Broken Bear
Beautifully imperfect. Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, teams customize stuffed animals whose “flaws” are celebrated rather than hidden - then donate them, each with its own backstory, to children who need them most.
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Everything you need to know about the Broken Bear
Because many children's charities support kids who have a malady or are differently-abled, each stuffed animal is given a “challenging feature” — a dinosaur missing a leg, or a rabbit with an eye patch. These “broken” parts are celebrated, because they make a stronger, more unique individual. Each animal is given away with a backstory card that highlights its difference.The whole program is based on the art of Kintsugi.
What is Kintsugi?
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken things by mending the breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with gold, silver, or platinum. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of an object's history — something to be recognized and celebrated, rather than disguised or hidden.
Each person receives supplies, a stuffed animal, and general instructions, with the goal of creating a meaningful, unique gift for a child in need. A team might remove a limb from their bear and sew the “wound” back up with gold or silver thread — the gold and silver becomes part of the bear, viewed in a positive light. It's a way to show kids, and anyone, to embrace their flaws and imperfections.
How the Broken Bear works
What your team will experience during the Broken Bear
Welcome and team formation
Teams meet each other and the facilitators, get divided into balanced groups, and receive an overview of the mission.
Introduction to Kintsugi and the cause
Teams learn the philosophy of Kintsugi — celebrating imperfection — and who the finished bears will be donated to.
Meet your bear and supplies
Each participant receives a stuffed animal, supplies, and instructions for creating a meaningful, one-of-a-kind gift.
Customize and celebrate the imperfection
Teams give their animal a unique “challenging feature” and mend it in a way that highlights the difference as a strength.
Create the backstory card
Each bear gets a written backstory that frames its difference positively — a message for the child who receives it.
Showcase the finished bears
Teams present their creations and the stories behind them, sharing the meaning they built into each one.
Donation ceremony and reflection
The bears are donated to a children's charity or hospital, followed by a debrief on empathy, creativity, and impact.
Your team walks away from the Broken Bear with more than a completed activity.
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Thank you so much - we will definitely reach out in the future!”
Elekta
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I will definitely share the feedback survey and pics with our team. Thank you for your help setting this all up and please let Kerri know we thought he did an amazing job!
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The whole event was managed very well, the team learned a little more about each other as well as about themselves. Easy to follow activities creating a sense of understanding that while the activities were a game for us, to others it is their reality day in and day out.
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Have questions about the Broken Bear? We've got answers.
What is the Broken Bear team building activity?
Broken Bear is a charity team building activity where teams customize stuffed animals — celebrating a unique “imperfection” in each one — and donate them, with a backstory card, to children in need. It's inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi.
What is Kintsugi, and how does Broken Bear use it?
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken objects with gold or silver, treating the repair as something to celebrate rather than hide. Broken Bear applies that idea to stuffed animals, turning each “flaw” into a strength and a story.
How does the Broken Bear activity work?
Teams learn the Kintsugi concept, then each person receives a stuffed animal and supplies. They customize the animal to celebrate a unique feature, write a backstory card, and the finished bears are donated to a children's charity or hospital.
Who receives the Broken Bear stuffed animals?
They're donated to a children's charitable organization or local hospital. Full Tilt will source and coordinate the charity on your behalf if you don't already have one.
How many people can do Broken Bear?
It scales from about 12 participants to 500 or more, in teams of 4–8, making it suitable for departments and large conferences alike.
How long does Broken Bear take?
Most events run 1–3 hours, and it can be extended to 2–4 hours for an even more meaningful experience. Timing can be tailored to your schedule.
Is Broken Bear indoor or outdoor?
It runs comfortably indoors at a hotel ballroom, conference center, or office, and can also work outdoors depending on your space.
Does Broken Bear count as a CSR activity?
Yes. Because it produces a tangible, heartfelt donation to children in need, Broken Bear is a strong fit for corporate social responsibility goals while still working as genuine team building.
How much does Broken Bear cost?
Cost depends on group size, location, and customization. Request a custom quote with your headcount and date for an accurate figure.
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