Bringing joy: Adventuring the Blue Water Area with Dog and Bear
A way to connect to their grandchildren has evolved in a connection to a wider community for a local couple.
The “Adventures of Dog & Bear” originally started in 2015 as a way for Jacklin and Tom Kinzer to connect with their grandchildren. They would go around the area, pose Dog and Bear and write emails with stories for their grandchildren. Since then, Jacklin Kinzer started a Facebook page for the stories, and it has grown bigger than she ever thought.
“The stories with Dog and Bear are meant to be simple inspiration and encouragement," Kinzer said.
In addition to adventuring across the Blue Water Area, Dog and Bear can be found hanging out with their friends at the Kinzer Family Farm, located at 15390 Turner Road in Lynn Township.
Dog and Bear aim to bring joy to people of all ages with their stories. Although Kinzer writes the adventure stories, she said she does not consider herself to be a writer. To help create the stories, Kinzer said she put herself into the mind of a child telling their friend a story about what happened that day.
On Monday, Dog and Bear were at a story time event at the G Lynn Campbell Library, located at 1955 Allen Road in Kimball Township. At the event, they sang songs with the children, listened to a story and helped the children with an arts and craft activity.
Kinzer said the places they go for adventures are typically ones that reach out and invite them. Dog and Bear have gone to library events, Stahl's Automotive Foundation in Macomb County and many other places throughout Michigan.
Additionally, Dog and Bear attend between 75 and 100 charity events every year.
"We got absorbed in different events and all sorts of groups like autism groups, foster parents and mental health groups," Kinzer said.
Kinzer said she thinks the pandemic partially made "The Adventures of Dog and Bear" bigger because people were looking for little ways to find joy.
The adventure stories are not meant to be educational, but Kinzer said there are lessons at the end of every one. Sometimes the lesson is simply to remember to enjoy the little things in life. One mainstay of the adventure stories is the thank you note Dog and Bear write. Kinzer said the thank you notes could help teach gratitude to readers.
Kinzer said it's shocking to see how much the Facebook page has grown over the years. The reach of Dog and Bear goes beyond Michigan. She said people have gone up to her and her husband in places such as Arizona or Florida asking if the stuffed animals with them were Dog and Bear.
She said that because Facebook isn't a location, it allows Dog and Bear to reach people from all over.
"I think about it like every time a new person sees the Facebook page, it's one more person (Dog and Bear) can help," Kinzer said.
The Facebook page has gained nearly 2,000 followers since it was launched in 2018.
Kinzer and her husband are usually mentioned the adventure stories, with Dog and Bear calling them mom and dad. The first 10 adventure stories they've written have been published in a book with Love n Light Productions. The book can be found on Amazon.
"The Adventures of Dog and Bear" may appear to be aimed at a children's audience, but adults are fans as well. Kinzer said many people who follow Dog and Bear are children at heart. Everyone who meets Dog and Bear are bound to leave with a smile on their face.
Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: The Adventures of Dog and Bear in the Blue Water Area
