Tea will be mixed with a giant dancing teddy bear today at the Oklahoma Geological Survey's 16th annual Teddy Bear Tea.

The event will be from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will take place in room P130 of Sarkeys Energy Center, said Priscilla Johnson, Oklahoma Geological Survey office assistant.

"Admission to the tea party is a teddy bear or other gift to be donated to the Cleveland County Christmas Store," Johnson said.

Tea and coffee will be served, along with food donated by the University Club and OU Food Services. The staff will also provide goodies for attendees, she said.

Sixteen years ago, a children's book entitled "Teddy Bear Picnic" inspired the first Teddy Bear Tea. The tea has been a tradition for the Geological Survey ever since, Johnson said.

"The tea party will feature the Teddy Bear Singers, who will sing the actual song from the book," Johnson said. "We will also have someone in a bear costume who will dance around during the song and entertain the kids."

As the person inside the teddy bear costume, geophysics junior Adam Lorenz said this is his first year to do the job.

"I work here, and I felt bad for backing out last year," Lorenz said. "I'm going to dress up in a silly costume and dance around. I'm just doing it to be a team player."

Geophysicist Ray Brown is a seasoned veteran of the Teddy Bear Tea. Brown will participate this year as a Teddy Bear Singer. He will also serve as the teddy bear for part of the time, Brown said.

"I will start the morning as the teddy bear, and I will join the singers later in the day," he said. "One year, our costume looked more like a rat than a teddy bear and we really scared some kids. Hopefully our costume will look more like a bear this year."

Brown said the main point of the tea is to give people a chance to socialize and collect toys for the Cleveland County Christmas Store.

"They have really done a tremendous job in getting toys together for the kids this year," he said.

Guests can also donate money to the Christmas store. Those who bring monetary donations will be registered for a giveaway that includes gift certificates from Legend's, Montford Inn Bed and Breakfast and Residence Inn, Johnson said.

The Geological Survey is expecting to collect between 200 and 300 teddy bears to donate, Johnson said.

"Initially we chose the teddy bear theme because it is always a comfort toy," she said. "We picked that gift because a child in need wants comfort."

Many people donate brand new toys, while some donate bears that are obviously hard for them to part with, Brown said.

"They know that it is worth it because a child in need will receive it," he said. "Sometimes the best medicine for a child facing a hard, cruel world is to realize that someone cares."

The Cleveland County Christmas Store is located at 3600 W. Main St. They will open Sunday and welcome all donations, Johnson said.

DETAILS

Event:

Teddy Bear Tea

When:

10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today

Where:

P130 Sarkeys Energy Center
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