How the GeoBear Project Works...

PREPARING GEOBEARS FOR LAUNCH...

Preparing a GeoBear for its journey is simply a matter of finding a small "teddy bear" or other critter and equipping it with a few travel necessities. Some students choose a teddy which has been a favorite for many years. Others buy a new bear, not wishing to put an old friend at risk. Students hope to see their furry friends again, but there are no guarantees of a safe return home.

Around each fuzzy critter's neck is tied a tag. On one side of the tag there is a photograph of Dempsey Middle School. On the other side of the tag are the bear's traveling papers -- a greeting and an invitation to anyone who meets the GeoBear to "take me as far as you are going then give me to someone who is traveling even farther."

Traveling companions are also asked to communicate with the GeoBear's classmates back at Dempsey Middle School by letter, postcard, fax, telephone, or e-mail.




LAUNCHING GEOBEARS...

Launching a GeoBear involves finding a person who is leaving Delaware, Ohio, U.S.A., bound for some other destination. The first leg of the GeoBear's trip doesn't have to be to an exotic place. Commonly a GeoBear will begin its adventure with a person leaving Delaware on a business or vacation trip. Some GeoBears travel the first leg of their journeys with truck drivers. Others may go with students returning home for a weekend or holiday from Ohio Wesleyan University which is located in Delaware.

Area newspapers report about the GeoBear Project. Media coverage has created much public interest in the project and people call the school asking for GeoBears to accompany them on their travels.




TRACKING GEOBEARS...

GeoBear correspondence is reported regularly to students in the geography classes. Students await the arrival of correspondence with the anticipation of parents awaiting word from itinerant children. Some students get anxious when their GeoBears fail to check in for long periods. Others are disappointed because they NEVER hear from their GeoBears. A small percentage of GeoBears never check in. A larger percentage do not return home before the end of the school year. On average about 40% of bears return home annually.

Tracking the GeoBears through space and time is an on-going task of major pro- portion. Locations of GeoBear contacts are mapped using a computer application called "3D Atlas '98". Student "GeoBear Trackers" also maintain a database of all GeoBear contacts using "AppleWorks." All mail, fax, and hard copies of e-mails are placed in individual GeoBear files.





WHAT'S NEXT???...

The ninth launch of GeoBears began in September 2003. More than 300 GeoBears are currently "on the road."