How to Equip a Teddy Bear for Camping

An old-fashioned tent sized for a little toy bear is an easy thing to create. Build a triangle frame using thin PVC pipe and connectors or craft dowels and a little wood glue. Drape with a non-knit fabric, such as an old cotton bedsheet or towel.

Sleeping Bag

If you have any skill with sewing, a sleeping bag is an easy project to whip together for a bear. Use a thick, unstretchy fabric and sew together two long, thin rectangular sections, then turn inside-out. If you leave a section unsewed on one side, you can fold back the corner for a classic, vintage sleeping bag look.

Tools

Some excellent camping supplies for a teddy bear can be made by collecting and converting downsized tools for people. For example, a miniature flashlight made to connect to a keychain is just the right size to be a full-sized, operational flashlight for a stuffed bear friend.

A keychain-sized Swiss army knife may also be the right size for a teddy bear, but use caution if this is going to be a toy for a child. You can dull the blade with a grinding tool, or simply glue it permanently in the "folded" position with a high-grade epoxy or liquid weld.

Fireside

If teddy is camping with the whole family, he won't need his own campfire and fireside seats, but if you're building supplies for a make-believe camping adventure at home, you'll want a bear-sized campfire playset. Gather together a set of twigs of the right size to be teddy bear firewood and attach them in a campfire clump with a few drops of wood glue. Make durable pretend flames using strips of orange, yellow and red cloth.

Small Equipment

Small camping equipment, such as canteens, cooking gear and navigational equipment, requires a little more craftiness than other teddy bear camping accessories, but it can be the most fun and rewarding to make.

Many realistic looking miniatures can be built using polymer clay. If you're not experienced in this type of crafting, check out a few books like "Making Dollhouse Miniatures With Polymer Clay" by Sue Heaser.

You can also make an easy map for teddy by downloading or scanning a picture of a real map, shrinking it on your computer image editor, and printing and folding it into a bear-sized package.