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by Jane Stahl
Join the fun! Pokémon Fans already know that many of the Bear Fever bears in Boyertown are Pokéstops. They have been spinning stops and fighting at the gyms, gathering items, and catching Pokémon on their walks around town since 2014.
For those not familiar with Pokémon GO, an introduction to the game by veteran and world class players will be held at Studio B. Plus, all players, experienced and novice players, are invited to Studio B that same day and time to be entered in a raffle for prizes and to meet the Pokémon celebrities. Stay tuned for the date.
Scan https://www.pogomap.info to learn what Bear Fever bear is a stop or a gym. The blue cubes are Pokestops and orange pyramids are gyms. At Pokestops, players gather resources. At gyms, players use their Pokémon to fight for control over areas as a team.
There are three teams in Pokémon GO; players choose a team when they start their account and compete at local gyms by putting a Pokémon in the gym. Other teams in the area fight the Pokémon currently occupying a gym to gain control and earn in-game items for the duration of the time they are in control.
Benefits:
Fitness: Using location tracking and mapping technology, players walk to catch and train Pokémon characters in real locations.
Friendships/Bonding: Kids of all ages LOVE videogames. Team-building is part of the play. Teams can include moms and dads, friends, or brand-new acquaintances.
Accessibility: Anyone can play—even those with extreme physical disabilities—because you can play at home in your chair, on your phone, and still be competitive and be part of a team.
Careers: People make a great living playing videogames. They buy mansions or earn scholarships to college with money they earn in prizes or being paid to play on college teams.
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Pokémon GO is a mobile video game that got its start with characters created by Japanese electronics maker Nintendo and was hugely popular in 2014.
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 and other non-profits in the community in collaboration with Studio B.
Studio B Art Gallery’s theme for summer 2025 is “The Three Bears” and celebrates the 20th anniversary of Bear Fever, Boyertown’s popular community art project. Twenty years ago, Bear Fever debuted over 30 fiberglass bear sculptures, created by area artists, at Boyertown High School’s annual Arts Expo. During the summer of 2005, those 30+ bear sculptures were installed throughout the community where most of them remain today.
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,” quips Jane Stahl, founder of the project along with her husband Paul.