Consumer News

Ready For A Modern Day Treasure Hunt?

Posted: 10/15/2010

“Dinosaur Train” TV series encourages children and parents to explore.

(NAPSI) - It’s time to turn an ordinary outing with your preschooler into a great adventure! Now, with the help of a popular TV show for kids and a high-tech game for all ages, parents and kids have the tools to get outside, get into nature and make their own discoveries.

Dinosaur Train

The Jim Henson Company’s hit television series, “Dinosaur Train” on PBS KIDS®, embraces and celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains. The program encourages basic scientific thinking skills as the audience learns about life science, natural history and paleontology. It’s all seen through the eyes of Buddy, a preschool-aged Tyrannosaurus Rex. Buddy and his adoptive family of Pteranodons go for adventures on the Dinosaur Train to meet all kinds of dinosaurs in the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic periods and learn fascinating new facts about these incredible creatures.

Geocaching

The fast-growing, family-friendly hide-and-seek game that combines technology with outside adventure is called Geocaching. Players hide and seek out containers called “caches” using a Global Positioning System (GPS) device. These real hidden treasures are typically small waterproof boxes and contain a logbook to sign and any number of tokens to trade. Each Dinosaur Train cache highlights one of the dinosaurs listed in the show’s online field guide and may also include figurines and stickers. Several museums, zoos and aquariums are also participating in Dinosaur Train geocaching.

Why Dinosaur Train and Geocaching?

Geocaching encourages children to explore their surroundings, use observational skills and have an adventure right in their own neighborhood. Geocaching with a grown-up can help children develop critical- and creative-thinking skills. Families can enjoy a Dinosaur Train Geocache adventure or any kind of field trip all year long.

To help plan your outing, here are a few hints:

1. Do your homework. Research the destination. Try visiting its website or calling to ask about guided tours, restrooms and eating facilities.

2. Teach your kids about your destination. Tell them the history; use maps and pictures. Discuss what will happen or what they’ll see. Let them know why you’re going to the particular place and its significance. The more they know, the more they’ll enjoy the trip.

3. Be prepared. Bring a backpack with first-aid equipment, a camera, paper and crayons. Have your children draw their favorite part of the field trip.

Learn more at www.PBSkids.org/dinosaurtrain and http://www.geocaching.com/dinosaurtrain.