“He’s a super friendly bear so there’s no need to contact (the state Department of Environmental Conservation) or anything like that,” Play ADK Executive Director Rob Carr said in a press release bearing the news. “He doesn’t eat garbage, but he does enjoy a good latte.”

Employees of Play ADK may be seen chauffeuring a large stuffed bear named “Bear” around town to see the sites, on the handlebars of their bikes or riding shotgun in their cars. Bear always wears a seat belt when he’s driven around.

“A month long search for Play ADK’s beloved bear, Bear, has begun,” Play ADK Playmaker Kaet O’Brien wrote. “He is approximately 4 feet tall and is unlikely to respond to any name due to a rare bear hearing condition known as ‘stuffalitis.'”

O’Brien is in charge of the logistics of Bear’s tour around town.

From left, Iris Li, Bear and Rob Carr hang out on a bench outside ADK Play’s Main Street Clubhouse. Bear is ambling around Saranac Lake this month, and people who track, spot and photograph him will be signed up for a raffle. (Provided photo — Play ADK)

“I know we’re told not to approach bears, but I’ve met Bear and he’s a real sweetheart — not much of a talker, though,” village Mayor Jimmy Williams said in a statement. “He just loves getting out and exploring downtown Saranac Lake.”

Carr said Bear offered to be part of this promotion to stoke excitement about the play museum, get people interested and to bring them into Play ADK’s Clubhouse on the corner of Main Street and Broadway.

Bear first became a part of the Play ADK family around 6 months ago, Carr said, when he paddled into town with his wife and child for a canoe raffle the museum was holding.

“If you see him, please post a selfie with him on social media and tag us @play.adk on Instagram and Play ADK on Facebook,” O’Brien said in a statement. “We know this sounds silly, but it’s the best way we can think of to keep track of him.”

Play ADK has put together a raffle prize to encourage folks to participate in this tracking method, she said. The raffle winner for a basket bearing goodies from local businesses will be announced at Northern Current, a free community music festival held at Riverside Park on Sept. 4.

Bear can be spotted anywhere within the village of Saranac Lake from Sunday through Friday. On Saturdays, he will hide in a different business looking for a beargain. Searchers can get a clue to help them get their bearings as to where he is at the Clubhouse every Saturday, from Aug. 6 to Sept. 3. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Carr said each photo from a different location counts as one raffle entry, so he said, “be out every day looking for Bear.”

Play ADK museum in first phase of work

Play ADK is a nonprofit working to build the first children’s museum in the Adirondacks. Play ADK purchased its property — the big, red former Branch and Callanan warehouse on Depot Street, in 2021.

Carr said Play ADK could open its doors by 2025 at the earliest if it meets all of its fundraising goals. The project has been estimated to cost more than $7 million at the bare minimum.

In June, the project entered the design phase after contracting with Phinney Design Group to produce a conceptual design of the project.

Carr has described the future museum as being a “high-touch and low-tech” place to play, build muscles, minds and community. There are plans for a STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — maker space for teens and a family resource center.

In 2018, Play ADK was awarded $949,000 through New York state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative program as part of a larger $10 million award for the village of Saranac Lake. The project also got $1 million from the state in 2019 through a Consolidated Funding Application grant. It has received private grants from the Cloudsplitter Foundation and “hundreds of thousands of dollars in community gifts.”

Carr said the project has been getting consistent donations.

The organization is planning a gala on Aug. 25 with Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at Ampersand Bay.