family arranging flowers and food at a community welcome table.
    Editorial illustration: a Vermont community prepares a warm welcome.

    That ongoing support is part of what gives a return home its own kind of meaning. The 158th Fighter Wing’s members bring the experiences of federal service back to the places where they work, volunteer, raise children and see familiar faces. The official report notes that some members live and work across Vermont while others commute from communities around the country.

    Making room to reconnect

    Col. Michael Blair, the wing’s commander, said the focus after the return is giving airmen and their families time and space to reconnect and reintegrate. The homecoming marks the close of months away from loved ones and civilian routines. It also opens a new stretch of ordinary, meaningful moments: a shared meal, a school pickup, a familiar walk downtown or a hello from a neighbor.

    Editorial illustration of a family walking together on a warmly lit Vermont main street as neighbors wave.
    Editorial illustration: neighbors share a welcome on a Vermont main street.

    Smile.news sends warm wishes to the airmen of the 158th Fighter Wing and the families and communities welcoming them back. Their return is a reminder that homecomings are made meaningful by the people who keep the lights on, stay connected and make room at the table.

    Sources

  • Volunteer Guides Made a Fishing Day Special for 26 Veterans in Kentucky

    Volunteer Guides Made a Fishing Day Special for 26 Veterans in Kentucky

    Twenty-six veterans began their day before sunrise on Sept. 10, heading out on Lake Cumberland with volunteer fishing guides for a celebration built around good company, time on the water and a shared catch.

    The 13th annual fishing event was organized by Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says participants met at 5 a.m. for a striper-fishing trip. The guides donated both their time and expenses, helping make the lake outing possible.

    Editorial illustration of a small fishing boat on a sunlit Kentucky lake
    Editorial illustration: an early-morning fishing trip on a Kentucky lake.

    After several keepers came aboard, the group returned for a catered meal, gift bags and commemorative T-shirts provided by Friends of Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, Inc. Lora Walters, a member of the Friends group, prepared the meal, according to the agency’s account.

    A DAV Honor Guard performed a patriotic ceremony after lunch. The day then continued at Hatchery Creek, where the veterans were invited to fish for trout in the freshly stocked water.

    Editorial illustration of fishing rods beside a dock on Lake Cumberland
    Editorial illustration: fishing gear ready beside a quiet lake.

    Seven guide services took part: Laker Guide Service, MegaBite Charters, Jerry Sasser Fishing, Taylor’s Guide Service, Stars and Stripers Guide Service, StriperKing Guide Service and Kentucky Guide Service. The hatchery credited its guides, volunteers and sponsors with making its fall events possible.

    Editorial illustration of a welcoming picnic beside a shaded hatchery creek
    Editorial illustration: a shared meal near a flowing creek.

    The gathering brought several kinds of welcome together in one day: volunteer guides on the lake, a meal prepared by a community supporter, a ceremony of thanks and another chance to cast a line at the hatchery. It is a lasting example of local partners using their time and skills to create a memorable outdoor celebration for veterans.

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s event recap includes the full list of volunteer guides and more photographs.

  • Oxon Hill Farm’s Fall Festival Makes Room for Every Neighbor

    Oxon Hill Farm’s Fall Festival Makes Room for Every Neighbor

    On October 17, Oxon Hill Farm will open its gates for a free fall festival built around a simple community pleasure: spending an autumn day together at a working historic farm.

    From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm in Maryland will host music, pumpkin painting, a community showcase and sheepdog demonstrations. The National Park Service says the program welcomes families, neighbors and visitors to celebrate the season through hands-on activities and shared time outdoors.

    A pasture full of teamwork

    One of the day’s liveliest moments will be the sheepdog demonstrations led by AJ Hesketh-Tutton. Visitors can watch trained dogs guide sheep through the pasture in response to voice and whistle commands, a close look at the trust and coordination behind a traditional farm skill.

    Editorial illustration of a sheepdog handler guiding a border collie and sheep through a sunny autumn pasture as a family watches.
    Editorial illustration: a sheepdog demonstration brings a farm skill into view.

    The schedule also includes a morning performance from teaching artist Groovy Nate and an afternoon set from The Tribe Band. Throughout the day, local organizations will share their missions in a community showcase, giving visitors an easy way to meet people doing useful work nearby.

    A welcome designed for more neighbors

    The details of the festival carry the same friendly spirit as the activities. The park plans American Sign Language interpretation for performances and makes interpreters available to accompany visitors on request. Braille brochures will be available in the visitor center, and staff and volunteers can arrange golf-cart assistance for people with mobility concerns.

    The festival also offers a free shuttle between Oxon Hill Farm and the Oxon Hill Park and Ride. Bicycle racks, nearby transit connections and a walk from the Park and Ride give visitors several ways to arrive.

    Editorial illustration of multigenerational neighbors including a wheelchair user painting pumpkins together at a historic farm courtyard in autumn.
    Editorial illustration: neighbors turn a fall craft table into a shared afternoon.

    A Smile Across America stop

    For this Smile Across America stop, the joy is in the thoughtful mix: a pasture demonstration, live music, a small creative project and room for local groups to welcome their neighbors. It is a fall gathering with enough choices for people to make the day their own.

    Oxon Hill Farm is at 6411 Oxon Hill Road in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The National Park Service asks visitors to check its festival page for the current schedule and arrival details.

    Source

    National Park Service: Oxon Hill Farm Fall Festival

  • A Denver-Area Refuge Day Opens a Warm Door to Wildlife

    A Denver-Area Refuge Day Opens a Warm Door to Wildlife

    Smile Across America is a warm road-trip look at the people and places that make communities brighter.

    Just northeast of Denver, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge set aside a Saturday for the kind of curiosity that makes a family outing memorable. Its September 26 Refuge Day program invited people of all ages to explore wildlife, try hands-on activities, and spend time together outdoors.

    The visitor-center program included wildlife activity tables, arts and crafts, face painting, and an archery activity. The refuge also planned up-close encounters with black-footed ferrets and hawks, creating a chance for visitors to see familiar conservation stories with new eyes.

    Editorial illustration of neighbors gathering at a wildlife-refuge trailhead on a sunny autumn day
    Editorial illustration

    A welcoming wildlife stop near the city

    Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is a natural neighbor to the Denver metro area, about 10 miles northeast of downtown Denver. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service describes the refuge as a place where visitors can encounter bison, deer, raptors, songbirds, waterfowl, prairie dogs, coyotes, and other wildlife.

    Refuge Day’s program gave that rich setting a friendly family rhythm. Activity tables make room for questions. Crafts and face painting add a little color to the day. Archery gives visitors a chance to try something together. The program’s structure welcomed a wide range of ages, from children meeting a wildlife professional to adults who have been meaning to make a first visit.

    Editorial illustration of families discovering native flowers beside a sunny wildlife-refuge path
    Editorial illustration

    Small discoveries add up

    A wildlife refuge can offer a fine change of pace: a place to notice the sweep of a prairie, look up for a raptor, and learn why native habitats matter. Events such as Refuge Day make the invitation especially easy. Families can arrive for an activity and leave with a new favorite bird, a fresh question about conservation, or a plan to return for a trail.

    The black-footed ferret is one example of the stories that can make a close encounter meaningful. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the species among its conservation work, and a respectful educational encounter helps connect visitors with the care that goes into protecting wildlife and habitats.

    For Smile Across America, this is a cheerful Denver-area stop on the map: a Saturday at a refuge where nature learning, hands-on play, and community time shared the same welcome. The program paired outdoor recreation with the simple pleasure of noticing who else calls a landscape home.

    Editorial illustration of neighbors enjoying conversation together in a sunny public landscape
    Editorial illustration

    Planning a future refuge visit

    Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is free to visit, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge’s visitor center and programs offer an approachable starting point for anyone who wants to see more of the prairie and the wildlife that lives there. A return trip can be as simple as a walk, a wildlife watch, or another chance to bring a young naturalist along.

    Across the country, community events at refuges help public lands feel close to home. Rocky Mountain Arsenal’s Refuge Day offered a reminder that a few hours of activities can open a door to a much larger landscape.

    Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Refuge Day; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Black-footed Ferret.

  • Vermont’s Forest Festival Welcomes Families for a Day of Woodcraft and Music

    Vermont’s Forest Festival Welcomes Families for a Day of Woodcraft and Music

    Editorial illustration

    Woodstock, Vermont, has a full day of forest-centered community activities on Saturday, September 26. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park’s free Forest Festival brings visitors together for carriage rides, woodcraft, music, demonstrations, and hands-on learning in and around the Mount Tom Forest.

    The National Park Service lists the festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park. Families can ride between activity stations in horse-drawn carriages from Billings Farm & Museum, explore the Junior Ranger Hub, and meet artists-in-residence Allison Cook and Shawn Dumont.

    Adult and child hands shaping wood at an outdoor autumn craft table.
    Editorial illustration

    A day that follows wood from forest to craft

    At the Pony Pasture, the festival schedule includes a portable sawmill demonstration by F&F Millworks, horse-logging demonstrations, and a chance to learn about local forest practices from community organizations. Visitors can also see woodcraft demonstrations and meet featured artisans near the Carriage Barn Visitor Center.

    For younger visitors and their grown-ups, the Junior Ranger Hub offers tree identification, a Mount Tom Forest-inspired bookmark activity, plant-pressing inspired by historic herbaria, and artist demonstrations. The park also plans a display of a recently conserved historic carriage at the Woodbarn Exhibit.

    Families watching a portable sawmill demonstration in an autumn forest setting.
    Editorial illustration

    Music and shared time outdoors

    Live music is scheduled throughout the day in the Pony Pasture. Tim and Toben Traver will play Irish traditional and New England contra-dance music in the morning. Dartmouth student Joe Hagerty follows at noon, and Vermont Folklife’s youth trad ensemble Sugar in the Pan is set to close the afternoon with music from several regional traditions.

    The Forest Festival combines practical skills, local knowledge, and time together outdoors. Visitors can bring a picnic and chairs or blankets for the music, while the park asks guests to use the Billings Farm & Museum parking area and follow the paved approach or event shuttle to the festival.

    Details, directions, and the complete activity schedule are available from Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. The National Park Service event listing confirms the September 26 date, free admission, and festival hours.

  • Jamaica Bay’s Raptorama Welcomes Young Birders for a Fall Sunday

    Jamaica Bay’s Raptorama Welcomes Young Birders for a Fall Sunday

    Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge will turn a September Sunday into a welcoming day of birding, learning and family time. The refuge’s ninth annual Raptorama is set for Sunday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the visitor center in Queens. The free National Park Service program brings together park rangers and local conservation partners for guided walks, live raptor education and activities designed for young birders.

    Editorial illustration of a family and park ranger watching a hawk over autumn marsh grasses at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
    Editorial illustration

    A Sunday for looking up

    Jamaica Bay sits along an important Atlantic flyway, and Raptorama invites visitors to notice the birds of prey moving through the season. The National Park Service says the day will include a Birding for Beginners walk with NYC Bird Alliance at 10 a.m., followed by a Hawk Walk with the park at 11:45 a.m.

    The program also includes three raptor education demonstrations led by the Wildlife Center of Long Island. These sessions give families a chance to learn about birds of prey alongside the people who care for and study them.

    Editorial illustration of a park educator introducing a perched hawk to a mixed-age audience at an outdoor wildlife refuge program
    Editorial illustration

    Space for new birders

    For children who are ready to make a first field observation, the schedule includes Junior Birder Ranger programs at noon and 1:30 p.m. Partner organizations will host family-friendly activities outside the visitor center throughout the event.

    That mix gives the gathering an easy rhythm: take a walk, learn about a raptor, compare notes with a ranger or neighbor, then spend a little more time watching the marsh. The listed activities are free, and the event is open to the public.

    Editorial illustration of children and adults sharing binoculars and a bird field guide beside an autumn marsh
    Editorial illustration

    Plan the visit

    Raptorama takes place at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center on Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can find the complete schedule and park information through the National Park Service. A pair of binoculars can be useful, though the most important thing to bring is a little time to look closely.

    Sources

  • Pipestone Welcomes Volunteers for a Prairie-Care Saturday

    Pipestone Welcomes Volunteers for a Prairie-Care Saturday

    On Saturday, September 26, neighbors can spend a few restorative hours outdoors at Pipestone National Monument, where park rangers are welcoming volunteers to care for the tallgrass prairie.

    The morning runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers can collect native plant seeds for next year’s planting or remove invasive plants that crowd the prairie. The park says it will provide tools, gloves and training, making the work accessible to first-time helpers as well as returning volunteers. Sturdy shoes and layers are recommended.

    A complimentary lunch is planned for 11:30 a.m. The park asks volunteers to RSVP so staff can prepare enough food: call 507-825-5464 or email [email protected]. The event is part of National Public Lands Day, the annual volunteer effort that brings people together to care for public lands.

    Pipestone National Monument is a place of deep cultural significance. The National Park Service says 23 tribal nations are affiliated with the monument and Indigenous people continue long-standing quarrying traditions there. This weekend’s prairie work offers one practical way for local helpers to support the landscape around that living cultural heritage.

    Editorial illustration of gloved hands collecting native prairie seeds into a paper envelope
    Editorial illustration: collecting native prairie seeds for future planting.

    Details and updates are available from the Pipestone National Monument event announcement. Volunteers can also explore the monument’s history and cultural connections before their visit.

    Editorial illustration of volunteers carefully removing small saplings in a tallgrass prairie
    Editorial illustration: neighbors caring for a prairie together.
  • Smile Across America: Long Beach Turns Local History Into a Day of Art

    Smile Across America: Long Beach Turns Local History Into a Day of Art

    FACTUAL FEATURE · SMILE ACROSS AMERICA

    Long Beach, California, turned local history into a hands-on celebration on September 22. The Arts Council for Long Beach hosted “Seeds of Resilience: The Story of Long Beach,” a free Community Activation Day filled with artists, storytellers, performances, and interactive history.

    The event invited neighbors to explore the city through creative work and shared memories. That combination gave families and visitors a welcoming way to learn how community stories grow across generations.

    Illustrated Long Beach community art day with families, artists, and colorful history displays
    Neighbors gather around art and local stories in a bright community celebration.

    Artists and storytellers made the past feel close at hand, while live performances added the kind of energy that turns an afternoon outing into a favorite memory.

    Illustrated families exploring a Long Beach community history display together
    Families discover local history through an inviting, hands-on exhibit.
    Illustrated Long Beach artists and storytellers sharing creative work outdoors
    Artists and storytellers give neighborhood history a living, colorful voice.

    Source: Arts Council for Long Beach event listing.

  • Smile Across America: Everglades Families Turn a Saturday Into a BioBlitz

    Smile Across America: Everglades Families Turn a Saturday Into a BioBlitz

    Everglades National Park is turning a Saturday morning into a shared nature notebook. On September 26, visitors can join a community BioBlitz that combines a ranger-led wet walk with species spotting and iNaturalist observations.

    The National Park Service says participants will meet at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center at 9 a.m. and caravan to a cypress dome. Rangers will introduce the iNaturalist app before the group documents plants and animals along the wet walk.

    A family learns about Everglades plants and wildlife with a park ranger.
    Editorial illustration: an Everglades family BioBlitz briefing.

    The event is free and designed for participants age 12 and up. The park recommends downloading iNaturalist in advance and bringing water, sunscreen, and a device for photographs.

    For families, the appeal is practical and personal: a morning outside, a chance to learn the wetland’s residents, and a shared record of what the group discovers.

    Children use binoculars and field notebooks during an Everglades BioBlitz.
    Editorial illustration: young observers compare notes during the field walk.

    National Public Lands Day events across the country invite people to care for public spaces together. Everglades’ BioBlitz adds a joyful field-science twist, with every observation becoming part of a community portrait of the park.

    A park ranger points out wetland wildlife on a map during a family field briefing.
    Editorial illustration: a ranger helps the group plan its route.

    Sources: Everglades National Park BioBlitz event details and the National Park Service National Public Lands Day guide.

  • Smile Across America: Camp Nelson Invites Neighbors to Care for a Historic Kentucky Landscape

    Smile Across America: Camp Nelson Invites Neighbors to Care for a Historic Kentucky Landscape

    Smile Across America: A Saturday morning in Kentucky will give neighbors a hands-on way to care for a historic landscape and enjoy time together outdoors.

    On September 26, Camp Nelson National Monument will welcome volunteers for National Public Lands Day. From 9:30 a.m. to noon, participants will work with National Park Service staff to remove downed vegetation at Fort Jones, a preserved earthwork within the park’s historic landscape near Nicholasville.

    The gathering has the simple rhythm of a good community morning: meet at the visitor center, travel together to the work area, take a short walk, and lend a hand. The National Park Service says gloves and tools will be available, while volunteers are encouraged to bring water and dress for time outside.

    A shared task in a meaningful place

    Fort Jones is part of the defenses that supported Camp Nelson during the Civil War. The monument’s broader history includes the soldiers, civilians and refugees whose lives passed through this Kentucky site, and its programs connect that history with the people who care for the landscape today.

    For the September workday, volunteers will meet park staff at the visitor center, follow a vehicle caravan to parking along Sugar Creek Road, and hike about a quarter mile to Fort Jones. Working gloves and tools will be provided, and the National Park Service recommends long sleeves, pants, water and sunscreen for the morning outdoors.

    That combination of a practical chore and a local story is the heart of National Public Lands Day. The National Park Service describes the annual observance as a time that brings people together around green space, stewardship, learning and recreation. At Camp Nelson, those ideas will unfold at a site where the ground itself carries history.

    More ways to gather at Camp Nelson

    The volunteer day is part of Camp Nelson’s summer-and-fall schedule, which includes family archaeology activities, talks, hikes and new programs connected to the monument’s From Camp to Community project. The project highlights the stories of Camp Nelson’s soldiers, civilians and refugees in communities across Kentucky and beyond.

    Those programs make room for different kinds of participation: a child discovering an artifact activity, a neighbor joining a guided walk, a family taking in a history program, or a volunteer helping care for a place that invites future visitors to learn. The park’s History & Culture resources offer a useful introduction for anyone planning a visit.

    The road-trip takeaway

    Smile Across America is always looking for the small acts that keep a community welcoming. At Camp Nelson, that act comes with sturdy shoes, a water bottle and a few hours set aside for a shared landscape. The result will be a tidier path into a remarkable Kentucky story and a bright example of neighbors making room for one another outdoors.

    Editorial illustrations accompanying this story depict the spirit of volunteer stewardship.

    Sources: National Park Service event details for Camp Nelson’s National Public Lands Day and its History & Culture overview.

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