WPSU Reads: The Bear
This is a grant project funded by the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read program, with programming aligned with the book, The Bear, by Andrew Krivak.
All the world they knew lay spread out at their feet. Mountainside. Forest. Lake.
– The Bear by Andrew Krivak
The goal of this initiative is to engage the community in deeper appreciation and understanding of human’s relation within the natural world. We plan to do this in partnership with community organizations and leaders by providing free copies of the book, hosting writing workshops, engaging in discussions, and amplifying existing opportunities occurring throughout the region. Please explore this page to identify upcoming events and discover educational resources.
Have you read The Bear? With rich description of the natural environment interwoven with various perspectives on relationships between humans, animals and the natural world, share with us how you would describe your unique relationship within nature. Share Your Anonymous Response to be included in a collective community reflection piece.
View some of the responses
Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve enjoyed a close relationship with nature. My family fostered a love, appreciation, and respect for nature. As a kid, I attended nature camps at a local Audubon Society, my grandparents would take me camping, and my dad would take me fishing and canoeing. Many of my hobbies include the outdoors – camping, hiking, kayaking, skiing, rock climbing, gardening, fishing, etc. When I travel, I include a national or state park/forest as part of my itinerary. This is due mostly to the fact that my aunt worked for the National Park Service for many years and my travels included visiting her at the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. My favorite trip was Yellowstone in early Spring. There were hardly any people around due to a recent snowstorm and I felt completely immersed in nature. Looking ahead, I’m planning a weekend backpacking trip later this year with my aunt. This will be my first experience backpacking and I’m looking forward to completely immersing myself in nature with the help of a seasoned backpacker.
Living in Warren County it’s hard not to have an appreciation for nature. In fact, we moved here because of the Allegheny National Forest. I’m very concerned that the new presidential administration does not value nature and the headway we, as a state and nation, have made over the years will go backwards. I worry very much about the future we are leaving for those younger than me.
I have always felt a kinship with nature. This book was so moving, I felt the communication between the girl and her animals was totally believable. Thank you for sharing this book.
There’s no place I’d rather be than outside and interacting with the natural world. So many people today live in urban/suburban areas. Because of this, they rarely have an opportunity to experience nature’s wonders and they have little realization of the damage being done to nature’s ecosystems. Humanity’s survival depends on us saving the natural world. We may be past the point of no return. The ending of The Bear may be prophetic.
Events
- Sustainability Summit
April 23, 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. - Book Discussion with Clarion Free Library
May 15, 6:30 p.m.
Past Events
- Harvest Festival at the Student Farm at Penn State
September 19, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. - Nature Writing Workshop at the Student Farm at Penn State
October 8, 4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. - Eventapalooza at WPSU Studios
October 19, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. - Writing Workshop for Library Staff (Virtual)
November 22, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - Book Discussion with Warren Public Library
January 9, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. - Book Discussion with Ridgway Public Library
January 22, 4:15 p.m. - Book Discussion with Altoona Area Public Library
January 25, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. - Poetry Writing Workshop for Grades K – 5 (Virtual)
January 29, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. - Poetry Writing Workshop for Grades 6 – 12 (Virtual)
February 12, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. - Book Discussion with Johnsonburg Public Library
March 18, 6:00 p.m. - Book Discussion with Schlow Centre Region Library
March 25, 6:30 p.m. - Between Earth & Sky Film Screening at the Arboretum at Penn State
April 2, 8:00 p.m.
More events coming soon, including additional writing workshops, community events, and book discussions.
Community Partners
We are thankful to have the following libraries and community partners participating in this program by hosting book discussions and events. Be sure to follow your local partner to stay informed of upcoming programs:
- Penn State Department of Applied Linguistics
- Schlow Centre Region Library
- Student Farm at Penn State
- Altoona Area Public Library
- Clarion Free Library
- Friends’ Memorial Public Library (Kane)
- Johnsonburg Public Library
- Penn State Sustainability
- Ridgway Public Library
- S W Smith Memorial Library (Port Allegany)
- Warren Public Library
Interested in choosing The Bear for your book club? Email education@wpsu.org so we can share additional resources and opportunities.
About the Book
The Bear. In an Edenic future, a girl and her father live close to the land in the shadow of a lone mountain. They possess a few remnants of civilization: some books, a pane of glass, a set of flint and steel, a comb. The father teaches the girl how to fish and hunt, the secrets of the seasons and the stars. He is preparing her for an adulthood in harmony with nature, for they are the last of humankind. But when the girl finds herself alone in an unknown landscape, it is a bear that will lead her back home through a vast wilderness that offers the greatest lessons of all, if she can only learn to listen.
Andrew Krivák is the author of four novels, two chapbooks of poetry, and two works of nonfiction. He holds a BA from St. John’s College, Annapolis; an MFA in poetry from Columbia University; an MA in philosophy from Fordham; and a PhD in literary modernism from Rutgers. Currently, Andrew is a volunteer discussion facilitator in the New Hampshire Department of Corrections Family Connections Center, and a Visiting Lecturer in Creative Writing at Harvard. He lives with his wife and three children in Somerville, Massachusetts, and Jaffrey, New Hampshire.
Young Learners
Enjoy reading similar topics with young family members. Check out PBS KIDS shows and related book series that focus on appreciating and understanding the natural world.
More to Watch!
Explore more stories that highlight the beauty and complexity of relationships within the natural world, including environmental education, grief, and joy, presented through WPSU and PBS.
A Season at Shaver’s Creek
Carmen’s Eco-Farm Adventure
Learning Grief
Our Town from the Sky
PBS Climate, Nature & Our Planet
Healing the Red Moshannon
Speaking Grief
Year-Round Gardening
Water Blues Green Solutions
Weathered
Acknowledgement of Land
The Pennsylvania State University campuses are located on the original homelands of the Erie, Haudenosaunee (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora), Lenape (Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe, Stockbridge-Munsee), Monongahela, Shawnee (Absentee, Eastern, and Oklahoma), Susquehannock, and Wahzhazhe (Osage) Nations. As a land grant institution, we acknowledge and honor the traditional caretakers of these lands and strive to understand and model their responsible stewardship. We also acknowledge the longer history of these lands and our place in that history.
Discover more stories with WPSU BookMark
Is there a resource or event missing? Do you have additional thoughts or questions? We would love your feedback: education@wpsu.org.
