PBS KIDS and member stations across the country will celebrate with new episodes of SPLASH AND BUBBLES, NATURE CAT and WILD KRATTS, along with games and hands-on activities for the entire family
Arlington, VA, April 4, 2018 – In celebration of Earth Month, PBS KIDS’ annual “Explore the Outdoors” initiative encourages families to discover and connect with the natural wonders that surround them. Fans of PBS KIDS’ SPLASH AND BUBBLES, WILD KRATTS and NATURE CAT will get a chance to see new episodes beginning Monday, April 23, exploring themes such as marine biology and the animal kingdom. New episodes will premiere on PBS stations (check local listings) and be available on pbskids.org, the free PBS KIDS Video App and the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream.
Kids will be inspired to learn more about the animals and natural world featured on their favorite PBS KIDS shows with new games from NATURE CAT and WILD KRATTS on the free PBS KIDS Games App and on pbskids.org. A new update to Nature Cat’s Great Outdoors App is also available, now offering more than 100 daily nature adventures families can experience together.
Engaging hands-on crafts and outdoor activities are available on PBS Parents. PBS LearningMedia offers preK-12 educators a wide range of lesson plans, project-based activities, interactive games and contextualized videos supporting environmental science and STEM curriculum. These curated resources, designed to reinforce key concepts and help students make connections between timely current events and lessons discussed in the class, can be found here.
Across the country, local PBS member stations will be hosting Earth Month-related events to connect children to the environment through hands-on learning activities. Events will feature everything from local ecology to gardening, camping and exploring the local zoo. Families will also have the opportunity to dive into nature themes and environmental concepts with PBS KIDS “Explore the Outdoors” activities and materials.
“PBS KIDS aims to spark children’s curiosity and inspire off-screen learning. With new episodes of SPLASH AND BUBBLES, WILD KRATTS and NATURE CAT and a variety of games, we hope that kids will want to further explore the natural world,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “Our local stations bring this initiative to life in communities across the country, encouraging kids and families to step outside and discover new things in their own backyards and neighborhoods.”
Images and additional programming information are available on PBS PressRoom.
PBS KIDS Explore the Outdoors Program Details & Air Dates (check local listings)
SPLASH AND BUBBLES
“Seal Sitters/From Ray to Zee”
Premieres and streams beginning April 23
“Seal Sitters” - Splash and Bubbles stop to visit Tidy for the day, but find him exhausted from constantly cleaning up behind the new kelp forest resident, Tyke, a young female Pacific harbor seal pup. Splash and Bubbles try to help Tidy by seal-sitting the young seal pup, and quickly learn how hard it is to keep track of their curious and fearless new mammal friend.“From Ray to Zee” - Splash and Bubbles realize that Zee is alone on the reef as the only shark, but when they learn that she has a distant relative in Reeftown, Zee is excited to discover who it is.
“The Sea Sparkles/Tyke and Seek”
Premieres April 24; streams beginning April 27
“The Sea Sparkles” - While camping, Splash and Bubbles admire all of the beautiful sparkles in the sky. The kids soon think that those sparkles may have fallen from the sky into the sea when they see a brand-new light show in Reeftown.
“Tyke and Seek” - Splash, Bubbles, Dunk and Ripple play a big game of hide and seek with Tyke, the Pacific harbor seal in the kelp forest. When they temporarily can’t find Tyke, they are relieved to learn that even though she’s quite independent and curious, she won’t wander far from her home.
“Lights Out!/Catching Some ZZZs”
Premieres April 25; streams beginning May 4
“Lights Out” - When Lu’s light goes out, Lu has trouble attracting food and seeing down in the Deep, so the kids decide to show her a world filled with light – the reef. There they realize that Lu’s light didn’t go out, it’s just covered with mud.
“Catching Some ZZZs” - On a sleepover with Zee, Bubbles is fascinated to learn that Zee is nocturnal. Zee can’t help it– she goes out to play and look for food at night! Bubbles is so excited about this new discovery that she tries to stay up with Zee to learn about and explore what it’s like to be nocturnal.
“The Job Search/Reeftown's Got Talent!"
Premieres April 26; streams beginning May 11
“The Job Search” - When Splash and the others want to play with Dorsal, he tells them that first he needs to do his “job,” which that day is using his echolocation to help his group find food. Splash and the others wonder if they need “jobs” to do in Reeftown and try to figure out what those would be.
“Reeftown’s Got Talent!” - To honor his talented Reeftown friends, Splash creates a talent show for everyone to show off their abilities. Splash then laments that he’s got so many talented friends, but he has no talent to show. His friends remind him that his talent is making friends and organizing events like the talent show.
NATURE CAT
“Let’s Talk Turkey Vulture/Prescription: Nature”
Premieres and streams April 23
“Let’s Talk Turkey Vulture” - It’s a crisp autumn day and Nature Cat and his pals are raking leaves in their backyard when a large creepy shadow suddenly covers them. Nature Cat looks up to see big bald birds swooping over their heads. What are those things? And what do they want? Ahhhh! The scary birds come down to introduce themselves as Tammy and Tobias. The gang learns that they’re turkey vultures, and despite their intimidating appearance, they come in peace, man!
“Prescription: Nature” - Hal has been inside his doghouse all week trying to build a Squeak-a-saurus Rex, a model Tyrannosaurus (?) Rex built completely of squeak toys. But every time he’s nearly finished, the model breaks apart, leaving Hal frustrated and tired. He’ll never get his Squeak-a-saurus Rex finished!! Dr. Daisy has the remedy. A dose of nature should do the trick! It’s time for Hal to take a break and go outside!
“Enter the Dragonfly/Water Woes”
Premieres April 24; streams beginning April 27
“Enter the Dragonfly” - Nature Cat and his pals are assembled in Ye Olde Kingdom of the Backyard to play… The Knights of Nature! Huzzah! When Ronald sees their shiny Knights of Nature helmets, he’s entranced and wants one of his own. But not so fast, Ronald! Nature Cat explains that in order to wear a helmet, Ronald must become a Knight of Nature by going on a quest, and his quest is to find a dragonfly! Huzzah!
“Water Woes” - Whaaaat?! Daisy’s whole garden isn't looking so good. The plants are all droopy and way smaller than last year. Daisy explains that the reason is that they are in a drought, which means it hasn’t rained in a while. And since it hasn't rained, her rain barrel, which she uses to water her plants, is totally empty. Even other woodland creatures are thirsty and looking for water due to the drought. Man oh man! Nature Cat and the gang have to do something to help, but they can't make it rain! What they can do is learn to conserve water! Hooray!
“Garden Impossible/Agents of the Great Outdoors”
Premieres April 25; streams beginning May 4
“Garden Impossible” - It’s a beautiful spring day when Daisy gets an urgent video chat from her best gardening pal, Petunia, who has moved to the city. Petunia has gotten herself into a quite a pickle. The Urban Gardening Club is coming to consider her for club membership in a month. Only trouble is, she doesn’t have a garden, and she doesn't know how to grow one in the city. If she can’t become a member of the Urban Gardening Club, she doesn’t know what she’ll do. Not to worry! No garden is impossible for Daisy and her pals! Time to build a city garden! Tally ho!
“Agents of the Great Outdoors” - The Agents of the Great Outdoors are on a super-secret spy mission! Shhh! They’re going undercover to find out if the noises animals make are their own way of talking to each other, and whoever finds the answer will get the Golden Badge of Honor. Ooooh! It’s so golden and so badge-y and all at the same time. The Agents of the Great Outdoors are on the case! Time to find out if animals communicate! Onward and Yonward!
WILD KRATTS
“Cheeks The Hamster”
Premieres and streams April 23
While doing an overhaul of the Creature Power Suits over Germany, Aviva loses the all-important MicroXT Power Chips that power the suits. The gang must try to find the lost chips, spread out somewhere across a huge field.
“Wild Ponies”
Premieres April 24; streams beginning April 27
While creature adventuring on the sand dunes, Martin and Chris discover a band of Wild Ponies. An excited Aviva and Koki rush over to meet their “favorite creature,” but before they can get acquainted, a rogue wave hits the shore, separating a young foal from his mother. It’s up to Martin and Chris to rescue the foal and reunite him with his mother. Science Concept: Social organization.
“Elephant Brains!”
Premieres April 25; streams beginning May 4
The Wild Kratts are on a mission to figure out the differences between African and Asian elephants. They soon discover that despite their differences, all elephants have lots in common. Like feelings, emotions and real intelligence. Science Concept: Elephants have feelings, emotions and real intelligence.
“Sloth Bear Suction”
Premieres April 26; streams beginning May 11
While in India, the Wild Kratts try to figure out if a sloth bear is a bear or a sloth? They soon discover some unique creature powers of this animal, including special features that enable it to harness the power of suction to acquire food. Science Concept: Physics − suction.
About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers children ages 2-8 the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital media and community-based programs. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn, including their teachers, parents and community. Provided by stations, the free PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream is available to nearly 95% of U.S. TV households. Kidscreen- and Webby Award-winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including digital games and streaming video. PBS KIDS offers mobile apps to help support young children’s learning, including the PBS KIDS Video app, which is available on a variety of mobile devices and on platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Chromecast. PBS KIDS also offers parent and teacher resources to support children’s learning anytime and anywhere. For more information on PBS KIDS content and initiatives supporting school readiness and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 60 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world-famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy® Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include multiple Emmy®-nominated series including Splash and Bubbles (PBS), Julie’s Greenroom (Netflix), Dinosaur Train (PBS), Sid the Science Kid (PBS), and Pajanimals (Universal Kids); as well as Dot. (Universal Kids/Hulu), Word Party (Netflix), and Doozers (Hulu/ Universal Kids). Television productions include Fraggle Rock, The Storyteller and the sci-fi cult series Farscape. Features include Sony Pictures Animation’s The Star, Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, MirrorMask, Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow, and the beloved fantasy classics The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Upcoming productions include The Happytime Murders, starring Melissa McCarthy, and the Netflix original series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Feature films in development include the highly anticipated Fraggle Rock.
With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. The Company is home to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television, theme park and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry’s top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment. The Company’s Henson Alternative brand is currently touring Puppet-Up! – Uncensored, a live puppet improvisational show.
http://www.henson.com
www.facebook.com/hensoncompany
www.twitter.com/hensoncompany
About Kratt Brothers Company
Kratt Brothers Company, founded in 1993, has created and produced more than 220 episodes of television, including award-winning series: KRATTS’ CREATURES, ZOBOOMAFOO, Kratt Brothers: Be The Creature and WILD KRATTS. Through its full service animation studio, Kratt Brothers Company is currently in production on its fifth season of the Emmy-nominated hit, WILD KRATTS. www.krattbrothers.com
About Spiffy Pictures
Spiffy Pictures, founded in 2003 by David and Adam Rudman, is a creative development and production company specializing in family entertainment. The Emmy Award-winning creative team has created, produced, written and directed live-action and animated projects for Nickelodeon, Disney, MTV, Comedy Central, Sesame Street and Warner Brothers. Their projects include creating and producing the Emmy- and Prix Jeunesse-nominated Jack’s Big Music Show for Nick Jr, the Emmy-nominated Bunnytown for Disney and Nick Jr.’s Parent’s Choice Award-winning Curious Buddies brand of home videos. Spiffy Pictures recently produced a puppet adaptation of Scooby Doo for Warner Brothers, titled Scooby-Doo! Adventures, The Mystery Map. Visit us at www.spiffypictures.com.
Contacts:
Lubna Abuulbah, PBS KIDS; 703-739-8463; labuulbah@pbs.org
Sarah Morgan, Allison+Partners; 202-591-1126; PBS@allisonpr.com
