Connection to nature can spark a passion for conservation that lasts a lifetime. And a citizenry literate and educated in conservation education will be equipped to successfully deal with the effects of climate change and the other conservation challenges facing us today. That’s why I was so pleased with the outreach of National Wildlife Federation’s education programs in April. In all, National Wildlife Federation (NWF) reached over 10 million people. Here are some highlights – check out the links for ways you can get involved.

Our National Campus Chill Out Competition results were seen live by 15,000 students, staff and faculty at 424 campus and NGO locations. Chill out kicked off this year by Al Gore is an exciting new contest to demonstrate the best thinking on global warming solutions and how colleges and universities can set examples for energy conservation and low carbon innovations. View the webcast: http://www.nwf.org/campusecology/ChillOutcontest.cfm

NWF’s Children's Magazines were nominated for 13 national awards including Your Big Backyard as best children’s publication in the US by the prestigious Association of Educational Publishers. Our magazines reach an average of 3 million young readers each month. http://www.edpress.org/awards/daa.htm

The SpringWatch USA series premier on Animal Planet was viewed by 1.7 million people - this AP/NWF collaboration starring Jeff Corwin, Philppe Cousteau, NWF’s David Mizejewski and Vanessa Garnick. It focuses on the emergence of Spring and its effects on wildlife and nature. http://animal.discovery.com/tv/spring-watch/spring-watch.html

The launch of our weekly Weather and Wildlife Report premiered on the Weather Channel - taken in by 500,000 viewers.

An NWF version of the feature Film documentary “The Great Warming” was released on DVD - hosted by Alanis Morrisette and Keanu Reeves, this film features students from our NWF Detroit Earth Tomorrow Program. https://www.thegreatwarming.com/orderform.php

We reached the 80,000 backyard habitat mark. NWF’s Backyard Habitat Program was featured on Martha Stewart Show - seen by 3 million Americans. Martha’s farm was certified on air as an NWF backyard habitat. Ecorazzi report: http://www.ecorazzi.com/?p=2309

The NWF Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA) program received a Presidential award - The President’s Environmental Youth Awards for 2007 bestowed since 1971.

National Wildlife Week kicked off with 200 NWF-sponsored youth volunteer projects - several thousand young people did across America signed up for habitat restoration projects.

NWF April 28-29 National Wildlife Watch is attracting new participants -- linked on the Springwatch USA Animal Planet Website and supported by the National Science Foundation, our citizen science event is developing new support nationwide. http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek/

Our 2007 Great American Backyard Campout participation drive began - the website is up and running and we are shooting for 100,000 plus campers this year. http://www.backyardcampout.org/