Camping with the Bears


Find out what goes bump in the night by spending a night with black bears.

ORR, MN—June 2, 2010—The American Bear Association is announcing a new Camping With the Bears event for the 2010 season at the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary located in Orr, MN on the night of June 28th.

Visitors will have an opportunity to find out what goes bump in the night by spending a night amongst black bears from the safety of a viewing platform. This unique experience will educate all persons who want to know what it would be like to be able to camp safely in bear country. This unique camping event is only available at the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary. Visitors will be able to view and hear the nocturnal habits of bears in the evening and throughout the night. There will also be an education session on bear safety and visitors will learn how to safely camp while they are in bear country and learn critical safety measures to take such as how to hang a bear bag and how to set up camp from knowledgeable bear experts and outdoor guides.

“This is an opportunity for people with a natural fear of bears to camp safely and learn different preventative measures they can take while camping in bear country themselves and feel confident about it,” says board member Karen Hauserman, “they will be able to become knowledgeable on backcountry camping and how to prepare a bearproof campsite. This is very informative information that people will be able to take home with them and practice on their next outdoor adventure. ”

During this event, there will be stories told about Vince Shute’s life and early days as a logger around a campfire with one of the American Bear Associations board members who personally knew Vince. This will create a more personalized atmosphere for visitors.

Currently, the sanctuary is now accepting reservations for the Camping with Bears online on their events page at www.americanbear.org where you can find more information about this program and other events for the 2010 season.

The American Bear Association was established as a nonprofit organization in 1995. Thousands of people visit the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary every year to view and learn about black bears, their behavior, habitat needs and life cycles. It is known by photographers as “the best place in North American to photograph wild black bears in their natural habitat.” The Sanctuary is open to the public each Tuesday through Sunday, from 5PM till dusk, between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends and closed on Mondays. September 5th is their last day of operation for the 2010 season. For more information visit the website www.americanbear.org.