by Carrie Moritz, Gazette
On Saturday, Garretson community member Leah Williamson proposed, via Facebook, a bear hunt around Garretson. This was playing off the popular story by Michael Rosen, which starts out, “We’re going on a bear hunt, we’re going to catch a big one... we’re not scared!”
With the social distancing and recommended isolation protocols during the time of the pandemic, it’s been hard on children, who are isolated from their friends, and hard on parents who aren’t able to let their children be out and about. This game allowed kids (and parents) to get out and walk, bike, or ride in the car to find bears.
The bear hunt game took off in popularity, with over 100 responses on the Facebook thread, and at least 100 bears or other stuffed animals taking up residence in front windows. Garretson businesses also jumped in on the game, posing stuffed animals in storefront windows.
Children were delighted with the game, going around town to find as many bears as they could.
Other types of games have been proposed, as well. The first game proposal, held over St. Patrick’s Day, was to post Shamrocks, but only a few could be found. Suggestions for chalk art on the sidewalks and a future Easter Egg Hunt were also brought forward.
The bears are planned to stay up for one week, so there’s still time to get out and go on a bear hunt!
