When a child’s stuffed animal is torn to shreds by the family dog or begins to split along a seam, there are usually few options beyond buying a replacement—and inventing a convincing story about why the original is suddenly “all better.” The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, in partnership with the City Sewing Room, offers an educational solution to this niche parenting problem: the Stuffie Care Clinic.
At the stuffed animal clinic, kids take on the role of veterinarian before passing their cuddly patients to what City Sewing Room member Karen Strombach calls “the surgery clinic.” Children who forget to bring a stuffie—or prefer to keep theirs safe at home—can still participate using stuffed animals provided by the aquarium.
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Upon arrival, practitioners (the kids) and their patients (the stuffies) head to the veterinarian’s office—one of the aquarium’s event spaces—where an aquarium employee helps the young vets document their patients’ names, weights, vitals, and any ailments. From there, animals may be sent to the surgery room if needed. Surgery isn’t always necessary, though; kids are welcome to learn the examination process even if their stuffie doesn’t require repairs. Still, Strombach says she’s seen plenty of cases requiring serious care.
“Apparently, it’s not a good idea to take your stuffy and hurl them from the banister and try to hit the ceiling fan,” Strombach says.
Whether it’s a ceiling fan incident or a broken flipper on a stuffed penguin, the City Sewing Room team is ready for anything. Strombach, a pediatric nurse of 29 years, loves spending time with kids. “And it doesn’t hurt that sewing is my absolute favorite hobby,” she adds.
This will be the St. Louis Aquarium’s second year hosting the Stuffie Care Clinic and Strombach’s second year participating. Last year, the City Sewing Room’s “surgical team” included five volunteers; this year, there are three so far, with more expected. Strombach credits the aquarium’s Director of Animal Projects, Erin Clark, with both the idea and recruiting the City Sewing Room.
“We knew we needed specialists for the event,” Clark says. “Sometimes stuffies can get loved a little hard.”
While Clark helped assemble a team of sewing “surgeons,” she says the aquarium drew inspiration from similar programs at other zoos and aquariums.
“It’s just a really nice, family-friendly opportunity for us to talk a little bit more about veterinary health and how we care for our animals,” Clark says.
After their procedures, stuffies are discharged with recovery instructions from the sewing team. These might include an extra bedtime story, a prescribed number of cuddles, or, as Strombach puts it, “maybe just extra attention.” Then they’re sent on their way, bandaged up and good as new.
The next Stuffie Care Clinic takes place April 18 and is free with aquarium admission.
