CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For more than 30 years, Procter & Gamble’s Dawn brand has been dedicated to helping save oiled birds and marine wildlife from both natural and man-made disasters. In 2011, Dawn launched its Junior Wildlife Champions education program and helped educate an estimated 1,000,000 children about the importance of saving wildlife. Today, Dawn continues its mission with the second iteration of the Junior Wildlife Champions and a new set of free classroom lesson plans and “Wildlife Weekend” home activities, available for download now through September 30 at www.Facebook.com/DawnSavesWildlife. The curriculum empowers teachers and families to help educate elementary school aged children in grades 3-5 about the issues impacting wildlife, from oil spills to backyard ecosystems.
Dawn and its partners, The Marine Mammal Center and International Bird Rescue, created this free, downloadable content, which meets National Science Education Standards for grades K-5, as certified by HCM LLC. Each classroom lesson plan and Wildlife Weekend home activity features interactive components, including reading materials, discussion questions, experiments and worksheets. These materials were created with the goals of making educators more effective, increasing student achievement and connecting schools and homes in a world of learning.
This year, zoologist Jarod Miller, host of “Animal Exploration with Jarod Miller,” joins Dawn’s mission to help educate more than 2,000,000 Junior Wildlife Champions this spring. Miller is the former executive director of the Binghamton Zoo in Binghamton, New York, and at age 25, was recognized as the youngest accredited zoo director in the United States. Teachers and families who download activities by May 4, 2012 can also enter for a chance to win a special wildlife school assembly with Miller and a few of his animal friends. The sweepstakes entry and rules are available alongside the educational materials at www.Facebook.com/DawnSavesWildlife.
“I discovered my passion for wildlife at an early age and spent most of my youth studying and observing animals of all species,” said Miller. “I am proud to partner with Dawn and support their longstanding commitment to wildlife rescue. Dawn’s Junior Wildlife Champions program fosters wildlife education and passion in today’s kids and encourages teachers, families and children to explore the issues affecting wildlife through simple, fun, everyday learning.”
“Dawn is dutifully committed to helping wildlife causes, and we understand that the key to successful wildlife conservation is education,” said Debra Kaylor, Dawn Brand manager, Procter & Gamble. “It is our goal to further the movement and pave the path for today’s children to become environmental stewards of tomorrow.”
About Dawn Saves Wildlife
The Dawn brand has been partnering with wildlife and rescue rehabilitation centers for more than 30 years. Dawn has donated nearly 50,000 bottles of Dawn to its wildlife partners, The Marine Mammal Center and International Bird Rescue, to help volunteer rescuers clean more than 75,000 aquatic animals.
About Procter & Gamble [NYSE:PG]
Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun®, and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 127,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
About The Marine Mammal Center
The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) has rescued more than 17,000 sick, injured or orphaned seals, sea lions and other marine mammals, along 600 miles of northern and central California coast, since 1975. Headquartered in Sausalito, CA, the nonprofit hospital rehabilitates these marine mammals for return to the ocean, studies and documents marine mammal health, and perfects clinical and diagnostic medical techniques. Through engaging on-site exhibits and school-aged and adult education programs, the Center is able to inform the public about the shared connections between humans, marine mammals and the oceans. The Marine Mammal Center is open daily to the public and offers docent-led and audio tours. Learn more at www.MarineMammalCenter.org.
About International Bird Rescue
International Bird Rescue (Bird Rescue) has been saving seabirds and other aquatic birds around the world since 1971. Bird Rescue's team of specialists operates two year-round aquatic bird rescue centers in California, which care for over 5,000 birds every year, and has led oiled wildlife rescue efforts in over 200 oil spills in more than a dozen countries. International Bird Rescue has trusted Dawn to save oiled birds since 1978. Donations from Dawn’s® Everyday Wildlife Champions support International Bird Rescue programming, which consists of the operation of wildlife rehabilitation centers, research to develop better treatments for aquatic birds, a vast volunteer network, education programs, and training for oil spill response. Please visit www.Bird-Rescue.org for more information on this incredible organization.
About HCM LLC
HCM LLC specializes in understanding curriculum content in science and health using a team of certified classroom teachers and curriculum specialists to provide curriculum relevant in today’s classrooms and homes.
About Jarod Miller
Jarod Miller is a young naturalist, zoologist, pet expert, and regular guest lecturer for zoos, universities, and promotional events, having lectured on captive management and wildlife conservation at venues including the White House. He is the host of “Animal Exploration with Jarod Miller” and also the former executive director of the Binghamton Zoo in Binghamton, New York, and was the youngest accredited zoo director in the United States at age 25. Since he was 10, Jarod has both propagated and worked to conserve endangered animal species. Jarod is also experienced in the research and data collection of captive and wild specimens.
About the Sweepstakes
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter the Sweepstakes. A purchase does not increase your chances of winning. Open only to legal residents of the 48 contiguous U.S. & DC, who, as of the last day of the month prior to the date of entry, are 18 or older. Void where prohibited. The Dawn Junior Wildlife Champions Sweepstakes starts 4/1/2012 & ends 5/4/2012. Sponsored by The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC. For Official Rules, please go to Facebook.com/DawnSavesWildlife.