From: Subject: U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council Launch a National Sweepstakes to Encourage Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 18:08:29 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01CA4842.56D017C0" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01CA4842.56D017C0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-forest-service-and-the-ad-council-launch-a-national-sweepstakes-to-encourage-children-to-re-connect-with-nature-63099822.html =EF=BB=BF U.S. Forest = Service and the Ad Council Launch a National Sweepstakes to = Encourage
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U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council Launch a National Sweepstakes = to=20 Encourage Children to Re-Connect With Nature

Photo Sweepstakes to Encourage Tweens to = Find Their=20 'Other You'

NEW YORK, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to encourage tweens = (ages 8-12)=20 to spend more time in nature, the U.S. Forest Service is joining the Ad = Council=20 today to launch an interactive photo/art sweepstakes that will engage = families=20 in experiencing nature first hand. As an extension of their = "Re-Connecting Kids=20 with Nature" public service advertising (PSA) campaign, which first = launched in=20 June, the photo sweepstakes encourages tweens to head into the forest, = explore=20 and find their "other you." The sweepstakes is kicking off today and = will=20 continue through December 7,( )2009.

"This photo sweepstakes is a wonderful way to extend the reach of our = campaign with the Forest Service and engage children and their families = in=20 developing a love for nature," said Peggy Conlon, CEO and President of = The Ad=20 Council. "We are excited to see the submissions when they come in and = are=20 grateful to The North Face for generously donating the prizes."

Sweepstakes participants will provide a photo or an original piece of = artwork=20 that represents their journey in nature. By visiting=20 sweeps.discovertheforest.com, parents can submit their children's = picture or=20 drawing depicting what they have discovered or experienced in nature. = Each image=20 will be reviewed by a third party vendor who will then post all approved = entries=20 to the public gallery. The North Face, the world's premier supplier of=20 authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, = equipment and=20 footwear, has donated the prizes, which feature gift cards to its = store.

"Connecting kids with nature is the key to creating the stewards of=20 tomorrow," said USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "This sweepstakes = builds=20 on our 'Re-connecting Children with Nature' campaign and is a fun and = creative=20 way to encourage families to spend time together in the forest."

The sweepstakes winners will be chosen at random on a weekly basis = from the=20 pool of validated entries. Two winners will be selected on the Friday of = each=20 week during the sweepstakes period. The grand prize and ten (10) first = prize=20 winners will be drawn a week prior to the conclusion of the sweepstakes. = The=20 prizes will total $3,000, with the ten (10) first prizes being $100 gift = cards,=20 followed by 20 weekly prizes of $50 gift cards, and a grand prize of = $1,000.=20 Each winner will be notified individually. Visitors to the contest site = can also=20 view the public gallery to vote. Voters will only be allowed to give the = picture=20 a "thumbs up" and are encouraged to vote by being offered an additional = chance=20 to win a weekly prize.

"The North Face is committed to outdoor participation and education," = said=20 Aaron Carpenter, The North Face Vice President, Marketing. "US Forest = Service=20 and Ad Council's 'Re-Connecting Kids with Nature' campaign is a fun, = authentic=20 way to encourage tweens to embrace nature and the outdoors."

First launched on National Get Outdoors day (June 13, 2009), the goal = of the=20 Re-Connecting Kids with Nature PSA campaign is to encourage children to = get=20 outside and experience nature first-hand, instilling a life-long love = for nature=20 by fostering a connection with urban and national forests. The = campaign's PSAs=20 show the freeing aspects a nature experience can provide by depicting = the=20 various qualities -- the curious you, the creative you, the adventurous = you --=20 that tweens can discover about themselves in nature. The TV spots depict = children engaging with nature in various ways and encourage audiences to = discover the forest, "where the other you lives."

The campaign directs children to visit www.DiscoverTheForest.org,=20 which features a zip code search of forests and parks, powered by Nature = Find(TM) and Google Maps, as well as downloadable activities to take = with=20 them.

U.S. Forest Service

The U.S. Forest Service (www.fs.fed.us) = manages 193=20 million acres of national forests and grasslands for the American = Public. Its=20 mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the = Nation's=20 forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future = generations. The=20 U.S. Forest Service is the agency responsible for overseeing the use of = Smokey=20 Bear in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and = The=20 Advertising Council.

The Advertising Council

The Ad Council (www.adcouncil.org= ) is a=20 private, non-profit organization that marshals talent from the = advertising and=20 communications industries, the facilities of the media, and the = resources of the=20 business and non-profit communities to produce, distribute and promote = public=20 service campaigns on behalf of non-profit organizations and government = agencies=20 in issue areas such as improving the quality of life for children, = preventive=20 health, education, community well-being, environmental preservation and=20 strengthening families.

SOURCE The Ad Council

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