To make our nature inspired playgrounds, we use Natural Materials, like our beautiful, whole, round Northern White Cedar logs with all their natural features. Our cedar logs have a fat end and a skinny end like a tree (instead of a manufactured dowel), they have gorgeous wood grain, checking, knots, crooks, curves, etc. Our Bold, Strong and Built to last architecture beautifies children’s spaces, while capturing a child’s imagination. Our nature inspired products and natural materials help stimulate a child’s enthusiasm for nature. In short, our products facilitate learning, create opportunities for exercise, help build social skills and help provide a unique connection to the great outdoors.
Click on a topic below to jump to that section of the page; or simply scroll down to review all of our unique playground construction features.
We want to help you raise healthy active kids. And of course we want your children to be physically challenged, to build coordination, strength and balance, but it is much more than just that. We want to help you use your backyard and the time you spend with them to raise confident, secure, self motivated, socially responsible little people. All of our models are designed to encourage age or ability appropriate risk taking. For example, the size and placement of rocks on our climbing walls is designed to screen smaller climbers at the bottom, while becoming progressively easier as the ascent continues (this builds confidence); our overhead events like Monkey Bars, Track Ride and Monkey Ring Trek are designed to discourage access for smaller but allow bigger participants. We offer exciting activities for the most advanced children like our Spiral Stair Climber and our 10′ Sherpa Wall. Of course, adult supervision and safety surfacing is recommended as your child strives to achieve new levels of accomplishment.
Because our playgrounds are made from real logs, not milled lumber, each one is unique. There are no two exactly alike. And by their very nature, a Bears cedar log playground must be hand crafted one at a time. Because they are built in our wood shop, not a big factory, we can make yours just the way you want it. Our Commercial Models are built to a different standard of safety and Home Use models should not be used in commercial settings. At the customers request, our commercial models can be designed with features like an wheel chair transfer stations and ground level play events to help meet meet ADA standards.
Round cedar is good; baby smooth round logs have no sharp corners like milled lumber, just rub a dub-dub soft cedar; perfect for playgrounds. Logs are peeled, planed and sanded. Cedar is naturally beautiful and splinter resistant and does not contain any arsenic or man made chemicals. Unlike other wood species, the qualities of our round cedar logs make it very difficult to splinter and penetrate human skin.
Our designs encourage risk taking and challenge, as mentioned above. Sometimes these risks can involve some bumps, bruises or falls. Do you remember learning to ride your first bicycle or skate board? We think these challenges are an important part of growing up. If you agree, then you are ready for a Bears Playground. That being said, we have made a number of design decisions that we feel are important for safety reasons. We have listed a few below: a) Some play systems are constructed from ladders lashed together to form a structure. We have decided not to interrupt play flow and function with obstructive ladders that can cause unnecessary bumps and bruises. Instead we have decided on a more open floor plan with functionally play-linked activities. b) As a matter of design and safety we have decided not to incorporate any wide stance, slippery coated access ladders. Instead we have decided to use Real Log climbers with low slip wood texture and Roped Hand Supports top to bottom.) We have decided not to allow overlapping, sometimes conflicting uses such as overhead monkey bars with swings on them. d) We believe that a fully Rotating and Gyrating Tire Swing can never safely be used under a system but should have its own stable, wide stance beam away from crash obstructions. e) We have decided to use beefy strong structural wooden knee braces instead of cheap metal brackets.
Like you will find on the best built decks in America, we use modern composite decking materials on all of our floors, rock climb walls and other high wear areas so that your bare footed or bare bottom baby is safe as can be. This product is completely and without a doubt splinter and maintenance free.
In compliance with ASTM F1487 we anchor our playgrounds in commercial setting by means of duckbill earth anchors or chains from the structure ground. Click to go to detail page.
This classic joinery style is timeless and super strong. Rarely if ever used by the competition because it requires old school craftsmanship.
When you see triangles used in construction you are looking at extra strength. Bears Cedar Log Playgrounds are loaded with lots and lots of overbuilt structural knee braces for a bold look and extra strength.
When it comes to natural weather resistance, our cedar is about the best you can do. To top it all off, we have chosen to add additional protection by staining our playgrounds. The color is a beautiful, natural, semi-transparent, brown stain. It enhances the beauty of the wood and highlights the wood grain. The
stain is a waterborne, non flammable oil based stain and sealer and the brown pigment color helps protect against harmful UV rays in the sunniest of climates. We chose a stain made with natural plant oils and VOC’s of only 34 grams per liter, nearly odorless and very environmentally safe. When you start to notice the horizontal area’s of your playground are fading its best to apply more stain before the original coats totally wear off. We can direct you to our stain supplier (Timber Pro Coatings) and they can ship more stain directly to your door in our famous Bear Brown color which they custom developed just for us . We also recommend using their safe and effective cleaner (Clean & Brite) prior to re-staining . In most environments it should be re-stained every 2-4 years.
Safety Net barriers are a unique way to protect against inadvertent falls while maximizing parental supervision into the play structure and allowing visibility out of the structure for children. More traditional systems rely upon prison bar looking vertical spindles.
10 YEARS STRUCTURAL WARRANTY on all Cedar Log Structural Parts, Floors / Decks, that comprise Bears Cedar Log Playground Structures.
5 YEARS: on all Super Duty Plastic Slides, Parts, Steel Parts and Accessories.
3 YEARS on all Hand Carved and Natural Wood Products such as Mushroom Hoppers, Tables and Chairs, Tree Hoppers, Etc. and
1 YEAR on all barrier nets, Tarp Roofs, Sand Box Covers, Standard and Premium Duty Plastic Slides and Parts. Moving Parts, such as swings, spinners, panels, and other parts not covered above.
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