Going on a Bear Hunt Song/Skit

Mandi sent in this question:

I remember an echo skit called “Going on a Bear Hunt” The first few lines were: Going on a bear hunt I’m not scared, Got my _________ I’m prepared. Then there were many obstacles followed by can’t go over it, cant go around it, must go through it. At the end of the story, we see a bear and have to repeat backwards all the actions of the adventure. I find songs on youtube that are not what I recall. Can you help me with the correct words? Thanks.

They did this skit at Camp May where my two older sons were on staff last summer. Like many skits, it has multiple versions. It was widely popularized by the book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury.  This skit works best when done with really exaggerated actions to accompany each verse. If you want to see Micheal Rosen doing a version of this, check out this You Tube video.

Going on a Bear Hunt

We’re going on a bear hunt. (Repeat) We’re going on a bear hunt.
Gonna catch a big one. (Repeat) Gonna catch a big one.
I’m not afraid (Repeat) I’m not afraid.
It’s a beautiful day. (Repeat) It’s a beautiful day.

Verse 1:
Oh look, grass! Swishy-wishy grass.
We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it.
Ohhh NO!
We gotta go through it.

Swish swish, swish swish,
Swish swish, swish swish

(Repeat chorus)

Verse 2:
Oh look, a river! A cold dark river.
We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it.
Ohhh NO!
We gotta go through it.

Splish splash, splish splash.
Splish splash, splish splash.

(Repeat chorus)

Verse 3:
Oh look, mud! Icky-gicky mud.
We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it.
Ohhh NO!
We gotta go through it.

Ploo ploo, ploo ploo
ploo ploo, ploo ploo.

(Repeat chorus)

Verse 4:
Oh look, a forest! A tall, tall forest.
We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it.
Ohhh NO!
We gotta go through it.

Stumble trip, stumble trip.
Stumble trip, stumble trip.

(Repeat chorus)

Verse 5:
Oh look, a snow storm! A cold cold snow storm.
We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it.
Ohhh NO!
We gotta go through it.

Burrrrr, burrrrrrrr,
Burrrrr, burrrrrrrr.

(Repeat chorus)

Verse 6:
Oh look, a cave! A tiny little cave.
We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it.
Ohhh NO!
We gotta go through it.

Tip toe, tip toe
Tip toe, tip toe

Oh, what’s that?
Two big fuzzy ears
Two big googly eyes
One big mouth…
Ahhhhhhhhhh!
It’s a BEARRRRRR!

Quick, back through the cave
Tip toe, tip toe, tip toe, tip toe

Back through the snow storm
Burrr, burrr, burrr, burrr

Back through the forest
Stumble trip, stumble trip, stumble trip, stumble trip

Back through the icky mud
Plooo, plooo, plooo, plooo

Back through the river
Splish splash, splish splash, splish splash, splish splash

Back through the swishy grass.
Swish swish, swish swish, swish swish, swish swish

Run to the front door… (tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap)
Open up the front door, argh!
Run inside!
OH WAIT!
We forgot to shut the door.

Back to the door!
Shut the door, plllunk!
Lock it, clink
Back inside.

Run up the stairs,
Another flight of stairs, another flight of stairs
(Breathe heavy)
Another flight of stars

Jump in the bed
Pull up the covers.

I’m not going on a bear hunt again!