Kids

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CALLS ON KIDS TO DESIGN OCEAN FLAG

2009-12-01

NEW YORK (Dec. 1, 2009)—National Geographic Kids and the National Geographic Society invite kids to create a flag to fly on a National Geographic research ship during the Ocean Now expedition in 2010. The Ocean Flag Contest aims to engage children in ocean exploration and conservation.

The online contest at http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Ocean-flag-contest is open to kids ages 8 to 14 and will be judged by renowned ocean researchers Robert Ballard, Sylvia Earle, Enric Sala, David de Rothschild and Nancy Knowlton. The judges will pick the top 10 designs, and kids will then vote online for the winning design. The winning flag will be hoisted above the National Geographic Ocean Now expedition ship in 2010. The winner will receive a patch bearing his/her flag design, as well as select National Geographic books and DVDs. The contest runs until Feb. 20, 2010, and the winner will be announced online in April 2010.

"As we continue our expeditions in 2010, we hope to engage children in the dialogue about conservation and inspire them to enjoy and care for the ocean," said Sala. "We need everyone's help, but children are especially important. The future of the ocean depends on their involvement now and throughout their lives."

For design inspiration, the National Geographic Kids Web site features amazing articles, photos and videos of the world under the sea, including a Q&A with Sala, a shark quiz and fun facts about leatherback turtles, jellyfish, coral reefs and underwater exploration.

The National Geographic's Ocean Now expeditions are an exploration, research and conservation project to find, survey and help protect the last healthy, undisturbed places in the ocean. By studying how marine ecosystems work without human interference, we can learn how to help healthy reefs thrive, help unhealthy reefs recover and better preserve the ocean, which covers more than two-thirds of our planet.

The Ocean Now team is working with local marine scientists and conservation organizations to document these aquatic ecosystems. The data, they hope, will help establish new scientific baselines for intact — and critically important — environments. Information about recent expeditions can be found at http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/content/about-the-expedition/.

To enter the Ocean Flag Contest, kids must create a design for a flag on plain paper not exceeding 8 ½ x 11 inches in size. The design must represent ocean exploration and the protection of ocean ecosystems. Entrants also must write an essay, not exceeding 250 words, describing what inspired their design. The contest is open only to legal residents of the United States (excluding residents of Puerto Rico) who were 8 to14 years of age as of Nov. 1, 2009.
Entries must be postmarked by Feb. 20, 2010. Complete rules and details are online at http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Ocean-flag-contest.

Kids.nationalgeographic.com, the Web site of National Geographic Kids magazine, is the online destination for all the quality kids content produced by National Geographic and is tied to the mission of inspiring kids to care about the planet — and the people, places and animals on it. From a brand trusted by both parents and educators, kids.nationalgeographic.com and its companion Web site for younger kids, littlekids.nationalgeographic.com, feature high-quality videos, stunning photographs, animal profiles and interactive games.

Nationalgeographic.com is the award-winning Web site of the National Geographic Society and attracts 13 million unique visitors a month. Nationalgeographic.com combines National Geographic's video, photography and maps with in-depth information and interactive features about animals, science, nature, the environment, destinations and cultures. Nationalgeographic.com's news service, National Geographic News, publishes daily stories about science and discoveries around the globe.

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STUDENT EXPEDITIONS INTRODUCES WASHINGTON, D.C., STUDENT SUMMIT

2009-11-16

WASHINGTON (Nov. 16, 2009)—National Geographic Student Expeditions is introducing National Geographic Student Summit, a series of weeklong programs in Washington, D.C., for middle and high school students and their teachers.

The Student Summit incorporates hands-on activities and dynamic educational content to help students better understand the world around them through inquiry, engagement and reporting — skills that have guided National Geographic explorers, photographers, writers and scientists over the years. Activities during the summit are organized into daily themes such as storytelling, conservation, geoliteracy, cultural heritage, exploration and stewardship. While activities are designed for all student groups, teachers may customize the program to meet the needs of their curriculum by choosing one of three areas of focus: science, social studies or journalism. The first Student Summit programs will take place from March through June 2010.

To make these programs possible, National Geographic has partnered with Putney Student Travel, a highly regarded organization that has offered quality educational travel experiences for high school students for more than 50 years.

"The National Geographic Student Summit is a unique, dynamic way to experience our nation's capital, while learning lifelong skills," said Lynn Cutter, National Geographic's senior vice president, travel and business development. "We're delighted to engage students from around the country in a program that exemplifies the spirit of exploration and discovery that has inspired National Geographic for more than a century."

During the Summit, students will step behind the scenes at National Geographic's headquarters and meet with editors, researchers, cartographers and explorers. They will explore Washington, D.C.'s many museums and monuments, as well as the centers of government, science centers, nonprofit foundations, news organizations and performance venues. Each trip also includes a community service component that allows students to put into practice the themes of stewardship and conservation that are central to National Geographic's mission. A sample itinerary can be viewed on the Student Summit Web site at www.ngstudentexpeditions.com/studentsummit.

In addition to the participation of National Geographic experts, highly trained expedition leaders will guide each field expedition and support every aspect of the experience — from providing stimulating on-site lessons and activities to managing logistics.

The Summits are only offered to school groups. Each of the weeklong programs begins on Sunday and ends the following Saturday. Teachers interested in organizing a student group to participate in spring 2010 should submit an application online at www.ngstudentexpeditions.com/studentsummit.

For more information on the National Geographic Student Summit, or to receive additional materials, call (877) 877-8759, email dcsummit@ngstudentexpeditions.com or visit www.ngstudentexpeditions.com/studentsummit.

In addition to the D.C. Student Summit, National Geographic's other travel programs include National Geographic Expeditions, National Geographic Student Expeditions and National Geographic Private Journeys, with expeditions to more than 60 destinations across all seven continents. These trips are accompanied by top National Geographic experts whose insider perspectives enrich each travel experience. All proceeds from National Geographic's travel programs support the Society's mission of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography, education and research. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 375 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

Young talent recognized in global photography competition

2009-11-12

Airbus rewards young talent with the announcement of the winners of its international biodiversity photography competition, "See the Bigger Picture." Eight youngsters were chosen from 2,597 entries from 99 countries and took inspiration from surrounding nature for their unique shots.

The international competition, launched in July through a partnership between Airbus, National Geographic and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), part of the United Nations Environment Program, encouraged young people to engage in nature and consider the global loss of biodiversity. The competition was developed as part of Airbus' support for The Green Wave, a youth engagement program of the CBD to encourage young people to learn about the complexity of life on earth and its role in their future.

The winning images were captured by budding photographers from countries as widespread as Canada, Pakistan, Kenya and Estonia, and though divided by geography, all entrants showed a common love of photography, a passion for their natural environment and concern for their futures. Children of Airbus employees were also encouraged to enter and three internal prize winners were selected alongside the five global winners. A further 20 young people were awarded honorable mentions for their entries.

The eight talented winners will receive a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Washington, D.C., headquarters of National Geographic in December. The winners are Anthony Avellano, 12, from La Crescenta, California., USA; Chad Nelson, 12, from Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic; Alex Marttunen, 11, from Vantaa, Finland; Clemence Bonnefous, 8, from Tournefeuille, France; Vinzent Raintung, 8, from Halstenbek, Germany; Julia Kresse, 15, from Jork, Germany; Patryk Majchrzak, 16, from Ostrow Wielkopolski, Poland; Prerona Kundu, 11, from Lawrence, Kansas, USA.

Commenting on the competition, Tom Enders, CEO and president, Airbus, said: "The standard of entries from every corner of the world has been extremely impressive and a great reminder of the variety of living species we have around us. At Airbus, we are working with the CBD and using our global outreach to raise awareness of the need to preserve the variety of life on earth. Acknowledging our responsibility for the world of tomorrow, we are relentlessly pursuing eco-efficiency through innovative technologies, processes and products."

Executive Secretary of the CBD, Ahmed Djoghlaf, said: "We are delighted Airbus and National Geographic are working with us to inspire the next generation about the importance of protecting the rich biodiversity of the world we live in. This competition is helping to deliver that commitment, engaging and educating today's children in the task of safeguarding the planet."

The world is losing biodiversity at an ever-increasing rate as a result of human activity. "This is a global problem that needs to be addressed today if we want to retain the diversity of the natural world for the generations of tomorrow. It is about the food that we eat and the air that we breathe," said See The Bigger Picture ambassador and world-renowned National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore.
Sartore was a member of a global panel of judges who were impressed by the range of subjects that engaged the entrants. Photographs featuring insects, animals, plants and landscapes were submitted by photographers as young as 6 years old.

To view the winning entries and learn more about how to get involved in The Green Wave, visit www.seethebiggerpicture.org. A gallery of the winning photographs can also be viewed at the ftp site http://ftp.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/see_bigger_picture.

username: press | password: press

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Notes to editors

"See The Bigger Picture" honorable mentions:
Afton Carpenter, 14, Gilbert, Arizona, USA
Julian Kiesel, 12, Nyack, New York, USA
Samantha Shapiro, 14, Chappaqua, New York, USA
Alex Sorensen, 14, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
Joshua Hartmann, 12, S. Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Chaitra Godbole, 14, Pune, India
Arjun Shankar, 16, Chennai, India
Sachin Vijayan, 13, Thodupuzha, India
Vince Ellison B. Leyeza, 11, Laguna, Philippines
Eleanor Bennett, 13, Stockport, United Kingdom
Malik Babi, 6, Beauzelle, France
Lénaїg Allain-Le Drogo, 12, Saint Luce Sur Loire, France
Richard Guerre, 9, Blagnac, France
Zoe Hamelin, 16, Paris, France
Diego Adrados, 13, Tarifa, Spain
Sara Cuenca Uñac, 13, Alicante, Spain
Mariló Moreno Ruz, 15, Cádiz, Spain
Jonas Harms, 16, Norderstedt, Germany
Marvin Pulter, 14, Germany
Tobias Abrahamsen, 16, Sarpsborg, Norway

Competition statistics:
Total of 2,597 entries from 99 countries. This includes 247 entries from children of Airbus employees in 6 countries.
Over half of the photographs taken were of land-dwelling animals, and the greatest proportion of these were insects.
Some children experimented with underwater shots requiring a high level of skill.
Just over 40% of entrants took photographs at home, showing awareness that biodiversity can be found in our own back yard.

The Green Wave:
The Green Wave is a global biodiversity campaign to educate children and youth about biodiversity.
The CBD is a United Nations treaty promoting the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
2010 is the United Nations' International Year of Biodiversity. On May 22, 2010 (The International Day of Biodiversity), as part of The Green Wave initiative, young people are invited to plant a tree at 10 a.m. to celebrate biodiversity. This will create a wave of tree planting as the activity passes through each time zone across the world.
Photos and stories from the moment can then be uploaded to The Green Wave website to create a virtual wave on the Internet
Visit http://greenwave.cbd.int.

Airbus specific notes:
Airbus believes that growth in air travel is a global need and that the essential social and economic benefits derived from a more connected world can still be unlocked and deliver a greener world, if everybody plays their part
Airbus acknowledges the 2% that aviation contributes to global man-made CO2 emissions, but believes that it also has a responsibility to support others in tackling the remaining 98% of CO2 emissions. Deforestation alone, for example, generates nearly 20% of man-made CO2, so Airbus is working with the CBD, and using its global outreach to raise awareness of the importance of the need to preserve the variety of life on earth
This is why it has committed to support the CBD's The Green Wave initiative

National Geographic Kids — November 2009

2009-11-03

Amazing Animal Friends — National Geographic Kids proves that any two creatures can be best friends. Six heartwarming stories of companionship, including between a dog and a goat in England, a cat and an orangutan in Florida and a rabbit and a deer in Germany, prove that friendship comes in all shapes and sizes. Page 20.

World's Coolest Skyscraper — Humans have built some unbelievable structures, including the pyramids in Egypt, the Great Wall of China and the Roman Coliseum. National Geographic Kids travels to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, where engineers are planning a first-of-its-kind super-structure: the Dynamic Tower, a shape-shifting mega-skyscraper that is in constant motion. Each floor will rotate independently at different speeds, resulting in an amazing building that will always look different. Plus: Learn remarkable facts about six of the world's skyscrapers. Page 14.

Wacky America — National Geographic Kids takes a road trip around the United States to see six of the wackiest roadside attractions, from a giant penguin statue in Montana to an entire alley covered in wads of chewed gum in California. Plus: Go online to kids.nationalgeographic.com to see more wacky roadside attractions. Page 24.

Guardians of the Tomb — For thousands of years a massive army of mysterious clay soldiers lay hidden underground near Xi'an, China. It is believed that China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, had these life-size terra cotta warriors built to protect him in the afterlife. But you don't have to go to China to see these ancient wonders. A new National Geographic Museum exhibit, "Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor," will display a collection of the figures in Washington, D.C., from Nov. 19, 2009, to March 31, 2010. Page 26.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" — National Geographic Kids goes behind the scenes of the new movie "Fantastic Mr. Fox," based on the book by Roald Dahl, to find out if the characters in the film act anything like the real animals they depict. Do rabbits really prepare delicious food? Would a fox and rat wrestle in real life? Get the scoop on every character. Page 16.

Rhino Rescue — National Geographic Kids heads to Kenya to meet Maalim, a baby rhinoceros abandoned by his mother. Saved by a group of government rangers and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Maalim one day may be released back into the wild. Learn the precautions Maalim's keepers must take in order to not disrupt his natural development and what the keepers must do to ensure Maalim's survival in the wild. Page 28.

National Geographic Kids, a multitopic, photo-driven magazine for 6- to 14-year-olds, empowers its readers by making it fun to learn about the world. Its numerous industry awards include Periodical of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from the Association of Educational Publishers. Published 10 times a year, National Geographic Kids has a circulation of 1.2 million and is available by subscription for $19.95 a year and on newsstands for $4.99 a copy. Its Web site is at kids.nationalgeographic.com.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TO LAUNCH KIDS' MAGAZINE IN INDONESIA

2009-10-22
WASHINGTON (Oct. 22, 2009)--The National Geographic Society will launch the newest edition of its children's magazine in Indonesia, bringing the number of international editions of its National Geographic Kids publication to 18. The November issue will be available beginning Oct. 26, and the official launch event will be held at SeaWorld Indonesia on Nov. 19.

National Geographic Kids Indonesia will be published by PT Penerbitan Sarana Bobo, the children's publishing arm of Kompas-Gramedia Group, the largest media corporation in Indonesia. Each issue will be completely bilingual in English and Bahasa Indonesia.

Content for the magazine will be drawn primarily from the award-winning U.S. magazine National Geographic Kids and also will include local Indonesian content related to the environment, animal life and other topics that will excite kids about exploring their world. There will be 12 issues a year, and the magazine will be available by subscription, on newsstands and in Gramedia bookstores throughout Indonesia.

Local editions of National Geographic's children's magazine also are available in Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Latin America, The Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa (two editions), Turkey and the United Kingdom. This growth mirrors the global expansion of the famous yellow-bordered National Geographic magazine, now available in 32 local-language editions and read by more than 35 million people each month. The children's magazines, which accept advertising, also sport the familiar yellow border.

"The growth spurt of our children's publications allows National Geographic and the local-language publishers to reach an untapped youth market with this best-loved brand," said Society President John Fahey. "Giving young people in Indonesia a window to the world in their own language through National Geographic's incomparable photographs and storytelling is a compelling way to spread geographic knowledge and to extend the Society's mission to inspire people to care about the planet."

Founded in 1973, PT Penerbitan Sarana Bobo is the largest publishing company and market leader for children's magazines in Indonesia, with publications for children of all ages from toddlers to secondary school students. With a focus on information, communication and education, the Kompas-Gramedia Group has in the past four decades diversified its media business to include regional newspapers, books, magazines, a television channel, radio, bookstores, hotels, real estate development, travel bureaus and tissue paper production.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 375 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

THE JASON PROJECT LAUNCHES ENERGY CURRICULUM

2009-10-01
ASHBURN, Va. (Oct. 1, 2009)--A new science curriculum unit from The JASON Project is enabling students to explore one of society's most riveting and important issues -- energy -- in a new distribution format featuring print-on-demand and other solutions for 21st-century classrooms.

"Operation: Infinite Potential" is the third unit in JASON's new line of science curricula, following the award-winning ecology and weather units. Each unit fully integrates digital and print content into inquiry-based instruction. Using "Operation: Infinite Potential"'s research articles, hands-on labs, field assignments, videos, computer games and other multimedia, students work side-by-side with leading scientists to investigate and analyze emerging technologies designed to meet the needs of an energy-hungry planet.

For the first time, JASON is offering users the flexibility of free downloading and printing of all online Student and Teacher Editions in the new curriculum line. Individual chapters of PDF-formatted pages or the entire books may be printed in color or black and white. JASON is continuing to offer complete curriculum units, with all interactives and multimedia, free online. Print editions, including a DVD with up to two hours of video, are available for purchase.

"Teachers are faced with the need to become even more innovative, especially in these economic times, and JASON is helping them keep pace by providing world-class resources free online," said Caleb M. Schutz, president of The JASON Project. "This is important to educators, administrators and parents as well as our partners. Now every student, regardless of circumstances, has access to free science curriculum that is nationally recognized for excellence."

"Operation: Infinite Potential" was developed in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Shell, the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), and the National Geographic Society. The unit provides five to nine weeks of classroom material with suggested lesson plans, extensions, interdisciplinary connections and teacher resources.

"NOAA is pleased to be partnering with The JASON Project to introduce students and teachers to real-world examples of the science taught in this new science curriculum," said Louisa Koch, director of education for NOAA. "Space weather and tsunamis are exciting ways to learn about energy. NOAA's vision is 'an informed society that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the ocean, coasts and atmosphere in the global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions.' Our ongoing partnership with The JASON Project helps us make progress toward achieving that vision."

"Shell is very excited to partner with The JASON Project to provide such a powerful tool to teachers and students," said Serge Giacomo, head of Shell International Corporate Identity. "Today we are challenged with diminishing conventional oil and gas supplies, increasing demand for energy and growing levels of CO2. Shell recognizes that the 'Operation: Infinite Potential' project exemplifies the types of critical technologies that teachers and students must rely upon to help transition to a new energy future."

"For the United States to remain technologically competitive in the 21st century, it is essential that scientists and engineers team with educators to inspire youth, provide tools and materials for K-12 science and math programs, and create a learning environment that prepares today's students to be tomorrow's researchers," said NETL director Carl Bauer. "NETL is delighted to work with The JASON Project to meet these important goals."

"Oak Ridge National Laboratory's participation in the JASON energy curriculum unit was a tremendous success for everyone involved," said Thomas Zacharia, ORNL deputy laboratory director for science and technology. "'Operation: Infinite Potential' offers students a valuable and innovative educational experience. We look forward to working again soon with JASON and the other partners on this project."

JASON's digital and print resources are designed for grades 5-8 and used by teachers throughout K-12 for differentiated instruction or individual learning plans. All student resources are aligned to state science standards and designed for use with JASON's online assessment tools. When combined with teacher resources for lesson planning and classroom management -- and comprehensive professional development -- JASON provides a complete instructional solution that couples the power of digital learning with the ease-of-use of textbooks.

JASON's theory of education is based on lighting the spark of inspiration through sustained connections with "great explorers and great events" in rigorous curricula. Its new curriculum line -- launched in 2007 -- brings compelling scientists and cutting-edge research to life, and has garnered multiple awards:

-CODiE Award: Best Science Instructional Solution (2009) for "Operation: Resilient Planet," JASON's ecology unit, presented by the Software & Information Industry Association
-CODiE Finalist: Best Education Solution and Best Online Instructional Solution (2009) for "Operation: Resilient Planet"
-Distinguished Achievement Award in the category of Best Educational Toys and Games (2009) for "Operation: Resilient Planet" video game from the Association of Educational Publishers
-Award of Excellence (2008) for "Operation: Monster Storms" weather curriculum from Tech & Learning magazine
-CODiE Award: Best Online Instructional Solution (2008) for "Operation: Monster Storms"
-CODiE Finalist: Best Science Instructional Solution (2008) for "Operation: Monster Storms"

Visit www.jason.org to access JASON's free online science curricula.

About The JASON Project
A nonprofit subsidiary of National Geographic Society, JASON works with NOAA, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy and other leading organizations to develop inquiry-based science curricula and professional development. JASON was founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert Ballard, the oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence best known for his discovery of RMS Titanic and who today serves as JASON's chairman and chief scientist.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERS WITH LOCAL ZOOS FOR SECOND ANNUAL WORLD ANIMAL DAY PROMOTION

2009-09-30
WASHINGTON (Sept. 30, 2009)—Following a successful debut in 2008, National Geographic Kids Entertainment (NGKE) has partnered with five U.S. and Canadian zoos for the second North American World Animal Day promotion to introduce kids to the natural world, utilizing animal content from National Geographic Kids magazine and popular characters from two of NGKE's animated preschool properties, "Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies" and "Toot & Puddle." Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Movies for Mommies/Toons for Toddlers, Zoo Pals and Sandylion Stickers are marketing partners for this year's events.

The promotion, geared toward children ages 2-12 and their caregivers, will take place throughout October and will be directed toward World Animal Day on Sunday, Oct. 4. Three of the five zoo events will lead off with a hands-on workshop with National Geographic photographers, who will introduce the children to photography and send them "on assignment" to observe animals at the zoo. All five zoo events will include enrichment activities with the zoo animals and their keepers. Kids will be encouraged to visit the craft zone to make masks and other take-home projects, sit in on book readings and watch special screenings of "Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies" and "Toot & Puddle." The events will conclude with a parade and cupcake ceremony celebrating all of the zoo animal friends.

"We're excited to be back in the zoos this fall to celebrate our second annual World Animal Day promotion," said Darren Metzger, director, franchise marketing, NGKE. "It's the perfect partnership, as it fulfills our goal at National Geographic to excite kids to explore their world, while zoos can take advantage of the great National Geographic Kids Entertainment properties to promote their education and conservation efforts to their local communities. It's entertaining and educational and it encourages children to take a proactive role in caring for their world."

The scheduled events are:
-Oct. 3: Roger Williams Park Zoo (Providence, R.I.), with photographer Darlyne Murawski
-Oct. 3: Valley Zoo (Edmonton, Alberta), with photographer Ian Nichols
-Oct. 3-4: Calgary Zoo
-Oct 4 Toronto Zoo, with photographer Ian Nichols
-Oct. 25-26: Phoenix Zoo

"Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies" currently airs in the United States on PBS Kids! and in Canada on TVO, TFO and Knowledge Network. "Toot & Puddle" airs in the United States on Nick Jr. (formerly Noggin) and in Canada on TVO and TFO.
"Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies" stars Vanessa Williams ("Ugly Betty") as the voice of Mama Mirabelle. The weekly half-hour show introduces preschoolers to the animal kingdom through stunning wildlife footage from the National Geographic archive and helps kids learn about themselves and the world around them. Visit www.mamamirabelle.com for interactive games, videos, coloring pages and postcards. Episodes from season one are now available on DVD at stores where videos are sold and on iTunes. Series companion books are available online and at area bookstores. A new line of plush, figurines and puzzles are now available for the holiday season and available at www.shop.nationalgeographic.com.

"Toot & Puddle" encourages exploration and adventure, both at home and afar, by piquing kids' natural curiosity about the world around them. Based on the best-selling book series by author Holly Hobbie, "Toot & Puddle" is the heart-warming story of two best friends from Pocket Hollow, who find adventure wherever they go. Series companion books are available online and at area bookstores. For more about "Toot & Puddle," visit www.tootandpuddle.com.

NGKE is an independent production and U.S. distribution entity of National Geographic Ventures. Established in 2003, NGKE brings the renowned National Geographic brand to children's entertainment through the development, production and distribution of quality animated and live-action, entertainment-driven programming that excites kids to explore their world. NGKE will work with all major broadcast outlets in the United States and abroad. For more information about National Geographic, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

National Geographic Kids — October 2009

2009-09-23
Animal Fun & Games at the Zoo — Wild animals lead busy lives, so at zoos around the world teams of dedicated zookeepers work tirelessly to ensure their captive counterparts live equally enriched lives filled with activities and choices that often mimic day-to-day life in the wild. National Geographic Kids travels around the country to see how keepers are providing a taste of home to many of their favorite animal friends. Page 14.

Myths Busted — Many urban myths, made-up tales told as fact, were started to scare people into behaving. But some urban myths have been told so many times that people start believing them. National Geographic Kids asks the experts for the real story behind five urban myths — Swallowed chewing gum takes seven years to digest; turkeys are so dumb that they'll look up during a rainstorm and drown; tapping a soda can keeps it from spraying when you open it; if you don't wash your hair, spiders will live on your head; and fortune cookies come from China — and busts them once and for all. Plus: How to spot an Internet hoax. Page 10.

Family Project: Pumpkin Carving — National Geographic Kids cranks up the carving fun this Halloween. Check out some wildly creative ideas for decorating pumpkins this year, such as: Build a skeleton or snowman by stacking three pumpkins; turn a curvy stem into a funny nose; paint funny faces instead of carving; arrange your jack-o'-lanterns so they're "reacting" to each other; carve kooky Halloween messages to spook trick-or-treaters. Page 28.

Weird But True — National Geographic Kids digs up 10 outrageous facts, including: Before toothpaste was invented, some people cleaned their teeth with charcoal; if humans came in as many sizes as dogs, people would range from 3 to 18 feet tall; in Italy, you can buy fresh pizza from a vending machine; all of today's pet hamsters can be traced back to one hamster family that lived in Syria in 1930. Check out all the Weird But True facts. Page 4.

"Where the Wild Things Are" — National Geographic Kids goes behind the scenes of the new movie "Where the Wild Things Are," based on the book by Maurice Sendak, and discovers some very wild things about the film. Page 12.

City of Bones — Beneath the streets of Paris lies one of the creepiest burial sites in the world. In 1785, centuries of death from the plague, smallpox, war and France's infamous guillotine left the city's cemeteries literally overflowing, putting people at risk of disease. The solution: bury people in the old limestone mines carved under the city. National Geographic Kids explores France's famous catacombs, a maze of shadowy tunnels that contains the bones of nearly 6 million people — stacked and displayed in ghoulish, artistic patterns. Page 24.

National Geographic Kids, a multitopic, photo-driven magazine for 6- to 14-year-olds, empowers its readers by making it fun to learn about the world. Its numerous industry awards include Periodical of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from the Association of Educational Publishers. Published 10 times a year, National Geographic Kids has a circulation of 1.2 million and is available by subscription for $19.95 a year and on newsstands for $4.99 a copy. Its Web site is at kids.nationalgeographic.com.

LAKOTA YOUTH TO DOCUMENT CULTURAL IDENTITY DURING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO CAMP

2009-09-03
WASHINGTON (Sept. 3, 2009)—Twenty Lakota high school students from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota will document their community during National Geographic's second Pine Ridge Photo Camp. From Sunday, Sept. 6, to Thursday, Sept. 10, the teenagers, all members of the prophesied "Seventh Generation" of Lakota people, will photograph, edit and design a portrait of the Oglala Lakota Native American tribe. The Photo Camp is presented in partnership with the SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club and CREATE (Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment) Lab at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute.

During the four-day workshop, National Geographic contributing photographer Lynn Johnson will brief students on photographic vision, equipment and technique, while guiding them through the process of creating a story through photography and writing. The young photographers will explore Pine Ridge and the surrounding areas, documenting their interpretation of the current status of the "Seventh Generation," a group of Lakota destined since the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee to heal the wounds of persecution, dispossession and assimilation suffered by their ancestors. Illah Nourbakhsh and Dror Yaron from CREATE Lab will instruct the students on the use of GigaPan robotic cameras, which generate panoramic images that can be explored via computer.

"We hope that Photo Camp 2009 will provide students with a unique lens on the world and help spotlight their role in improving the lives of the Lakota people and helping rebuild the Lakota Nation," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president, Mission Programs. "We are honored to participate in this endeavor."

Participants, their families and community members are invited to a final presentation of the students' work on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6:30 p.m., at the SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club, #1 Positive Place, East Hwy 18, Pine Ridge, S.D.

Cameras for the Photo Camp have been provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Memory cards have been donated to the Photo Camp program by PNY Technologies. GigaPan photographic technology has been provided by CREATE Lab.

National Geographic Photo Camp has provided programs for more than 850 young people in over 40 locations since 2003. This year Photo Camps have been held in Botswana; Jordan; Olympic National Park, Wash.; and at National Marine Sanctuaries near Florida and California. Visit nationalgeographic.com/photocamp for more information.

In addition to 11 stories that Johnson has contributed to National Geographic magazine, she has covered editorial assignments for various national and international publications and private corporations. Her photographic skills allow her to take pictures that are intimate and enlightening. Johnson has won numerous awards, including Picture of the Year Award from the National Press Photographers Association and four World Press Photography Awards.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 375 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

The SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club provides critically needed services and support for the youth of the Pine Ridge Reservation, including indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, scholarships and programs promoting health and wellness. Founded in 1992 and modeled after the vision and ideals of educational and spiritual growth supported by the late SuAnne Big Crow, the corporation is the first charter of the Boys and Girls Club of America to be established on an Indian reservation. The club serves some 600 young people, ages 7 to 17, and offers a place where they can gain a higher cultural awareness and be safe from drugs, alcohol, violence and gangs.

The Global Connection Project at the CREATE Lab, a partnership among Carnegie Mellon University, National Geographic, NASA's Ames Research Center and Google Inc., aims to enhance cross-cultural understanding and environmental awareness through the use of new imaging technologies. The GigaPan panoramic image system has been developed and deployed to leading scientists and schools internationally, in collaboration with UNESCO's International Bureau of Education. Over 25,000 panoramas shared by individuals around the world may be viewed at www.gigapan.org.

National Geographic Kids — September 2009

2009-08-27
The Secret of the White Lion -- Exotic and majestic, white lions are beloved by many people around the world. But these big white cats -- merely a color variation of regular lions rather than a separate species -- are controversial. White lions are the result of a rare color gene mutation. Not many lions carry the mutation, and in the wild, white lions are extremely rare. However, breeders interested in the animals' moneymaking potential know how to create more white lions, which is causing concern and debate. White lions continue to exist only because people inbreed close relatives, which can result in serious health problems -- problems that could spread to other captive lions or wild lions they may breed with. Plus: Free white lion pullout poster. Page 14.

Twenty Cool Facts About Money -- National Geographic Kids shares 20 cool things about American money and its history, including: A quarter's edge has 119 grooves; the Bureau of Engraving and Printing produces approximately 38 million bills a day with a face value of more than $274 billion; if you placed $2.2 million in pennies side-by-side, they'd stretch from New York City to San Francisco; when the first U.S. Mint opened in Philadelphia, it was guarded by a dog the government bought for $3 in 1793; and only two current U.S. bills do not feature presidents -- $100 (founding father Benjamin Franklin) and $10 (Alexander Hamilton, the first treasury secretary). Check out all the fun facts. Page 12.

National Parks Trivia Challenge -- The United States is home to 58 national parks that are visited by more than 61 million people every year. National Geographic Kids tests your national park knowledge with an eight-question, multiple-choice trivia challenge. What funny name is used for the bizarre, totem-pole-shaped rock formations found at Bryce Canyon? According to legend, what Everglades animal did early sailors mistake for a mermaid? What Grand Teton animal would win a 50-yard dash? See how many answers you know. Page 26.

Space Vacation -- Thrill seekers have long traveled the Earth in pursuit of unforgettable vacations. But those who crave the ultimate in extreme adventure will soon be able to leave the Earth behind. National Geographic Kids explores five out-of-this-world vacations that scientists believe will be possible someday. Play zero-gravity laser tag on an orbital resort. Ride an elevator 22,000 miles straight up to space. Take a planetary sightseeing cruise. Scale Mars' Olympus Mons, the highest mountain in the solar system. Go beyond our solar system on an alien planet safari. Page 20.

National Geographic Kids, a multitopic, photo-driven magazine for 6- to 14-year-olds, empowers its readers by making it fun to learn about the world. Its numerous industry awards include Periodical of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from the Association of Educational Publishers. Published 10 times a year, National Geographic Kids has a circulation of 1.2 million and is available by subscription for $19.95 a year and on newsstands for $4.99 a copy. Its Web site is at kids.nationalgeographic.com.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LITTLE KIDS LAUNCHES ONLINE littlekids.nationalgeographic.com

2009-08-19
WASHINGTON (Aug. 19, 2009)—The award-winning magazine National Geographic Little Kids today launches a digital extension of the publication at littlekids.nationalgeographic.com. Like the magazine, the companion Web site is aimed at preschoolers ages 3 to 6 and their parents, and is packed with age-appropriate ways to digitally interact with young children and excite them about the natural world.

In addition to games, crafts, recipes, science experiments and videos, the site, debuting in time for back-to-school, features a variety of fun and engaging resources to help parents talk to their children about the first day of school. Special content includes seven video clips where mommy and daddy animals "teach" young animals important skills. Helpful tips for mom and dad on how to ease preschool jitters are provided.

The parents' companion feature includes "Parent Tips" to help guide curious preschoolers toward safe and fun exploration of the world. As the site grows, the Little Kids team plans to create a vibrant online community for parents to share ideas and resources.

"We're excited about the launch of our Little Kids Web site," said Michelle Sullivan, NG Kids digital media executive producer. "Our goal is to build on the great success of National Geographic Little Kids magazine by creating an age-appropriate online experience for preschoolers and parents, where they can play, learn and explore together. We want to help develop skills to create a generation of active and engaged digital learners."

Littlekids.nationalgeographic.com is the second National Geographic kids magazine Web site. Kids.nationalgeographic.com is the Web site for National Geographic Kids magazine, a publication for the elementary school-aged set. Aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds, this Parents' Choice Recommended Site Winner contains hundreds of videos, interactive features, games, activities, blogs and current-event feature news bites. It also features authentic kid-to-kid storytelling by real kids across the globe, bringing the world to kids' laps via their laptops.

Littlekids.nationalgeographic.com and Kids.nationalgeographic.com are the online destinations for all the quality kids content produced by National Geographic and tied to the mission of inspiring kids to care about the planet — and the people, places and animals on it. From a brand trusted by both parents and educators, littlekids.nationalgeographic.com and kids.nationalgeographic.com are two of the only true content-based Web sites for kids.

Nationalgeographic.com is the award-winning Web site of the National Geographic Society and attracts 13 million unique visitors a month. Nationalgeographic.com combines National Geographic's video, photography and maps with in-depth information and interactive features about animals, science, nature, the environment, destinations and cultures. Nationalgeographic.com's news service, National Geographic News, publishes daily stories about science and discoveries around the globe.

National Geographic Kids Magazine Sets Guinness World Record For Most Items of Clothing Collected for Recycling

2009-08-12
WASHINGTON (Aug. 12, 2009)—It's official! National Geographic Kids magazine today set the Guinness World Record for the Most Items of Clothing Collected for Recycling. Displayed in a massive art installation at Union Station, Washington, D.C., the official record stands at 33,088 items of denim clothing, including jeans, shirts, jackets and hats. The art installation will be on display for two weeks, from today through Aug 27.

The feat was confirmed by Stuart Claxton of Guinness World Records and was witnessed by Holly Morris, reporter for WTTG-TV FOX 5; Joan Malkowski, vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc. and general manager of Union Station; and David Mizejewski, author, media personality and naturalist at the National Wildlife Federation.

In an effort to teach kids about recycling and to help reduce the amount of waste in landfills, all of the collected denim will be donated to Cotton Incorporated's COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.® denim drive program, which gives denim a second life by recycling it into UltraTouch™ Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation for use in restoring or rebuilding homes damaged by hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters. The 33,088 denim items will create enough material to insulate more than 60 homes.

It took National Geographic Kids magazine four months to collect the denim, which was sent by individual readers, families, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, school groups, houses of worship and many others. Actor Ben Stiller, who served as guest editor for the NG Kids April 2009 Special Ocean Issue that kicked off the denim-collecting campaign, was one of the first to donate a pair of jeans. Actors Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Tiffany Thornton, Tyler James Williams, Jason Dolley and Allie Grant also donated their old jeans to the project.

A special guest at today's record-setting ceremony was 9-year-old Erek Hansen, from Curtice, Ohio, a student at Jerusalem Elementary School. He organized a denim drive that collected nearly 1,700 pairs of jeans.

"We're delighted with the response we received from kids around the country," said National Geographic Kids Editor in Chief Melina Bellows. "They embraced this project that involved their communities, benefits the environment and will help rebuild many homes."

"This record-setting collection for the COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.® denim drive not only speaks to Americans' love of denim and the environment, but to their civic-mindedness," said Paula G. Rosario, vice president, Cotton Incorporated Strategic Alliances. "The high response illustrates the positive influence of National Geographic Kids magazine on today's young people."

For photos and b-roll of today's record-setting event, go to the FTP site
username: press | password: press

This is the fourth Guinness World Record set by National Geographic Kids. In July 2008 the magazine achieved the record for the Longest Chain of Shoes — 10,512 shoes tied together, heel-to-toe, created a chain stretching nearly 1.65 miles. In December 2006 the magazine collected 2,304 stuffed animals for the Largest Gathering of Plush Toys; and in November 2004 it set the record for the Longest Line of Footprints — 10,932 prints measuring almost two miles.

About National Geographic Kids Magazine
National Geographic Kids, a multitopic, photo-driven magazine for 6- to 14-year-olds, empowers its readers by making it fun to learn about the world. It has received numerous industry awards, including the Periodical of the Year award in 2005 and 2006 from the Association of Educational Publishers. Published 10 times a year, National Geographic Kids has a circulation of 1.2 million and is available by subscription for $19.95 a year and on newsstands for $4.99 a copy. Its Web site is at kids.nationalgeographic.com.

About COTTON.FROM BLUE TO GREEN.®
The first COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.®" denim drive in 2006 collected 14,566 denim pieces nationwide, more than double the anticipated amount. In 2007 and 2008 the COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.® denim drive expanded its reach through partnerships with national retailers and organizations, including American Eagle Outfitters, Ernest Sewn, Gap, G by Guess and Pepsi Bottling Group, as well as Warner Bros. Pictures.

As part of the recycling process, Allan Company, a leader in the recycling industry, bales the denim in preparation for becoming insulation. JBM Fibers, a leading manufacturer of reprocessed fibers, returns the denim to its original fiber state, cotton. Bonded Logic Inc. manufactures the UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation. For more information, visit www.cottonfrombluetogreen.org.

About Cotton Incorporated
Cotton Incorporated, funded by U.S. growers of upland cotton and importers of cotton and cotton textile products, is the research and marketing company representing upland cotton. The program is designed and operated to improve the demand for and profitability of cotton. For more information, visit www.cottoninc.com.

About Bonded Logic Inc.
Bonded Logic Inc., based out of Chandler, Ariz., manufactures several natural fiber insulation products including UltraTouch, an environmentally safe, non-itch insulation made from natural fibers that offers exceptional acoustic and thermal performance with no carcinogenic warnings, formaldehyde or chemical irritants used. UltraTouch is sold nationwide via building materials distributors and lumber yards.

SEATTLE YOUTH TO DOCUMENT ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY DURING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO CAMP

2009-08-12
WASHINGTON (Aug. 12, 2009)—Twenty students from Washington state's West Seattle High School will have the unique opportunity to document and learn about the local environment with National Geographic contributing photographer Melissa Farlow during National Geographic Photo Camp Olympic Peninsula. From Sunday, Aug. 16, to Thursday, Aug. 20, the 14- to 18-year-olds will explore Olympic National Park and photograph, edit and design a portrait of the region's ecological landscape. The Photo Camp is presented in partnership with the Olympic Park Institute.

During the workshop, Farlow and Bert Fox, the Charlotte Observer's director of photography and former National Geographic magazine picture editor, will brief students on photographic vision, equipment and technique, while guiding them through the process of creating a story through photography and writing. The budding photographers will go on assignment in Olympic National Park to experience a variety of natural ecosystems that are influenced by the area's myriad wildlife and vast range of physical environments. The camp will give the students the opportunity to interact and to reflect on environmental issues that affect the region's diverse ecology.

"We hope that Photo Camp 2009 will provide students with a unique lens on the world and help expand their awareness of the environment and their impact on it," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president, Mission Programs. "We are honored to participate in this endeavor."

"Olympic Park Institute is proud to be partnering with National Geographic to host Photo Camp," said Institute Director Tom Sanford. "Partnerships like these help us introduce new groups of youth to Olympic National Park and find new ways to use technology like digital video and photography to help them make meaningful connections with nature."

A presentation of the students' work will be held on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m., at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle. It will be open to the public.

Cameras for the Photo Camp have been provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Memory cards have been donated to the Photo Camp program by PNY Technologies. Lodging accommodations for the Photo Camp staff is provided by Ace Hotel Seattle.

National Geographic Photo Camp has provided programs for more than 850 young people in over 40 locations since 2003. Other Photo Camp venues this year are Botswana; Jordan; Pine Ridge Native American Reservation, S.D.; and National Marine Sanctuaries near Florida and California. Visit nationalgeographic.com/photocamp for more information.

Farlow is a freelance photographer who has contributed 14 stories to National Geographic magazine. As a staff photographer for the Louisville Times, she was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of desegregation in Louisville public schools. Farlow's images have won multiple awards in the National Press Photographers Association's Pictures of the Year competition and other prestigious contests.

During his years as a National Geographic picture editor, Fox edited more than 90 stories for the magazine. His 34-year career in journalism and photographic editing earned him the title "Picture Editor of the Year" five times by the University of Missouri.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 370 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

Olympic Park Institute is a campus of NatureBridge, the largest nonprofit residential education partner of the National Park Service. Its mission is to inspire personal connections to the natural world and responsible actions to sustain it. In partnership with Olympic National Park, the Olympic Park Institute provides residential environmental education programs to more than 6,000 diverse youth annually. Over 25 percent of the programs' participants and half of the participating schools receive scholarship assistance. For more information, visit olympicparkinstitute.org.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ANNOUNCES THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST FOR KIDS

2009-07-28
WASHINGTON (July 28, 2009)—Readers of National Geographic Kids magazines around the world are invited to take part in the 2009 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids this summer and fall. The contest is being conducted in partnership with the U.S. edition and 12 international editions of National Geographic Kids in Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, Hungary, Israel, The Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The grand-prize winner will receive a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Contestants ages 6-14 may enter the contest by submitting photos from now through Nov. 2, 2009, in any or all of four categories: People, Animals, Scenery and Humor. Each participating edition of the magazine will select one winning photograph from each category to be sent to National Geographic headquarters. The grand-prize winner will be selected in December by a team of three judges: Melina Bellows, National Geographic Kids magazine editor in chief; Steve St. John, National Geographic Image Collection senior editor; and Jay Sumner, National Geographic Kids photo director.

Winning entries from each country will be featured in that country's edition of National Geographic Kids magazine. Details and official contest rules can be found at kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Photos.

National Geographic Kids, geared toward children ages 6-14, is an interactive, multitopic magazine covering animals, entertainment, science, technology, current events and cultures from around the world. The magazine has 16 international editions, including the U.S. edition that is also available in Canada.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 370 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

National Geographic Kids — August 2009

2009-07-10
International Photography Contest for Kids — National Geographic Kids announces the third annual International Photography Contest for Kids. Entrants ages 6-14 may submit photos in any or all of four categories: People, Animals, Scenery and Humor. Entries must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 2, 2009. The contest is held in conjunction with 12 international editions of National Geographic Kids. The grand-prize winner will receive a five-day trip to Washington, D.C., including a tour of National Geographic headquarters. The winning entry will be featured in National Geographic Kids magazine. Details and official contest rules are at kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Photos. Page 9.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" — National Geographic Kids goes behind the scenes of the new movie "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" to reveal the magic behind the film. See how special-effects wizards created a supersize spider, realistic-looking werewolf hair and a giant ring of fire. Plus: Check out special actor profiles to discover some favorites of the movie's stars, and learn some facts and figures about the Harry Potter series. Page 14.

Animal Talk — Communicating with animals is not just for Dr. Dolittle. In fact, most people can learn to do it. Reading animals' body language is one way. Another trick is to teach animals humanspeak — in the form of words, symbols, sounds or gestures. It's generally far easier to get animals to understand what we're telling them than it is to get animals to say things to us. But sometimes, such a close bond develops that an actual two-way conversation takes place. National Geographic Kids looks at seven surprising ways animals and humans "chat." Page 18.

Family Project: Memory Book — Don't let summer adventures fade away. Create a fun collage about a favorite summer memory. National Geographic Kids provides tips to create the ultimate summer scrapbook. Write about a vacation, family picnic, hiking trip, birthday party or holiday. Gather memorabilia related to the event, such as photos, postcards, foreign money or ticket stubs. Use scrapbooking paper to create a cool background. Include natural items such as dried flowers, feathers or small shells. Arrange everything before gluing it down to make sure it fits the page. Place your completed collage in the front of the memory book. Add a new collage every year or two. Page 28.

National Geographic Kids, a multitopic, photo-driven magazine for 6- to 14-year-olds, empowers its readers by making it fun to learn about the world. Its numerous industry awards include Periodical of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from the Association of Educational Publishers. Published 10 times a year, National Geographic Kids has a circulation of 1.2 million and is available by subscription for $19.95 a year and on newsstands for $4.99 a copy. Its Web site is at kids.nationalgeographic.com.

National Geographic Kids and SUBWAY® Restaurants Team Up On Point-of-Purchase Promotion, Contest

2009-07-06
NEW YORK (July 6, 2009)—National Geographic Kids magazine today announced a collaboration with SUBWAY® restaurants. The SUBWAY KIDS™ Taste for Adventure campaign includes an international kids' meal promotion and a family adventure contest to celebrate exploration and the outdoors.

Themed for young explorers, a variety of National Geographic Kids-branded toys will be available in SUBWAY FRESH FIT FOR KIDS™ meals starting today, while supplies last. In addition to this point-of-purchase promotion, kids can enter to win a trip for four to Alaska, courtesy of National Geographic and SUBWAY®. The campaign is supported by an integrated advertising program, including a cover wrap on National Geographic Kids magazine, themed cards in the magazine and a robust microsite on kids.nationalgeographic.com.

In each SUBWAY FRESH FIT FOR KIDS™ meal, customers will receive a fun adventure toy from National Geographic Kids, such as a compass, endangered species expedition map, adventure journal, adventure hat, step tracker or adventure holder — cool additions to any budding explorer's expedition kit.

For a chance to win the fun-packed National Geographic expedition, SUBWAY® restaurants and National Geographic Kids are asking kids to share their greatest adventure ever (past, present, or even future dream adventure). To enter, kids must write an original personal essay of 100 words or less describing their greatest adventure. One winner will receive a trip for four to Alaska to look for humpback whales, check out enormous glaciers and hike along sparkling salmon streams. No purchase is necessary. The contest, which ends Oct. 31, 2009, is open to legal residents of the United States (excluding Puerto Rico) ages 6-14. Complete rules and details are online at kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/tasteforadventure.

Double-sided activity cards that offer tips and activities for young explorers are included in the August issue of National Geographic Kids magazine, and custom Puzzler games are online at kids.nationalgeographic.com/Games/PuzzlesQuizzes/Subwaykids.

"We are thrilled to team up with SUBWAY® restaurants on this adventure campaign," said Stephen Giannetti, senior vice president and group publisher of National Geographic magazines. "Daring kids to explore, National Geographic Kids makes learning about the world fun and engaging for the entire family, whether on the road or sitting around the kitchen table."

"SUBWAY® is really excited about this promotion," said Heather Pastir, Subway's senior brand manager for Kids & Family. "This partnership exemplifies our goal in delivering something fun for kids, with a healthy active lifestyle message."

About National Geographic Kids Magazine
National Geographic Kids, a multitopic, photo-driven magazine for 6- to 14-year-olds, empowers its readers by making it fun to learn about the world. It has received numerous industry awards, including the Periodical of the Year award in 2005 and 2006 from the Association of Educational Publishers. Published 10 times a year, National Geographic Kids has a circulation of 1.2 million and is available by subscription for $19.95 a year and on newsstands for $4.99 a copy. Its Web site is at kids.nationalgeographic.com.

About SUBWAY®
The SUBWAY® restaurant chain is the world's largest submarine sandwich franchise, with more than 31,000 locations in 90 countries. Headquartered in Milford, Conn., the SUBWAY® restaurant chain was co-founded by Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. That partnership marked the beginning of a remarkable journey — one that made it possible for thousands of individuals to build and succeed in their own business. The SUBWAY® chain was named the No. 1 franchise opportunity and the No. 1 global franchise opportunity by Entrepreneur magazine in its Annual Franchise 500 Ranking for 2009. For more information about the SUBWAY® restaurant chain, visit www.subway.com. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor's Associates Inc.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO CAMP TO GIVE VOICE TO YOUTH IN JORDAN AFFECTED BY DISPLACEMENT

2009-06-15
WASHINGTON (June 15, 2009)--A group of young Iraqi and Palestinian refugees living in Jordan, as well as local Jordanian youth whose lives have been affected by the influx of refugees into their country, will have the opportunity to document their lives and experiences with internationally acclaimed photographers Reza and Ed Kashi this month during National Geographic Photo Camp Jordan. From Monday, June 15, through Wednesday, June 24, 60 students will take part in workshops where they will learn about self-expression through photographic vision and technique. The Photo Camp is presented in partnership with the International Medical Corps, through a grant from Australian Aid.

During the first of three sessions, June 15-17, at the Child and Family Protection Center in Irbid, Jordan, 20 teenagers aged 12-19 will create stories of their experiences of displacement, resettlement and other life disruptions using photographs and written words under the guidance of the Photo Camp staff. Similar sessions will follow on June 19-21 and June 22-24 with 40 other young refugees and Jordanian teens at the Jordan River Foundation in Amman.

Reza and Kashi, along with Jordanian photographers Nasser Majali and Mohammad Hannon, will teach students how to describe their personal world and create self-portraits by exploring the world through the lens of a camera. Individual sessions with International Medical Corps mental health staff will allow the children to unlock painful experiences and help in addressing their emotional needs. By using photography as a catalyst for discussion, the Photo Camp will encourage self-expression and awareness among the young refugees and Jordanians, all of whom have felt the strain of the displacement on their communities.

"Photo Camp can give these young people, who have been uprooted or experienced turmoil, strain and hardship, the voice and the opportunity to explore the current state of their lives," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president, Mission Programs. "We are honored to be part of this endeavor."

"International Medical Corps is delighted to partner with National Geographic once again," said Nancy Aossey, president and CEO of International Medical Corps. "As an organization with years of experience implementing art therapy programs to help in the long-term recovery of conflict-affected populations, we recognize that Photo Camp Jordan is a tremendous opportunity for the children and for the world to see their stories."

The students' work will be presented in an exhibit on June 26 at the Queen Rania Center in East Amman, followed by a graduation ceremony. This final presentation aims to draw attention to youth perspectives of living as a refugee in today's world and the challenges that their generation faces.

This is the second collaboration between National Geographic and International Medical Corps. In November 2006 they implemented Photo Camp Uganda for child refugees from Rwanda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with subsequent exhibits of their photographs in cities around the world, including London, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Cameras for National Geographic Photo Camp 2009 will be provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. PNY Technologies will provide memory cards.

Reza, one of the best-known photojournalists in the world, has been documenting global strife and conflict since the 1970s as a contributor to Time, Newsweek and National Geographic magazines. His photography has earned him multiple illustrious international awards, including the Hope Award and public service and humanitarian awards in France and Spain.

Kashi, a freelance photographer since 1979, travels the world capturing images of ordinary life in extraordinary communities. A photojournalist, filmmaker and educator, he has been internationally recognized for his work on the social and political issues that define our times. He has produced 17 stories for National Geographic, most recently "Forgotten Faithful: Arab Christians" in June 2009.

National Geographic Photo Camp has provided programs for more than 850 young people in over 40 locations since 2003. Photo Camps will also be held this year in Botswana; Olympic National Park, Seattle; Pine Ridge Native American Reservation, S.D.; and national marine sanctuaries in Florida and California. Visit
nationalgeographic.com/photocamp for more information.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 360 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

Since its inception 25 years ago, International Medical Corps' mission has been to relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance. For more information on International Medical Corps, visit imcworldwide.org.

Australian Aid is an agency dedicated to assisting developing countries in reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development since 1974. For more information on Australian Aid, visit ausaid.gov.au.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS JUNE / JULY 2009 — SPECIAL TWO-SIDED, FAMILY EDITION

2009-06-08
GREEN SCENE: ECO-VACATION AT THE BEACH — Summertime means trips to the beach for surf, sand and sun. National Geographic Kids suggests eight simple ideas to help you and your family have a great time catching waves while doing your part to make your vacation eco-friendly: Dry off with a towel made from bamboo — bamboo is grown without chemical pesticides that are harmful to the environment. Dine with care — use cloth napkins and reusable dishes and cutlery when picnicking at the beach. Leave the shell — you may be disturbing the home of a tiny animal. Avoid the dunes — to prevent erosion, walk on designated paths. Dunes protect coastal areas from storm waves and are also home to plants and small animals. For more about helping the Earth, go online to
preserveourplanet.com. Page 6.

GREAT FAMILY GETAWAYS — National Geographic Kids checks out the coolest new-for-2009 roller coasters that will add adventure to any family vacation this summer. Fly face-down on the Manta at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla. Speed 80 miles an hour on the Diamondback at Kings Island Park in Kings Island, Ohio. Select your own music to rock out to on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios in Orlando; and hug the ground on the wooden Prowler at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Mo. Page 8.

FAMILY PROJECT: AMERICAN FLAG CAKE — Be a star this Fourth of July with a homemade American Flag Cake. National Geographic Kids provides step-by-step directions for creating the deliciously patriotic picnic treat. Page 10.

AMAZING ANIMALS — National Geographic Kids meets three amazing animals. In Islamorada, Fla., Jake the rat terrier survived a shark attack and lived to bark about it. In Des Moines, Iowa, Kanzi the bonobo is a skilled painter who names his paintings. In Chicago, you'll do a double take when you see Yoda the cat who appears to have two sets of ears. Page 12.

HOPE FOR THE RED PANDA — The red panda is the wildlife equivalent of Harry Potter's invisibility cloak — with a flick of its fluffy tail, the elusive creature curls into a ball to look just like another bump on a log. In fact, you're almost more likely to see a red panda in a zoo than in the wild, and for good reason. These darlings of the bamboo forests are in great danger, and if they don't get help soon, the red panda's disappearing act might become permanent. PLUS: Although unrelated, red pandas and giant pandas share more than a name. Check out the facts. Page 18.

National Geographic Kids, a multitopic, photo-driven magazine for 6- to 14-year-olds, empowers its readers by making it fun to learn about the world. Its numerous industry awards include Periodical of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from the Association of Educational Publishers. Published 10 times a year, National Geographic Kids has a circulation of 1.2 million and is available by subscription for $19.95 a year and on newsstands for $4.99 a copy. Its Web site is at kids.nationalgeographic.com.

National Geographic Children's Books Launches Fact-Packed Almanac for Kids

2009-05-27
WASHINGTON (May 26, 2009)—National Geographic Children's Books announces the launch of its first ever kids' almanac, where kids can discover everything from how to survive adrift at sea to the secrets of the sunken city of Atlantis to ways you can volunteer in your community. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS ALMANAC 2010 (ISBN: 978-1-4263-0501-6; May 26, 2009; $12.99; ages 8-12) grabs readers' attention with more than 500 stunning photographs and over 300 pages bursting with fast facts, true stories, fun activities and interesting articles on every subject under the sun (and beyond!).

With content that will make any kid go "wow!," "ew!" and "cool!", this backpack-sized reference book is sure to keep kids occupied during even the longest trips and is a sure-fire hit to include in camp care packages. Crafts, games, jokes, recipes and a "virtual pet" named Zimmer are just a few of the unusual and creative features that make the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS ALMANAC 2010 unique, engaging and FUN!

With full-color design and an easy-to-read format, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS ALMANAC 2010 delivers chapter after chapter of fun factoids:

Your World 2010 — What's hot and what's ahead for 2010
Awesome Adventure — Modern-day adventurers, survival techniques and true stories of harrowing escapes
Amazing Animals — More than 75 pages devoted to animals, their habitats and what makes each one unique
Culture Connection — Food, currency, literature and lots more from around the world
Geography Rocks — Maps, travel and famous or unusual landmarks — like a sculpture in Joshua Tree, Calif., made entirely of toilets
Going Green — Eco-lingo, our threatened planet and steps we can take to help save it
History Happens — Mummies! Wars! American heroes! Secret spies! The people, places, governments and events that make us who we are today.
Wonders of Nature — From the highest mountains to the depths of the ocean floor — and everything in between.
Super Science — Space, health and the human body, our future world and cool inventions

About Melina Gerosa Bellows:
Melina Bellows is executive vice president of National Geographic Children's Publishing and editor in chief of National Geographic Kids and Little Kids magazines.

About National Geographic Society:
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 360 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS ALMANAC 2010978-1-4263-0501-6 -- May 26, 2009 Ages 8-12 -- 12.95

STATE GEOGRAPHIC BEE WINNERS TO COMPETE FOR NATIONAL BEE TITLE AND $25,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP

2009-05-08
WASHINGTON (May 8, 2009)—One would like to be a time-traveler, so he could see our future world; another hopes to become a doctor and find a cure for cancer. One composes music and has almost finished writing a symphony; another has his sights set on becoming a professional soccer player. Several hope to hold high political office one day. But all have their eyes on one goal at present — to take top honors at the 21st annual National Geographic Bee, to be held in Washington, D.C., on May 19 and 20. Google is the sponsor of this year's contest.

Fifty-five fourth- to eighth-graders, ranging in age from 9-15, will be vying for the Bee crown and the top prize of a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. Second and third prizes are college scholarships of $15,000 and $10,000. Additionally, the national winner will travel (along with one parent or guardian), all expenses paid, to the Galápagos Islands with "Jeopardy!" quiz show host and National Geographic Bee moderator Alex Trebek and the "Jeopardy!" Clue Crew. The winner will experience geography firsthand through up-close encounters with the wildlife and landscape of the Galápagos. Travel for the "Galápagos Adventure with Alex Trebek" is provided by Lindblad Expeditions and the National Geographic Society.

The finalists, all winners of their state-level geographic bees, have triumphed over a field of nearly 5 million students to earn a place in the national championships. They represent the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Pacific Territories and Department of Defense Dependents Schools.

The preliminary rounds of the National Geographic Bee will take place on Tuesday, May 19. The top 10 finalists will each win $500 and advance to the final round on Wednesday, May 20, which will be moderated by Alex Trebek. The final round will air on May 20 nationally on the National Geographic Channel. Produced by National Geographic Television, the finals also will be broadcast later on public television stations, presented by Maryland Public Television. Check local listings for viewing dates and times.

Seven of the students taking part in this year's National Geographic Bee are repeat state winners. Shiva Kangeyan of Florida, Alexander Fager of Hawaii, Trevor Eggenberger of Kansas and Alexander Wade of Nevada represented their states at the 2008 championship. Amal de Alwis of Louisiana, Kennen Sparks of Utah and Kirsi Anselmi-Stith were state winners in 2007.

A survey of this year's state and territory Bee winners shows that they have numerous talents in addition to their prodigious geography knowledge. Many are on their school's honor rolls and in the National Junior Honor Society; many have won math, science and spelling contests; a number study music or languages; most play a variety of sports.

Barack Obama tops the list of people the students admire (apart from their parents), followed by grandparents and teachers. While many of the kids said they are perfectly content being themselves, U.S. president, secretary of state or an ambassador head the list of other people they might choose to be.

John Fahey, president and CEO of the National Geographic Society, said, "National Geographic's mission is to inspire people to care about planet. Through the National Geographic Bee and everything else we do at the Society, we hope to foster a lifelong passion for learning about the wonders of the Earth and its diverse lands and cultures."

"The Geographic Bee has been a great motivator for students to learn about the world and its natural and human geography. At Google, we are proud of the fact that many of these students are using Google Earth as an educational tool, and we are pleased to be sponsoring National Geographic Society's Geographic Bee program," said Brian McClendon, engineering director at Google.

The National Geographic Society developed the National Geographic Bee in 1989 in response to concern about the lack of geographic knowledge among young people in the United States. And the problem is not yet resolved: The results of a National Geographic-Roper Public Affairs 2006 Geographic Literacy Study showed that Americans aged 18 to 24 still have limited understanding of the world within and beyond our country's borders. Even after Hurricane Katrina, one-third could not locate Louisiana, and almost half could not locate Mississippi on a U.S. map. Only four in 10 were able to find Iraq on a map of the Middle East.

The 2008 National Geographic Bee champion was 11-year-old sixth-grader Akshay Rajagopal of Nebraska. The winning question was: The urban area of Cochabamba has been in the news in recent years due to protests over the privatization of the municipal water supply and regional autonomy issues. Cochabamba is the third largest conurbation in what country? Answer: Bolivia.

About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 360 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

Based at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channel is a joint venture between National Geographic Television and FOX Cable Networks Group. It debuted to an initial 10 million homes in January 2001 and is currently available in nearly 70 million U.S. homes.

About Google's Geo Education Program
The Geo Education program is made up of a group of Googlers who are passionate about education and who believe that Google Earth and Maps are powerful educational tools. The program aims to make these tools more accessible to educators and to connect educators to each other so that they can share their experiences. The Geo Education group has created a Web site, www.google.com/educators/geo, where educators can find classroom activities in a variety of subjects and a discussion group where they can share information.

NOTE: The names and pictures of the Bee champion and the two runners-up and the winning question will be posted on the National Geographic online press room at the following ftp site:
http://ftp.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/bee_09/
(username: press | password: press)