Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MSNBC, YAHOO!, WEEKLY READER, SONY, PSINet, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY JOIN EARTH DOG TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT
Innovative Program Encourages Students to Identify Environmental Issues
Date: 4/19/99
Earth Dog, a fun, furry, global cartoon crusader designed to teach environmental awareness to children of all ages, is now challenging students to become "Earth Dog Reporters." Students taking the challenge will need to identify environmental problems and develop possible solutions. "Become an Earth Dog Reporter" is part of an environmental curriculum sponsored through 1999 by the Department of Energy (DOE), Yahoo!, Weekly Reader, Sony Electronics, PSINet, and MSNBC on the Internet.
"Earth Dog makes learning about the environment a fun, educational, and interactive process. The key to this project is involving children in all stages of reporting environmental problems: identification of the problem, evaluation of relevant issues, and development of potential remedies or solutions," said Gene Freeze, one of Earth Dog’s creators. "Participation in this contest will help children develop important problem-solving skills and cultivate an appreciation for environmental issues."
The DOE’s Outreach Program brings Earth Dog’s booklet, including contest details, to at least 25 million students. Weekly Reader, the world’s largest children’s newspaper, includes the booklet in its classroom mailings, reaching an additional 9 million students nationwide. Yahoo!, a leading global Internet media company, will provide expanded visibility for the program throughout its network of properties. The DOE and NBC News will evaluate reports submitted by students to determine the contest winners. Individual winners will earn cash prizes, have their reports published on the Internet, and win Sony WebTV Internet terminals for their schools.
John Athcheson, DOE Director of the Office of Planning, Budget, Evaluation, and Customer Service, stated, "The 1997-98 Earth Dog contest was one of DOE’s most successful outreach programs. Earth Dog is a great way to get young people involved and make them understand that they must be kind to the future because that's where they are going to spend the rest of their lives."
Mary Vesley, a teacher at Churchill Elementary in McLean, VA, said, "Earth Dog reaches not only the children but also their parents, as children take their quest for environmental problems and solutions into their own backyards and communities. I've incorporated the environmentally friendly canine into my science, writing, and social studies programs with great success."
The Newspaper Association of America and the National Association of Newspapers encourage members to help inform the public about the contest and publish student reports in their papers.
Students can enter the contest by visiting Earth Dog’s website at earthdog.org , which also includes environmental information and research resources. Contest booklets are free to schools that subscribe to Weekly Reader or by contacting DOE at 1-800-363-3732.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Lauren Chase
Email:
Phone: (202) 452-1600, ext. 343
Website: earthdog.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thousands of Web Surfers Visit Earth Dog in Search for Internet Treasure
Date: 10/20/98
Earth Dog serves as an outpost for Lycos CyberSurfari '98, the Internet's largest treasure hunt, which is designed to help students, teachers, and families learn how to benefit from surfing the Web. The month-long online contest, running from Oct. 20 to Nov. 20, 1998, is possible thanks to the Software Publishers Association (SPA).
"Earth Dog is proud to serve as an outpost for Lycos CyberSurfari '98," said Lauren Chase. "This contest reflects our commitment to increasing the number of students and adults accessing the Internet and making their online experience as rich as possible. We're confident that many of the thousands of treasure seekers who visit our site for the first time during the contest will return to enjoy our content for years to come."
In 1997, more than 4,500 school teams competed in CyberSurfari with family teams and individuals from 97 countries—a sixteen-fold increase over 1995. Half of the teachers who organized school teams indicated that CyberSurfari had become part of their educational curriculum rather than an extra-curricular activity, signaling a significant breakthrough for the event.
For further information about the Lycos CyberSurfari, visit www.spa.org/cybersurfari.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Earth Dog Movement Sweeps Schools Across the Country
Date: April 15, 1998
Earth Dog, an environmentally concerned canine, asks creative students to help solve the Earth's problems. This fun, furry, global cartoon crusader was first introduced by the Department of Energy and Sony Electronics in a contest that educated students about problems facing our environment and asked them to write an Earth Dog Adventure in which the problems were solved.
Twenty national winners were selected just in time for Earth Day celebrations. Winners will receive $100 and an Earth Dog T-shirt. Their schools will receive a Sony Internet Terminal, allowing them to access the Internet on TV.
"Earth Dog makes learning about the environment fun, interesting, and interactive. Unlike many previous environmental characters, Earth Dog is not violent or "Dog-matic." He encourages children to solve environmental problems through creative thinking," said Gene Freeze, one of Earth Dog's creators.
Upcoming Earth Dog® activities include another DOE contest, "Be An Earth Dog Reporter," which will be introduced to schools in the fall of 1998. Details will be posted on the "Contest" page of the Earth Dog site. Earth Dog educational posters are also scheduled to be distributed by Weekly Reader, Inc. to the classrooms of over 9 million students, with support from the DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dept of Energy Sends Earth Dog to the Rescue
(NAPS)
To save our environment, Earth Dog needs the help of some creative children. Introduced by the Department of Energy as part of its outreach program, Earth Dog is a privately held company dedicated to raising environmental awareness. The company created Earth Dog, a fun, furry, global cartoon crusader, to educate children about environmental problems and encourage them to develop creative solutions.
Students can help Earth Dog by entering a contest where they create new cartoon adventures. To enter, choose an environmental problem, research it, explain to Earth Dog how it developed, and suggest a way Earth Dog could help solve it.
Winners earn cash prizes, have their stories published on the Internet, and can win their school a Sony WebTV Internet terminal. The Earth Dog site features content from National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and other major environmental organizations.
"I think Earth Dog is a great way to get young people involved and make them understand that they must be kind to the future because that's where they're going to spend the rest of their lives," said John Athcheson, DOE Director of the Office of Planning, Budget, Evaluation, and Customer Service.
For more information, visit earthdog.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hot New Character Works His Way Into The Hearts of Students Across the Country
Earth Dog®, a fun, furry, global cartoon crusader, educates students about problems facing the environment and encourages them to participate in creating solutions. Introduced in 1997 by the U.S. Department of Energy in a nationwide contest, Earth Dog has since become popular among students.
Earth Dog’s mission is to make learning about the environment fun, exciting, and interactive. Unlike previous environmental characters, Earth Dog is not violent, "Dog-matic," or "Environ-mental." He invites everyone to join him in his environmental adventures.
The Earth Dog website features content from National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and the U.S. Department of Energy, along with links to major environmental websites.
Popular sections on the Earth Dog site include:
- "The Story" (How Earth Dog came to be.)
- "The Earth Dog Club"
- "The Contest"
- "Games"
- "The Earth Dog Store"
For more information, visit earthdog.org
Contact:
Earth Dog
Phone: 1-800-DOE-EREC
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 1997
EARTH DOG OFFERS EXCITING ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS: WIN CASH, T-SHIRTS, AND SONY WEBTV INTERNET TERMINALS
Earth Dog, the fun and furry cartoon crusader, invites kids to join an environmental adventure filled with interactive activities and exciting prizes. The Department of Energy and other sponsors have teamed up with Earth Dog to host contests, encouraging kids to learn about the environment while having fun.
Discovery Channel School has been selected as one of the featured activities for Earth Dog. Visit earthdog.org for more information on contests, interactive activities, and prizes, including cash, T-shirts, and Sony WebTV Internet terminals. Participate in the Earth Dog contest by writing about environmental problems and how Earth Dog can help solve them.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Family.Com: Dallas Child – News to You
Earth Dog, the “save-the-earth crusader,” is looking for creative kids to help solve environmental issues. The Department of Energy and Earth Dog have launched a contest for children, encouraging them to select an environmental problem, explain how it developed, and propose a solution with Earth Dog's help. Winners will receive cash prizes, Earth Dog T- shirts, and Sony Web-TV Internet terminals for their schools.
The contest has four categories for judging: grades one to five, six to eight, nine to twelve, and beyond. Collaborative entries are welcome and will be judged as a single entry. All entries must be received by November 30, 1997. Visit the Earth Dog website (earthdog.org) or call 1- 800-DOE-EREC to learn more about entering the contest.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KIDS: Theodore Tugboat Bulletin – BERIT'S BEST SITES FOR CHILDREN
Discover Earth Dog, the interactive environmental adventure site designed for kids. Read energy facts and the story of Earth Dog, the cartoon environmental crusader, and engage in games and activities. Earth Dog helps kids understand environmental issues in a fun and interactive way.
Visit earthdog.org for more information, where you can explore exciting environmental activities and learn about contests to win cash prizes, T-shirts, and Sony WebTV Internet terminals. Get involved, learn about the environment, and make a difference with Earth Dog.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Write the Next Earth Dog Adventure: Win Cash, T-Shirts, and Sony WebTV Internet Terminals!
Earth Dog invites kids to create new adventures while tackling serious environmental problems. Write a 250-700 word story explaining how an environmental problem developed and propose a way Earth Dog can help solve it. Use your creativity and research to develop innovative solutions.
Visit earthdog.org for official rules and entry forms. Check out the educational resources and other interactive activities on the site. Teachers and students can utilize Earth Dog in social studies, creative writing, and science classes. If you have questions or need assistance, call 1- 800-DOE-EREC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHOAKS: Resources for sci.edu – People Helping One Another Know Stuff
Earth Dog encourages kids to work together to make a difference. Explore the Earth Dog website for an environmental adventure with interactive activities, contests, and prizes. Learn about environmental problems and solutions while having fun.
The Earth Dog website (earthdog.org) provides links to major environmental websites and other resources for educational and creative exploration. Visit the site to find contests and ways to make a positive impact on the environment.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dept of Energy Sends Earth Dog to the Rescue
Earth Dog, the fun and furry global cartoon crusader, needs the help of creative kids to save the environment. Introduced by the Department of Energy, Earth Dog engages kids in solving environmental problems through storytelling and creative thinking.
To enter the Earth Dog contest, select an environmental problem, explain how it developed, and suggest a way Earth Dog can help solve it. The best entries will receive cash prizes, be published on the Internet, and win Sony WebTV Internet terminals for their schools. Visit earthdog.org for more information and to join the adventure.
