The 1st ever Teddy Bear Fix-It Clinic in Falls Church

The first-ever Teddy Bear Fix-It Clinic in the City of Falls Church was held at Mr. Brown’s Park, honoring the legacy of Brown’s Hardware and supporting the city’s Community Vision for 2040. Organized by The Learning Quest and The Toy Nest — the city’s beloved toy library and pre-loved — the event took place as part of Earth Day celebrations.

The Toy Nest is one of only three full-time toy libraries in the United States and was recognized this year as Small Business of the Year by the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. In their words, "We can’t solve the world’s problems, but we can move the needle in the right direction." And indeed, at this event, the needle literally moved — as families showed up, rain forecast and all, bringing their stuffed animal "patients" for repairs.

Volunteer "doctors" — a mix of senior citizens and students from Years 7 and 8 — greeted each child and patient, asking "admission questions" and conducting triage before beginning treatment. Questions such as “critical injury?”, “lost his eye and nose?”, and “lost his arm?” could be heard as each beloved stuffed animal was carefully examined. Instrument trays were set with thread, cloth, wool, buttons, and crochet needles, ready for the delicate work.

youth fixing teddy bears

Fully aware that stuffed animals, largely made of textiles, buttons, beads, and cotton, can take generations to decompose in landfills. Some patients brought in for treatment had originally come from the Clock Tower Thrift Shop, which accepts community donations to benefit the Northern Virginia Family Service. After their recovery, these toys will return to the shop for a second — or even third — life.

The event served not only as a heartfelt moment of restoration, as The Toy Nest’s founder and owner, Lisa Bourven brought her childhood bear, made by her grandma and brought all the way from Texas for much tender loving care. A few stitches went a long way — preserving memories, saving stuffed companions for another generation, and bringing some owners to tears with the miraculous recoveries.

The event was also a proof of concept: The Learning Quest now plans to expand the initiative, holding more Fix-It Clinics or Repair Cafes in the Little City to match the community’s needs. The creation of a Tool Lending Library, as part of a vision for a larger learning ecosystem for the city, is also in their wish list!. 

While volunteers stitched and mended, families mingled, children made new friends, and a celebratory bell was rung each time a "patient" was discharged and ready to return to play.

The Teddy Bear Fix-It Clinic proved that small acts of care can ripple outwards — keeping cherished toys out of landfills and keeping love alive for years to come.

Shall we hold another one?

 

Transforming Falls Church into a Learning Ecosystem

At The Learning Quest, we believe that meaningful transformation begins with community collaboration. That’s why we’re working to turn Falls Church into a thriving learning ecosystem, where residents connect, share skills, and innovate together.

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Civic Solutions Contest for Teens

The Institute for Citizens and Scholars is seeking entrants aged 14-24 for their Youth Civic Solutions Competition, to share their ideas for improving civic life, and compete for cash prizes for submitting a short essay or a video about how Gen Z can improve its civic engagement, media literacy, and strengthen trust, which is essential for democracy. 

Mount Vernon Student of the Year Award

Did you create a project about George Washington? Did you write a paper, create a painting, or sing a song about his legacy or leadership? Nominate now for the Student of the Year Award! Eligible nominees must be middle or high school students who created a student-led project about George Washington. Click the link below to learn more. Learn More about Student of the Year

Power Your Future: Inspire Your Students to Lead Clean Energy Solutions

The Department of Education announced Power Your Future Challenge — the second challenge in its annual CTE Momentum series to prepare high school students for rewarding careers and increase access to career and technical education. The Department invites teams to submit action plans that will advance the use of clean energy in local schools and communities.

To get started on the challenge, teachers and community partners can review the available resources to learn more about clean energy and how teams can develop action plans to impact their communities. Potential entrants can also preview the submission form.

Text reads "Lead clean energy solutions in your community. The U.S. Department of Education invites teams to submit innovative action plans that will advance the use of clean energy in their schools and communities. 

Up to 10 winning teams will receive an equal share of the $50,000 prize pool. Winners may also receive additional in-kind prizes donated by sponsors. To learn more, sign up to receive the latest challenge information via email. Submissions are due Nov. 19, 2024.

 

Would you like this database to include more competitions? Let us know!

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