The Hunt Is On!

by Jane Stahl

Join the fun on the Bear Fever Scavenger Hunt. Building a Better Boyertown invites members of the community to participate in a Bear Fever scavenger hunt throughout the month of July 2025.

The scavenger hunt was created for families to have some fun during Studio B’s bear-themed summer project “The Three Bears.” The hunt is one of the assorted activities occurring throughout summer 2025 in celebration of Bear Fever’s 20th anniversary.

Participation is free. Player Cards featuring details found on 16 Bear Fever bears installed around Boyertown can be picked up at the Building a Better Boyertown office, 3 E Philadelphia Ave; Studio B Art Gallery, 39A E Philadelphia Ave; Carmelo's Pizza, 116 E Philadelphia Ave; the Boyertown Community Library, 24 N Reading Avenue; Peppermint Stick Candy Store and Ice Cream Parlor, 26 E Philadelphia Avenue or as a pdf on www.boyertownpa.org website to print at home. Limit: one card/participant. (Editor's Note: Bear #9 has been unexpectedly "hospitalized" and unavailable at this time.)

Using the clue card to locate Bear Fever sculptures around town, at each sculpture, find the hidden numerical code near its base and write it down next to the corresponding number on your Player Card.

Provide contact information on the back of your Player Card and deposit your card through the mail slot at Studio B Art Gallery or Building a Better Boyertown office or send a pdf or photo via email to studiob@boyertownpa.org.

Completed cards (including contact information) will be entered in a raffle for a Grand Prize to be awarded the first week of August 2025. Submissions are due between July 1, 2025-July 31, 2025.

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Studio B Art Gallery’s “The Three Bears” project includes efforts to engage community members in the theme-of-the-year. The project, funded by a grant from the Berks County Community Foundation, includes a variety of activities, organized by businesses, individuals, and other non-profits in the community in collaboration with Studio B.

The Three Bears” celebrates the 20th anniversary of Bear Fever, Boyertown’s popular community art project. Twenty years ago, Bear Fever debuted over 30 bear sculptures at Boyertown High School’s annual Arts Expo. During the summer of 2005, those 30+ bear sculptures appeared throughout the community. Today, the original sculptures are joined by dozens more—over 90 at last count—and more are “in the works.” Apparently, this community is still not even looking for a cure for Bear Fever.

Visit www.bearfever.org and Bear Fever on Facebook for more information about the Bear Fever project. An updated map and locations chart of the 90+ Bear Fever bears currently installed are available at Studio B Art Gallery, Building a Better Boyertown office, or by emailing janeEstahl@comcast.net. Stay tuned for others to be announced on Bear Fever's Facebook page. (www.bearfever.org is currently in process of being updated)

Visit www.studiobbb.org and Studio B Art Gallery on Facebook for more information about the assorted bear-themed events and activities planned for summer 2025 in celebration of Bear Fever’s 20th anniversary.

More News from Boyertown

• Didgeridoo Provides Example of Primitive Technologies Music-lover Craig Bennett shares examples of the "smarts" among people whom we consider primitive.
• Bear Fever: It's Catching Book Launch Announced A long-awaited booklet of Boyertown's Bear Fever bears--Chapter #1--will be launched at Chestnut Knoll on August 7, 2025, from 6:30-7:30.