(Monday, June 5, 2017 TROY, NY) — Beginning in June, WMHT Public Media launches its annual summer learning initiative with new events, content, and resources to help keep kids engaged all summer long. As part of PBS’ “Summer of Adventure,” WMHT will debut three all-new one-hour specials from popular PBS KIDS series NATURE CAT (with guest star Cobie Smulders as “Nature Dog”), WILD KRATTS (in tandem with PBS’ WILD ALASKA LIVE, hosted by Chris and Martin Kratt) and READY JET GO!
Staff from WMHT will join community partners for events throughout the Capital Region beginning Saturday, June 24. Events range from the third annual “Stories and Art in the Parks,” a partnership between WMHT, The Albany Public Library, Albany Barn, and the City of Albany, to events at various libraries and museums throughout the Capital Region. WMHT has updated its summer website (wmht.org/summer) to reflect the events and has created a simple handout with event information that includes valuable PBS learning resources.
All events are free and open to the public, including four events with everyone’s favorite monkey, Curious George! Support for these events is provided by Fidelis Care. Support for the Saturday, July 15th event with Curious George at Howe Caverns is provided by Howe Caverns.
WMHT is also proud to take part in the eleventh annual, two-day professional development conference, Games In Education (gamesineducation.org), occurring August 3 and 4, presented in partnership with 1st Playable Production at the University at Albany – SUNY.
“We are thankful to present such a robust line up of summer programming,” notes Robert Altman, WMHT’s President and CEO. “We look forward to another strong summer of encouraging life-long learning through, books, crafts, family resources, and teacher experiences.”
On digital platforms, WMHT will provide parents with learning tips and ideas, DIY activities, recommended games and downloadable resources at wmht.org/summer. New kids activities will also be available on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Games app. In July, kids will have the chance to create their own Alaska-related Creature Power Suits in the popular Aviva’s Power Suit Maker game. A new game from READY JET GO! will launch in August, where kids can help Jet and his parents discover all the amazing things about Earth as they report back to Bortron 7.
A variety of free apps for parents and kids to support summer learning include PBS KIDS Games, Nature Cat’s Great Outdoors and Ready Jet Go! Space Explorer; more information is available at pbskids.org/apps. PBS KIDS programming and content is also available for free on the PBS KIDS Video app, which can be downloaded from the App Store, Google Play and Amazon.
View the entire slate of Summer Events and access PBS Kids learning activities, games, and apps at wmht.org/summer. For more learning and family engagement from WMHT, tune into WMHT-TV to watch PBS Kids weekdays and weekend mornings. Tune into WMHT’s new 24/7 service, WMHT PBS Kids, over-the-air on 17.4, Spectrum channel 1277, Mid-Hudson Cablevision channel 99, Midtel Cable channel 161, Verizon Fios channel 12, Comcast channel 326, or watch online at wmht.org/kidsvideo or on-the-go with the PBS Kids mobile app.
New PBS Kids Programming
NATURE CAT, New One-Hour Special: OCEAN COMMOTION (guest stars Cobie Smulders as “Nature Dog")
Premiering June 19 at 3PM
Nature Cat and his pals go on an aquatic adventure to save Hal’s favorite chew toy. Along the way, they learn that all waterways are interconnected and meet up with a new special friend named Nature Dog who helps them navigate the oceans.
WILD KRATTS, New One-Hour Special: WILD KRATTS ALASKA: HERO’S JOURNEY
Premiering July 24 at 7:30AM and 3:30PM
While creature adventuring in Alaska, one of Aviva’s breakthrough inventions falls overboard and attaches to a sockeye salmon--jumpstarting a wild chase upriver through the wilderness. The Wild Kratts track the incredible salmon run--a quest fraught with obstacles and amazing creature connections around every bend.
READY JET GO!, New One-Hour Special: BACK TO BORTRON 7
Premiering August 14 at 7AM
When Jet’s parents need to return to their home planet, Sean and Sydney join the Propulsion family on an epic adventure to Bortron 7.
Each of these specials will premiere on WMHT, and will be available on the WMHT PBS Kids 24/7 channel and live stream on Mondays in June, July and August respectively. Encore viewings will occur during PBS KIDS’ new Family Night, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights throughout the summer on the WMHT PBS Kids 24/7 channel and live stream.
As part of the PBS’ “Summer of Adventure,” WILD ALASKA LIVE, a three-part, multi-platform production that explores the must-see natural spectacle that plays out across the vast Alaskan wilderness, will be hosted by Chris and Martin Kratt of PBS KIDS’ WILD KRATTS. The family-friendly event will air on WMHT, and will also be simulcast on the WMHT PBS Kids 24/7 channel and live stream. On the 24/7 channel and live stream, WILD ALASKA LIVE will air immediately after WILD KRATTS one-hour specials, including WILD KRATTS: CREATURES OF THE DEEP SEA (on July 23) and WILD KRATTS ALASKA: HERO’S JOURNEY (on July 26 and 30).
“PBS Summer of Adventure” takes viewers and their families on an adventure around the world this season. The lineup of history, science and natural history programming includes the six-part series THE STORY OF CHINA, an exploration of China’s 4,000-year history featuring Michael Wood beginning June 20. The five-part program BIG PACIFIC, starting June 21, reveals the Pacific Ocean’s most guarded secrets. Following BIG PACIFIC on June 21, GREAT YELLOWSTONE THAW is a three-part series showcasing the stories of different animal families as they attempt to survive the toughest spring on Earth. On July 12, the three-part NATURE’S GREAT RACE explores the most astounding migrations on earth. RARE – CREATURES OF THE PHOTO ARK, beginning July 18, follows National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore in three episodes as he documents the world’s species at risk of extinction. WEEKEND IN HAVANA is a one-hour walking tour through Cuba on July 18. In WILD ALASKA LIVE, airing live over three nights beginning July 23, witness a must-see natural spectacle as thousands of the world’s wildest animals gather to take part in Alaska’s amazing summer feast. On August 2, IRELAND’S WILD COAST takes viewers on a one-hour journey along the island’s rugged Atlantic coast. Summer of Adventure will also include PBS KIDS programming, featuring three new one-hour specials: NATURE CAT: OCEAN COMMOTION (premieres June 19), WILD KRATTS ALASKA: HERO’S JOURNEY (premieres Monday, July 24.) and READY JET GO!: BACK TO BORTRON 7 (premieres August 14).
About WMHT
WMHT is the only locally owned, nonprofit, multichannel public communications organization that reaches beyond the traditional broadcasting model to act as a leader by convening arts, culture, learning and civic interests. WMHT focuses on Community, Culture and Connections by providing entertainment, enrichment and engagement through television, radio, digital media, and educational services. Services include WMHT-DT (17.1), WMHT-Create (17.2), WMHT-World (17.3), WMHT PBS Kids (17.4), WMHT-FM 89.1 & WRHV-FM 88.7 (classical public radio); and EXIT 97.7 WEXT (AAA public radio). WMHT also operates RISE, a radio reading service for the visually and print disabled.
Contact
For more information, contact Jennifer Baumstein, Community Engagement Coordinator, 518-880-3553 orjbaumstein@wmht.org; Mary Gribulis, Interactive Media Director, at 518-880-3523 or mgribulis@wmht.org
