National Geographic Kids and LEGO CITY Team Up to Help Kids Explore the Jungle

WASHINGTON (August 2, 2017)-National Geographic Kids and LEGO CITY announced today that they are joining forces to inspire children to explore, discover and learn about jungles and the importance of their preservation.

Known for his impressive scientific outreach work and exploration of the Boiling River in the Amazon, National Geographic Explorer Andr s Ruzo is spearheading the project with the LEGO Group and National Geographic Kids, and is passionate about sharing the importance of these habitats with future young explorers. With LEGO City Jungle sets, vehicles and mini-figures, Ruzo has created a fun way to highlight the diversity of jungle habitats, the variety of plant and animal species, and the importance of conservation.

Of all my expeditions to the Amazon rainforest, this was definitely the one my 9-year-old self would have not wanted to miss, said Ruzo. The mission: To explore the sacred and mysterious Boiling River of the Amazon, deep in the heart of the jungle. The goal: To inspire kids to care about the jungle and the planet. The tools: High-tech gear like drones, GPSes and thermal cameras - and the new LEGO CITY Jungle sets, of course!

Ruzo continued: I want kids to love the jungle and to want to protect and understand it as much as I do. Long before I was ever exploring the jungle, I was dreaming up my own jungle adventures as a boy. This is why I am so excited for the LEGO CITY Jungle range: I want playtime to inspire the next generation of jungle explorers.

As part of the initiative, the LEGO Group and National Geographic Kids will also launch an exciting new competition to win a seven-day Costa Rica Family Expedition with National Geographic Expeditions to the jungles of Costa Rica in Central America. The winning family will explore the treetops and volcanic canyon landscapes of Rio Blanco, go zip lining through tropical forests surrounded by astonishing wildlife, visit a wildcat rescue center to meet orphaned ocelots and jaguars, dine in a treehouse and get to experience the real-life jungle. Open to kids ages 6 through 16 in the United States, contest entrants must imagine something they might discover deep in the jungle - and then draw it or build it with LEGO bricks. Further details are available at www.LEGO.com/jungle.

In addition to the LEGO jungle sets and contest, kids can look for a special jungle-themed issue of National Geographic Kids magazine, which, in subscriber editions, includes a LEGO CITY and National Geographic Kids Explorer's Handbook - a mini guide to everything to know about the jungle. From what to pack to how to avoid predators, the Explorer's Handbook is filled with fun facts and activities for children to dive into. The special jungle edition of the magazine goes on sale on newsstands on August 9.

Kids can also explore the jungle with LEGO CITY and National Geographic Kids online. National Geographic Kids is featuring a dedicated Jungle hub at www.natgeokids.com/jungle, jam-packed with jungle facts and fun activities for kids. Special jungle videos following Ruzo and his LEGO companions through the Amazon also are available at www.LEGO.com/jungle, taking viewers on an educational and immersive journey of adventure and discovery.

For more information, visit www.LEGO.com/jungle and www.natgeokids.com/jungle now.

National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 129 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the non-profit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

About the LEGO Group

The LEGO Group is a privately held, family-owned company with headquarters in Billund, Denmark, and main offices in Enfield, USA, London, UK, Shanghai, China, and Singapore. Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, and based on the iconic LEGO brick, it is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials.

Guided by the company spirit: Only the best is good enough , the company is committed to the development of children and aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through creative play and learning. LEGO products are sold worldwide and can be virtually explored at www.LEGO.com.

For more news from the LEGO Group, information about our financial performance and responsibility engagement, please visit http://www.LEGO.com/aboutus.

LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure, DUPLO, BIONICLE, LEGENDS OF CHIMA, DIMENSIONS, the FRIENDS logo, the MINIFIGURES logo, MINDSTORMS, MIXELS, NINJAGO and NEXO KNIGHTS are trademarks of the LEGO Group. 2017 The LEGO Group.

LINK:	http://press.nationalgeographic.com/2017/08/02/national-geographic-kid...
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