Take Me Fishing™ and Discovery Education Empower the Next Generation of Outdoor Enthusiasts and Conservationists with Enhanced Explore the Blue Website FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Stephen Wakefield, Discovery Education 240-662-2893 Heather Sieber, Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation703-778-5160hsieber@rbff.org –New educational resources encourage students and families to discover the world of on-the-water activities– –“Thrill of the Catch” Virtual Game extends learning and engages K-5 students in aquatic conservation— Silver Spring, Md. (Sept. 27, 2010) – Providing educators and parents an online resource center for encouraging youth participation in on-the-water activities and aquatic conservation efforts, the Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Discovery Education have added even more educational tools to the recently updated Explore the Blue website. Explore the Blue offers new digital media empowering teachers and parents to engage students in a dialogue about the importance of outdoor recreational activities, such as boating and fishing, and the value of clean and healthy natural resources. Featuring custom lesson plans for K-5 elementary students and standards aligned education videos to supplement classroom learning, the website offers rich, interactive materials to help students explore the world of outdoor recreation through exciting, hands-on activities. Compelling new content includes: A Field Investigations Guide designed to help students gain the skills necessary to conduct their own scientific investigations; A Virtual Habitat Map that provides a learning tool for teachers to show students what aquatic plants and animals are found in their geographic region; Enhanced math, science, social studies, health/physical education, and English/language art cross-curricular standards-aligned lesson plans for K-2 and 3-5 grades; and Engaging new video to supplement classroom learning on waterways, boats and more. In addition to educator resources, Explore the Blue offers the “Thrill of the Catch,” a virtual game for students to learn about boating and fishing. The interactive game teaches students about freshwater fish and bait, and important water conservation lessons. Educators, parents and students can visit Explore the Blue to search more than 12,000 places to boat and fish, to find local services, activities and events, and to learn more about the aquatic plants and animals in their area. Other activities at Explore the Blue include learning how to create an aquarium terrarium, keeping an online boating journal and exciting, interactive game play. Take Me Fishing and Discovery Education also are launching the Explore the Blue Essay Contest. By submitting an essay and a photo describing his or her favorite fishing or boating experience, one lucky student will win a family vacation to Yellowstone National Park. The trip will include airfare, lodging, $650 in spending money and fun on-the-water activities. The winner will also receive a $250 gift certificate from Sports Authority to purchase outdoor gear and five runners up will receive $100 gift cards. “Explore the Blue allows educators and parents to help students understand the value of outdoor activities,” said Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) President & CEO Frank Peterson. “Through our national Take Me Fishing campaign, and by partnering with leaders like Discovery Education, we are able to provide the educational and engaging resources needed to grow participation in outdoor recreation among students nationwide.” “Discovery Education is proud to partner with the Take Me Fishing Campaign to leverage the tremendous power of digital content to encourage youth participation in on-the-water activities and aquatic conservation efforts,” said Mary Rollins, Discovery Education Vice President of Education Partnerships. “This exciting site is a tremendous resource to educators seeking to build conservation lessons into existing curricula.” Visit ExploretheBlue.com for more information. About RBFFRBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Anglers’ Legacy™. About Discovery EducationDiscovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) revolutionized television with Discovery Channel and is now transforming classrooms through Discovery Education. Powered by the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Discovery Education combines scientifically proven, standards-based digital media and a dynamic user community in order to empower teachers to improve student achievement. Already, more than half of all U.S. schools access Discovery Education digital services. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. ###