It started in the spring of 2005 when my husband attended Woodbadge and became a bear. During the course, he asked me to make him a small bear that “represented” his personality. I took a 6-inch bear and made a small scout uniform for it and added a few other items and sent it to camp. After he returned from the course, I started planning. For our anniversary that year, I surprised him with a 20-inch Maple Teddy bear with a handmade Boy Scout Shirt and a backpack full of food fit for a bear.
He took the bear with him when he served on staff the following year and everybody loved him. They loved him so much that Matt called me from camp and asked me to make a beaver for the scoutmaster of the course. Word began to spread that I was making fully dressed critters and I began to get orders from other Scouters in the council. In fact, every South Florida Council Woodbadge Course Director since then has been given a unique critter of their own.
In 2009, I received the first orders from outside of Florida and in 2011 we sent our first critters to Puerto Rico.
In case you are wondering, yes, I am a Woodbadger as well. I am a bobwhite – the one critter that is too small to wear a full uniform! I found a way though, and you can see my personal critter here as well.
2020 Update-someone finally made a big bobwhite, and I am working on the new version of my personal critter!
As time passed, I began to add additional uniform options and accessories to the collection. In the near future, I plan to be able to offer not only Boy Scout and Venturing, but also Sea Scout and Cub Scout uniforms. If you have an idea for a special gift, send us a note and we’ll see what we can do.
Due to the nature of what I am selling, I am bound by Boy Scouts of America Copyright. I only use real BSA patches on our critters and some items you may see on my personal critters, and on those that were made as gifts, may not be available on critters for sale.
Each critter has a place on the uniform for your own personal Council Insignia Patch and one recognition knot. I will provide the knot, but you need to send the CSP that you want used. Instructions will be given when you place the order.