The Great Delta Bear Affair conducts various projects to raise awareness about the Louisiana Black Bear, as well as offering educational opportunities to children about Mississippi’s natural resources and wildlife. The festival’s planning committee also gives back to its supportive local community through beautification, donations and other outreach projects.
Bear Care
Each year the Great Delta Bear Affair played host to a Chainsaw Woodcarver. This artist carved a 12 foot log donated by Cypress Depot into a bear for the Rolling Fork Community. These bears have become a unique part of Rolling Fork. Since they are wooden, and in the elements year-round, the bears require annual maintenance to keep them healthy. The March 2023 tornado damaged many bears and destroyed one, but the artist Dayton Scoggins was able to make repairs and our bears are whole again. Please visit Rolling Fork and tour the chainsaw carved bears.
Donations are accepted to help with Bear Care. Mail any donations to: GDBA Bear Care, P.O. Box 214, Rolling Fork, MS 39159.
Teddy Bears for Kids
Each October during the week of the Great Delta Bear Affair, cuddly, soft Teddy bears are delivered to the patients at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Children’s of Mississippi Hospital in Jackson. Bears are given to every patient in the hospital and in the clinic. Bears are delivered to the Child Life Department to distribute to the patients.
Youth Education Day
On the Friday before the Great Delta Bear Affair festival, Youth Education Day is held for over 300 area fourth graders. School children are led through different stations where natural resource professionals engage them in discussions, games, activities and presentations related to wildlife, our environment and our natural resources. Youth Education Day is held in Onward at the Theodore Roosevelt NWR Complex Visitor’s Center. This is a wonderful opportunity for students and teachers to view the center and learn more about the South Delta environment. The Sharkey/Issaquena NRCS Soil and Water Conservation District partners with the Great Delta Bear Affair planning committee on this event by providing a free lunch to all participants and volunteers.
GDBA Interactive StoryWalk
The GDBA Interactive StoryWalk is for all elementary students. We always choose a book about a bear. 2024’s book was Mother Bruce by Ryan Higgins. As children walked the track, they could read the book and stop at interactive stations that engaged them in book-related activities like learning about black bears, migration, honey bees, fishing, birds, eggs, and nests. They also got to take the “bus” to Miami and play on the beach. Each child could select a book to take home at the end. Our storywalk always includes literacy, fitness, and environmental education.
