PBS KIDS CELEBRATES EARTH MONTH ON-AIR, ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND IN COMMUNITIES THIS APRIL

Families will have the opportunity to “Explore the Outdoors” with new content from WILD KRATTS and DINOSAUR TRAIN as well as PBS station activities across the country

ARLINGTON, VA, April 1, 2015 – This month, PBS KIDS kicks-off its annual Explore the Outdoors initiative, which encourages families to shake off the winter chill, go outside and discover nature. The fun begins on April 6 with brand new themed on-air programming and online and mobile content. In addition, PBS stations across the country will be hosting local community educational activities to extend the exploration beyond the screen.

“After a long harsh winter across much of the country, families are ready to go outside and enjoy spring,” said Lesli Rotenberg, General Manager, Children’s Media, PBS. “At PBS KIDS we’re always looking for ways to foster engagement with our audience long after the screen is turned off. April is Earth Month so it’s the perfect time to introduce our young viewers to the wonders of nature and provide families with educational tools and resources to plan their own outdoor adventure.”

Across the country, more than 50 local PBS member stations will be hosting Earth Month-related events to connect children to the environment through hands-on learning activities. Events will explore everything from studying the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly, to the importance of recycling and lessons on how to grow a sustainable garden. Families will also have the opportunity to explore nature themes and environmental concepts with PBS KIDS Explore the Outdoors activities and materials.

Kids can play plant, animal and adventure-themed games by visiting pbskids.org/outdoors. More information about how to engage the entire family in outdoor exploration this April is available at pbsparents.org/outdoors.

PBS KIDS Explore the Outdoors will include new episodes from science and nature-based series WILD KRATTS and DINOSAUR TRAIN. Outdoor-themed episodes from a variety of PBS KIDS programs, including a new episode of DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, will also air throughout April (check local listings).

WILD KRATTS & DINOSAUR TRAIN: EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS WEEK

WILD KRATTS – New Episodes Premiere April 20, 21 &22

It’s always an adventure with the Kratt brothers and the Explore the Outdoors week includes the premiere of three all-new WILD KRATTS episodes. Learn about the amazing world of chameleons with Martin and Chris in “Chameleons on Target,” airing April 20. Then on April 21, it’s off to Madagascar, where Chris and Martin witness a dispute between two troops of Ring-tailed lemurs in “Lemur Stink Fight.” Finally, join Aviva when she unveils her new invention on April 22 in “Capture the Fishmobile.”

Families can take their adventures with Chris and Martin mobile with the newly updated Wild Kratts World Adventure App, currently available on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and coming soon to Android. A Parents’ Choice Award Winner, Wild Kratts World Adventure is the ultimate Wild Kratts App to get you on the creature trail, playing and learning about creature powers with the Kratt Brothers. Recent updates to the app include three all-new games featuring new habitats and animals. From climbing with a spider monkey to swimming with dolphins, each multi-level game focuses on science and encourages kids to explore habitats around the world.

DINOSAUR TRAIN – New Episodes Premiere April 20 & 21

The Pteranodon family is always ready to head into the great prehistoric outdoors for fun and adventure! In “Tiny’s Fishing Friend/Butterflies,” premiering Monday, April 20, Tiny is on the hunt to find a mammal in the Mesozoic who likes fish after learning that many mammals don’t eat fish at all. Then, on April 21, Buddy, Tiny, Shiny and Don are excited that Keira Chirostenotes gets to babysit them for the night while Mr. and Mrs. Pteranodon go out for a dinner on the Dinosaur Night Train in “Best Ever Babysitter/Plant a Tree.”

NEW DINOSAUR TRAIN DVD

A new DVD from PBS Distribution will also be available in April as part of the Explore the Outdoors effort.

Title: “Dinosaur Train: Explore Outdoors!”
Run Time: Approx. 100 Minutes
SRP: $12.99

“Dinosaur Train: Explore Outdoors!” DVD, available April 21, 2015, features eight dino-mite adventures:
· “Tiny’s Fishing Friend”
· “Butterflies”
· “Best-Ever Babysitter”
· “Plant a Tree”
· “Birdwatching”
· “ Cloudy with a Chance of Fun”
· “One Big Frog”
· “ Caving with Vlad”