NATURE ROCKSTM AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE INVITE
SAN DIEGO FAMILIES TO TAKE PART IN NATIONAL “NATURE ROCKS
DAY”
This Saturday, Nature Rocks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service team up to
host a fun-filled day of outdoor activities with an appearance by Richard Louv.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. Sept 22, 2010 – As part of the national launch for “Nature
Rocks Day” taking place in over ten cities across the country, Nature Rocks, a
national initiative created to inspire and empower parents to enjoy quality time in
nature with their families for healthier, happier and smarter kids, today
announced plans for an event in the San Diego area. The event will take place
at the Sweetwater Marsh Unit of San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge and
includes a variety of outdoor activities, giveaways and inspirational words from
Richard Louv.
On Saturday, September 25, families are encouraged to spend time together
exploring Sweetwater Marsh and the Chula Vista Nature Center. To celebrate
Nature Rocks Day, the Refuge will feature special activity stations that include
plankton netting, identifying tracks on the trail, bird bingo and a photo contest.
Children will receive stamps for completing each activity in order to be entered in
a drawing to win Nature Rocks branded items, taking place at the conclusion of
the day. The first 75 families will also receive copies of Richard Louv’s bestselling book, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit
Disorder”.
“At Nature Rocks, our goal is to inspire and empower families to spend quality
time together in nature, raising healthier, happier and smarter children. San
Diego is a natural fit for this initiative given the diverse landscape of parks,
wildlife and beaches,” said Richard Louv of Nature Rocks, co-founder of Chidren
& Nature Network, and author “Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children
from Nature-Deficit Disorder”.
“Thanks to the partnership of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we are able to
offer San Diego residents an engaging outdoor adventure at Sweetwater
Marsh,” said Meighen Speiser of Nature Rocks and ecoAmerica.
Nature Rocks Day takes place on Saturday, September 25 from 10:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. at Sweetwater Marsh, located at 1000 Gunpowder Point Dr, Chula
Vista, CA 91910. The 316-acre Sweetwater Marsh is home to many animals and
plants and features the Chula Vista Nature Center. The Nature Center provides
visitors with interpretive and interactive exhibits explaining the marsh habitat,
self-guided environmental education programs, guided nature and bird walks, a
shark and ray exhibit, and the opportunity to view native birds in outdoor aviaries
that support burrowing owls, shorebirds, egrets and herons.
For more information on Nature Rocks Day, visit www.naturerocks.org.
Other participating locations
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge – Chincoteague, VA
Forsythe NWR – Oceanville, NJ
Big Stone NWR/WMD – Odessa, MN
Wallkill River NWR – Sussex ,NJ
Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery – Warm Springs, GA
Wheeler NWR – Decatur, AL
Desert National Wildlife Refuge – Las Vegas, NV
Roma Bluffs World Birding Center – Roma, TX
San Diego NWRC Sweetwater Marsh – Chula Vista, CA
Coleman National Fish Hatchery – Anderson, CA
Hassayampa River Preserve – Wickenberg, AZ
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve – Homer, AK
Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute – Tuscon, AZ
About Nature RocksTM
Nature Rocks is a program developed by: the Children & Nature Network and
ecoAmerica to inspire and empower families to play and explore in nature for
healthier, happier and smarter children. The website and all related materials are
updated frequently to provide families with the most current tools and information
to connect with nature, including nature and event finders, community tools, over
100 activity ideas, and seasonal activity guides. Current partners are The Nature
Conservancy, REI, , the American Heart Association, the American Camp
Association and The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service To learn more about Nature
Rocks and its partners, 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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to
conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the
continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted
partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence,
stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and
commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people
who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov <http://www.fws.gov/>.
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For additional information, please contact:
Monica Rohleder, Signal Rock Communications on behalf of Nature Rocks
847-606-1973 / monica@signalrockcomm.com