Explore the Outdoors with PBS Kids

by Micaela Williamson

Earth Day is just around the corner, and I was super excited to receive a special package from PBS KIDS to celebrate the outdoors. My family and I have a blast in nature and love hiking, boating, wildlife viewing, visiting parks and also simple things like gardening in our own backyard. This year is our first spring owning a home with a backyard, and we've been working hard to make it beautiful. 

My package from PBS KIDS included some kids' garden tools, which my children were thrilled to receive, a butterfly habitat, some books, and screeners of new episodes of their favorite PBS KIDS shows: Nature Cat and Wild Kratts.

This 2016, PBS KIDS is kicking off their annual Explore the Outdoors initiative with brand new episodes of Nature Cat, and Wild Kratts between April 25-29th.  In fact, the 100th episode of Wild Kratts will air on April 28, 2016. (And I think my kids and I may then be able to claim that we have seen all 100!) 

We watched a screener of the "Earth Day Today/Earth Day Every Day" episode of Nature Cat, which will air on April 25, 2016. In this episode, Nature Cat and his friends are on a quest to get rid of plastic pollution in nature, but encounter a few problems.  Watch to find out how they come up with a solution and spread the word about how Earth Day can be every day. 

We also watched a screener of the new "Spirit Bear" episode of Wild Kratts premiering Friday, April 29th. The Kratt brothers and Aviva visit Bear Island to observe behaviors of black bears and come across the rare Spirit Bear of the Northern Pacific, a black bear who actually has white fur. However, the adventure takes a turn for the worse when a new villain, Paisley Paver, comes along and wants build a mega storage facility on the island. Watch as the Wild Kratts and nature prevail and learn about the American Black bear in this awesome episode. 


For cool learning games with nature featuring your child's favorite PBS KIDS characters, visit: http://pbskids.org/games/nature/

For some great activities and crafts for Earth Day, visit http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/category/holiday/earth-day/.  We especially loved the DIY butterfly garden and coffee filter Earth Day art projects. 

Have a great Earth Day, explore the outdoors, and be sure to tune into PBS KIDS between April 25-29 for brand new episodes of Nature Cat and Wild Kratts each day. 



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Disclosure: I am a PBS KIDS insider and sometimes receive perks for sharing information with my readers. No compensation other than the Explore the Outdoors package was received. All opinions are my own.