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We're Going On a Bear Hunt!

Posted at 5:21 AM, Mar 31, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-31 06:58:02-04

While kids are stuck at home for weeks, neighbors across the country are coming up with creative ways to get outside. In the Greenbriar-Brentwood neighborhood in Lafayette, the streets are now hunting grounds of sorts.

Neighbors have placed teddy bears in windows for children to count as part of a scavenger hunt when they go on a walk.

"We wanted to bring a little joy to the neighborhood, get the children out on a family event and hopefully put a smile on everyone's face," says Kristin Bodin who has a bear display in her window.

9 year old Azalie Crain took us on a bear hunt on the streets. She says, "some people might have more than one bear or some people just have pictures or some people have stuffed animals," adding that you have to look in each window of a house so you don't miss a bear.

At Kristin Bodin's house, a stuffed animal just wasn't enough. Her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a perch in her window display.

"Queenie stays in the window and greets all the neighbors as they come by. We see kids stopping all day long, first they see the bear and then they see Queenie in the window," says Bodin.

To make an event out of the hunt, kids can design a map or even turn the counting into a math problem! On Roselawn they can practice their writing skills and patience by leaving a letter for Kackie Lerille, who wants to share her love of snail mail.

"So I thought maybe I could put out a bear, ask them what color something is on it - the nose, the eyes, and they could respond to me with a letter and in return I'd send them a letter with a little gift card for a free scoop of ice cream from borden's ice cream shop," says Lerille, who is excited to receive more letters in her mailbox at 402 Roselawn.

If this is something you'd like to start in your neighborhood, social media is the place to begin. The Greenbriar neighborhood put this together on a neighborhood watch facebook page.

"Parents, if you never took your child out for bear hunting, do it! Do it!" says 9 year old Crain.