Video: Introducing Nature Rocks: Inspiring and Empowering Parents to Take Their Families...

Video: Introducing Nature Rocks: Inspiring and Empowering Parents to Take
Their Families to Play, Explore and Enjoy Quality Time in Nature for Happier,
Healthier and Smarter Children

Available now, the free 2009 Summer Nature Staycation Planning Guide -
Empowering Families to Plan and Enjoy Inexpensive Family Vacations Close to
Home

WASHINGTON, May 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today four of the nation's
leaders and experts in bringing families and nature together, The Nature
Conservancy, REI, Children and Nature Network, and ecoAmerica, announced the
launch of Nature Rocks - an initiative created to inspire and empower parents
across the country to take their families to play, explore and enjoy quality
time in nature.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to:
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/naturerocks/38567/

With summer fast approaching, parents are now focused on planning fun, family
activities - determining the best activities to keep kids and parents busy and
entertained during the summer months. Nature Rocks is an ideal solution to
this need, as it has been designed to ensure that all families - regardless of
budget, kids' ages or experience - can plan affordable and fun activities in
nature that encourage family bonding and nurture happier, healthier and
smarter children.

As part of its efforts to empower parents to take their kids outside, Nature
Rocks introduces its 2009 Summer Nature Staycation Planning Guide. Available
at www.naturerocks.org, this free Guide provides parents and caregivers with
information and tools to enjoy no- or low-cost summer vacations in nature that
are close to home.

"The benefits of nature for children are fundamental. We have seen tremendous
growth in the movement to get children back outside, as parents realize these
benefits for their children, and themselves, and spread the word," said
Richard Louv, co-founder of The Children & Nature Network and author of the
best-seller Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit
Disorder. "And, as families look for lower cost vacation options, we hope they
will discover that nature offers them a personal stimulus package - the joy
and cost-effectiveness of summer getaways in nearby nature - saving money
while improving the physical and emotional well-being of their children."

"Nature Rocks really speaks to our passion of getting families to recreate
together outside," said Sally Jewell, president and CEO of Recreational
Equipment, Inc. (REI). "By combining efforts with the other organizations
behind Nature Rocks, we're able to make a difference and improve the
lifestyles of American families by making it easy and fun to get moving and
get outdoors."

Whether seeking outdoor activities at local sites such as parks and campsites,
or looking for new activities to keep out-of-school kids active in backyards
and neighborhoods, the 2009 Summer Nature Staycation Planning Guide offers
information and solutions for all families, including those new to spending
time outdoors. Additionally, the Nature Rocks website has more than 100
activity recommendations, as well as user-friendly nature finder and social
networking tools to assist families in implementing their own Nature
Staycations this summer.

"The Nature Conservancy works around the world to protect ecologically
important lands and waters, and we are dedicated to supporting conservation
work that will not only enrich the natural world, but also better our health
and our lives," said M. Sanjayan, Lead Scientist at The Nature Conservancy.
"Now, working on the Nature Rocks initiative, we're able to help the next
generation better their health and reconnect with nature."

"As a working mom with two young children, I appreciate useful ideas that
improve my and my family's lives," said Meighen Speiser, Vice President of
Marketing for ecoAmerica. "Like all parents, I want what is best for my kids.
We enjoy fun and relaxing quality time together. The Nature Rocks website
offers loads of easy-to-use tools, tips and over 100 fun activities like
nature art, weekend camping, hiking at a nearby park or an impromptu
neighborhood nature scavenger hunt. The added bonus is that these activities
are either inexpensive or free."

2009 Summer Nature Staycation Planning Guide
The 2009 Summer Nature Staycation Planning Guide provides parents with a
useful tool to plan a range of close-to-home activities, complete with great
starter ideas and suggestions for families to use during their summer holiday.
The Guide has been developed to be helpful to all families across the country
- regardless of where they live, their kids' ages, time available, or
familiarity with nature, or if they want to do an activity outside or bring
nature indoors. The 2009 Summer Nature Staycation Planning Guide is available
for free at www.naturerocks.org.

About Nature Rocks
Nature Rocks helps to bring families and nature together by offering parents
information, inspiration and tools to encourage and empower them to take their
families into and enjoy nature. This is an ongoing initiative and the website
and all related materials will be updated frequently to provide families with
the most current tools and information to connect with nature. To learn more
about Nature Rocks, please visit www.naturerocks.org, support us on Facebook
at facebook.com/Nature+Rocks or follow us on Twitter at
twitter.com/naturerocks.

About The Partners

About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is the world's leading conservation organization
working in all 50 states and more than 30 countries to protect ecologically
important lands and waters for people and nature. The Conservancy has the
support of 1-million+ members and has protected more than 119 million acres of
land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide. Nature.org

About REI
REI is a national outdoor retail co-op dedicated to inspiring, educating and
outfitting its members and the community for a lifetime of outdoor adventure
and stewardship. Founded in 1938 by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers
seeking quality outdoor equipment, REI is committed to promoting environmental
stewardship and increasing access to outdoor recreation through volunteerism,
gear donations and financial contributions. Rei.com

About The Children & Nature Network
The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) was created to encourage and support the
people and organizations working to reconnect children with nature. The
network provides a critical link between researchers and individuals,
educators and organizations dedicated to children's health and well-being.
C&NN also promotes fundamental institutional change and provides resources for
sharing information, strategic initiatives and success stories.
Childrenandnature.org

About ecoAmerica
ecoAmerica is a nonprofit environmental agency that establishes strategic
partnerships with corporations, NGOs and government and develops large-scale,
innovative engagement marketing programs focused on moving mainstream
Americans closer to the environment, focusing on people rather than issues.
Ecoamerica.org

SOURCE ecoAmerica

Monica Rohleder of Signal Rock Communications, +1-847-606-1973,
monica@signalrockcomm.com, for Nature Rocks