As families adjust to the new reality of self-quarantine and social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak, a new worldwide trend is emerging that is finding its way into neighborhoods across Chattanooga.
From Soddy-Daisy to St. Elmo and Signal Mountain to East Brainerd, locals are embracing the idea of neighborhood “bear hunts.” Inspired by the 1989 children’s book “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” the idea is to place a stuffed bear in the window of one’s home for children to spot as they walk around the neighborhood. The more homes that participate, the more fun the game becomes.
“It’s similar to ‘I spy,’ something to search for while you’re walking,” said Jessica Pope, a resident of the Skyline Park neighborhood in Signal Mountain.
She found the idea on social media and posted it to a neighborhood Facebook group, and neighbors’ posts of bear photos soon followed.
East Brainerd resident Taylor Lyons also came across the idea on social media and decided to share it on the Mountain Shadows neighborhood Facebook page.