Cardboard bears with a pot of honey and a tree filled with bees will greet residents who take the Bear Hunt April 2. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIEL DNEWS)
WESTFIELD-Bear hunting adventures are the latest craze across the country – and local families ready to join the fun should mark their calendars for the afternoon of April 2 when bears are expected to make appearances across the city.
The nationwide craze popping up in communities during the pandemic has focused on the book, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen.
City resident Jaclyn Kopyscinski suggested the idea on the We Love Westfield Community Forum after she took her two children on a wild adventure March 27 in West Springfield.
“The bear hunt fell on a nice day so our family walked to my in-laws and waved from afar since they had put stuffed animals out,” said Kopyscinski, adding the walk “ended up 6.5 miles.”
While not everyone has to trek that far, hopefully, to find bears on April 2, businesses and neighbors are invited to participate in the “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt in Westfield” event from 12 – 6 p.m.
“My daughter, Kaylee, 4, really enjoyed it, and now wants to decorate our porch on Morris Street with her teddy bears this week,” said Kopyscinski, adding her son, Levi, at 11 months, mostly spent the time sleeping in the double stroller.
“West Springfield did a really excellent job so I’m hopeful people here will also want to participate,” she said.
Kopyscinski, an English Language Arts educator at the John J. Duggan Academy in Springfield, said the bear hunt experience can be fun – and educational – for children.
“The experience comes down to making literacy come alive,” said Kopyscinski. “The bear hunt gives everyone a purpose and lets us come together as a community while still following the social distancing rules.”
While parents are thinking of creative ways to engage children while they are home from school, Kopyscinski said bear hunt activities can range from mathematics to maps.
“From a math perspective, have children count the bears they see,” she said. “From a social studies perspective, have children map out where they have located the bears by writing down the numbers on a house. They can also log the miles they are walking – and in general – the discovery process is great exercise.”
Businesses and city residents can participate by simply decorating a window or porch with a teddy bear or bears – or pictures, drawings or paintings of bears – from 12 – 6 p.m.
Kopyscinski said participants may even decide “to have your bears do something silly.”
In the event of inclement weather on April 2, Kopyscinski said the bear hunt would take place on April 3.
For those participating in the adventure, they are welcome to mention their street or business address a day before so that families can begin to map out their strategy to find bears. Also, persons are encouraged to return to Kopyscinski’s Facebook post after the event to detail their findings.
“Remember to adhere to the guidelines for social distancing, enjoy a ride or walk around town, and stay away from the other bear hunters,” said Kopyscinski, adding, “I’m hopeful for a lot of community participation.”
