image description
'We're Going on a Bear Hunt,' a 1989 children's picture book written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, has inspired a local bear hunt in the Berkshires this weekend.

Local Woman Organizing 'Bear Hunt' in Berkshires This Weekend

By Rebecca DravisiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

Update, 12 p.m. Friday, April 3:

Access a Google map of participating homes here.

 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A local woman is spearheading a "bear hunt" this weekend - bears of the toy kind, that is.

Inspired by the book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt," which Susan Wrba likes to read with her 2-year-old son, Wrba is organizing a "bear hunt" across the Berkshires from Friday, April 3, to Sunday, April 5.

Families can participate in two ways: One, they can put a stuffed, toy or otherwise creatively designed bear in their front window or porch. (Wrba said her father-in-law is planning a mechanical bear of some sort at his home in Pittsfield.) Families who do this should go to the Facebook event page Wrba has set up here to let people know what street they can spot a bear in. And two, families can drive around looking for the bears -- safely from their car, or, if many bears are located in a single neighborhood, by taking an appropriately socially distanced walk along that neighborhood.

Wrba said she got the idea from a friend in Haverhill, where a similar project happened in March. It appealed to her not only because the book was one of her son's favorites but also because she was looking for ways to connect to the outside world during this time of isolation.

"I've been trying to think of ways to feel connected that aren't virtual," said Wrba, who lives in New Lebanon, N.Y., with her husband her two children, which include a 7-week-old baby boy in addition to the 2-year-old. "I love that you are able to be creative in your own home but also get out in a way that's safe and interesting."

Wrba said she was worried it wasn't catching on at first, but thanks to the power of social media and some friends with downtown Pittsfield connections, she's hopeful it will be a success. As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly two dozen people had posted addresses (posting a street names only is fine, as it adds a little challenge to the hunt and protects people's privacy) on the Facebook page.

"It's been great," she said, adding that the format of asking people to leave bears out over a three-day period will allow families to "jump in and participate" in a way that fits their schedule.

Wrba said a similar Easter egg hunt is being planned for next weekend by Berkshires Macaroni Kid and she hopes that more events like these can help keep kids entertained and creative during these challenging times.

"Hopefully there can be things happening in lieu of in-person events," she said. "People are really coming together."


Tags: books,   childrens activities,   COVID-19,   family,   


More Coronavirus Updates

Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 news:


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

EforAll Showcase and Gala at Hot Plate Brewing Company

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Entrepreneurship for All Berkshire County will celebrate the nine graduates of the 2023 Spring Accelerator Program and award nearly $7,000 in seed capital at their Showcase and Gala at Hot Plate Brewing Company on Thursday, June 8 at 5:30pm.
 
Entrepreneurship for All Berkshire County (EforAll) began its seventh Accelerator in February 2023 and will celebrate the nine businesses who have completed this intensive program. They spent 12 weeks learning from experts on a variety of topics about business. With the help of 27 volunteer mentors, the entrepreneurs have developed their plans to build and sustain their businesses. 
 
The ceremony will feature pitches from nine graduates, a speech presented by one of the graduating cohort members, and distribution of the $7,000 prize pool. Prior to the ceremony, the graduates have been invited to table and showcase their businesses as well as sell goods between 5:30pm and 6:30pm. The ceremony will begin at 6:30pm. 
 
The event will begin at 5:30pm on Thursday, June 8.
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories