A Family Tour of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company

{Disclaimer: We are working with the Vermont Teddy Bear Company to bring you this post, however, all opinions are our own!}

In the early 1980s, an enterprising Vermonter named John Sortino discovered that there was a shortage of teddy bears made in the US.

He decided to make his own teddy bears in his garage and sell them on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont. Over thirty years later, Vermont Teddy Bear Company now calls Shelburne home. The company opens its doors to curious kids (and kids at heart) who want to see how and where these sweet stuffed friends are made.

On a clear, cold day in early March, the Van Leuven clan descended upon Vermont Teddy Bear Co.’s headquarters. It was pretty easy to tell we were there when we saw the gigantic hay teddy bear sculpture at the beginning of the drive. As we got closer, we could see the bright colors of the building and my kiddos started to get really excited. That excitement built as we walked through the entrance doors.

We were handed our tickets (in the form of little green buttons) for the tour and were ready to go!

We had a little bit of time to wait before our tour started so we wandered around the gift shop. My girls got to get some extra-large bear hugs from some massive teddies, and we all picked our favorite bears from each display. When it was time for our tour to start, we lined up outside the massive entranceway doors. Our tour guide, Bear Ambassador Danielle, really knew her teddy bear history!

As we walked into the factory, we were given a quick history of the company, as well as a run-down of the different “flavors” bears come in. Then we were off to see how the magic happens. All of the kids on the tour were equipped with pens and game cards for a fun scavenger hunt in the factory itself. They had to solve a word puzzle by finding different bears and writing down the letters that each bear was holding. Some of those bears were easy to spot, but there were a few that were very well-hidden in the rafters!

Our first stop was the cutting station.

This was where the fur was measured and cut into all of the pieces that make a bear. The kiddos were shown some pieces and had to figure out what bear parts they were. We all got to choose a bear-shaped piece of fur to attach to our admission tickets.

The next station we got to see was sewing and assembly.

This is where the bears actually started to look like — well, bears. They are sewn inside out so the seam is hidden and the joints are inserted in the proper places. Once each bear part is fully stuffed, the pieces are put together and the bear is ready to be dressed.

There’s no reason for your bear to be naked.

There are countless options for costumes and clothes, whether your bear is an athlete, a soldier, or a princess. If none of the outfits catch your eye, you can work with one of the designers to come up with a custom ensemble. The day we were there, we saw a bear in renaissance gown. The sky is truly the limit when it comes to bear clothes!

The highlight of the tour came at the end when we got to see the bear hospital up close.

Vermont Teddy Bear offers a lifetime guarantee and will repair or replace any damaged bear with no questions asked. As a nurse, this was definitely my favorite part of the whole day.

After our tour, we went back to the gift shop and both girls got to make their own bears. They chose the colors they wanted and stuffed the bears. Each girl added a special element: one spun the wheel and landed on love, and the other opted for imagination. My girls ended their special day by filling out their bears’ birth certificates. The bears were packaged in their special boxes, complete with air holes and snacks for the journey home.

Vermont Teddy Bear offers a wonderful, interactive look into how this classically American toy is made right here in our backyard. It’s a great way for locals and tourists alike to spend a delightful day!