A Beary Good Lesson at a Bearrific Event

Teddy Bear Days

Teddy bears are classic stuffed toys for children. Popular around the world with children of all ages, teddy bears consistently out-sell all other stuffed animal toys. They are known for providing young children with a sense of security and even companionship. Used in diverse channels, teddy bears have always kept a child’s attention.  They have been used to teach manners with the Berenstein Bears, fire safety with Smokey Bear and life lessons with the Care Bears.

 

It’s a natural progression that children will have to visit various medical professionals on many different occasions - basic checkups, when ill or for routine shots. Teddy Bear Days here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo uses teddy bears, and other stuffed animals, to help relay a message of safety and security when interacting with these professionals. The Teddy Bear Clinic, the cornerstone of this event, is located in the Lodge at Moose Lake. The clinic is a full hospital experience setup in a very non-threatening environment. When a child first approaches the clinic, they are welcomed by nurses who complete a quick checkup on the stuffed animal. From here, the child is either given a certificate of “Beary Good Health” or transferred on to the next department. A teddy bear may go to triage where a broken bone is casted, surgery to have a rip repaired or a button sewn on, or the teddy bear may need a CT scan or an x-ray. Through the entire process, the child is shown how easy all the procedures are and that it’s not a scary experience. The Teddy Bear Clinic is hosted by Memorial Hospital and is staffed with volunteer nurses from various hospital departments. A “beary” BIG thanks to Memorial Hospital!

This year, the 23^rd annual Teddy Bear Days was held on July 9 and 10. The Teddy Bear Clinic examined and released over 800 stuffed animals, varying from a basic teddy bear outfitted with heels, sunglass and pearls, to a stuffed piece of bacon. Yes, a stuffed piece of bacon was examined and released from the Teddy Bear Clinic. The clinic and the use of gauze, tongue depressors and about a hundred different bandages varying in color including, many with cartoon characters, is always a highlight of the event.

Teddy Bear Days also allows the Zoo an opportunity to showcase our bears. During this year’s event we offered three bear shows each day - grizzly bear demonstration, Bear Grotto demonstration, and a visitor favorite “Bear Aware”. The “Bear Aware” demonstration is held at the grizzly bear boardwalk and shows visitors what may happen if good camping principles are not followed. A make-shift campsite is constructed, complete with a campfire and a tent. Food is strategically placed throughout the campsite, including Ready Whip, the grizzlies’ favorite. Once everything is in place, the gate is opened and the grizzlies come to investigate. Eventually the majority of the food is enjoyed and the tent is pronounced unusable.

The final component of the event is our “bearrific” vendor area filled with many local businesses and organizations wanting to reach out to children to keep them active, educate them or help expand their creativity. This year, we hosted over 15 participants. They handed out kid-oriented collateral, prizes, crafts and coupons. Free child-size ice cream cones were enjoyed by everyone as well. The event was “beary” successful on all fronts! If you missed it, watch your Zoo calendar for our 2012 Teddy Bear Days.

 Thank you to our vendors!

American Association of Zoo Keepers

Bright Eyes

Build-A-Bear

Chick-Fil-A

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Docents

Colorado City Creamery

Glacier Ice Cream

Imagination Celebration

iT’Z

Mr. Biggs

Rocky Mountain Pediatric Dentistry

Seat Belt Safety

Stars Gymnastics

Texas Roadhouse

Untamed Leadership

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Crew