June 15, 2007 – At this time next year, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will be opening an exhibit of grizzly bears in the new Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit. But this summer during Teddy Bear Days, Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22, the only bears to be seen around the Teddy Bear Clinic will be of the stuffed variety.

During Teddy Bear Days, children under 12 who are accompanied by a teddy bear or other stuffed animal receive Zoo admission for just $1. (Of course, Zoo members are always free.) Special activities are planned both days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., including a teddy bear clinic, face painting and a parade to the Zoo’s real bear exhibit each day at 2:45 p.m. The namesake of the teddy bear, President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, will also be making a daily appearance at the festivities.

The 19th annual Teddy Bear Days is sponsored by Memorial Hospital and Kaiser Permanente.

Bears that stop in at the special teddy bear clinic, located in the newly constructed Moose Lake Lodge, are provided free “checkups” by Memorial Hospital’s pediatric nurses. With tender loving care, these volunteers administer stitches, splints and other necessary “medical” procedures to needy stuffed animals. Each bear’s weight, height, temperature and overall condition is officially recorded and all bears will receive a signed certificate of “Beary Good Health.” In addition, emergency units from American Medical Response and Broadmoor Fire and Rescue will be on display so curious little ones can explore the equipment. So much fun it’ll be unbearable!

Teddy Bear Days is modeled to give area children the opportunity to experience a visit to a hospital emergency room or clinic with their beloved stuffed friends. The comfort level achieved during this “make-believe” visit can then, hopefully, be transferred to their own lives if they are ever in need of emergency medical care themselves. By bringing their teddy bears and other stuffed animal companions to the Teddy Bear Days clinic, children learn of the caring and understanding ways of healthcare professionals.