Photo with the Bear Becomes a Family Tradition
by Loni Rahm
When I saw the 4 “kids” posing with the Bear statue in downtown Chelan, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to take my own picture of them. Unfortunately, by the time I found a parking spot and sprinted back to the corner, the family was loaded up in their dual-cab truck and pulling away. Minor inconvenience, but it didn’t stop me from flagging them down to ask if they would be willing to share the picture they just took.
What I learned about their story over the next 90-seconds, and in subsequent email conversations, was far more than I expected.
The Smith family lives in Gig Harbor. They have been coming to the Lake Chelan Valley for about 15 years, and they typically come in August. Many years ago, they posed their kids with the bear while on vacation. The next year, they thought it would be fun to recreate the picture. And just like that – the annual “Kids with Bear” photo became a tradition.
Dad, Sean Smith, told me they chose the bear just because the kids loved it at a young age. He admitted “it’s harder to get them to recreate the picture as they get older”.
The Smith family isn’t deterred by the occasional smoke or regional wildfire during their annual vacation. Turns out Sean is a Lieutenant at South Kitsap Fire and Rescue. As a fire fighter himself, he is acutely aware of the supportive relationship between the Lake Chelan community and fire fighters.
“Your community has always been gracious to fire fighters,” said Smith. “We have witnessed this seeing how you treat fire fighters on the front lines protecting your community during wildfires as well as the gratitude given to off duty personnel. You have a very special community here.”
Smith sent me a few of the pictures they’ve taken over the years (featured below). The most recent shows Madison (16), Makena (14) Garrett (21) and Mikayla (19). He indicated that Garrett usually tries to hide behind the bear so he’s somewhat hard to find in the earlier pictures, “but he’s there.”
Smith had a parting comment, “Thank you Chelan community for being so gracious to us out-of-towners!”
Our parting comment to the Smith Family – “see you next year!”
About The Bear…and Other Pieces of Outdoor Art
The Bear, on the corner of Woodin and Emerson in downtown Chelan, is just one of the many iconic (and much photographed) pieces of outdoor art under the management of the Lake Chelan Arts Council. We encourage you take the walking tour of art and murals scattered throughout Chelan and Manson which are outlined in the Arts Council’s Outdoor Gallery and Mural Map.
