The Nature Cat
Explorer Patch
inspires girls to
pursue the same
activities as the
characters from
the TV series
WTTW Kids and Nature Cat production partner Spiffy Pictures are teaming up with the Chicago area Girl Scouts to create the Nature Cat Explorer Patch, a co-branded Girl Scouts merit badge inspired by the popular PBS animated series.
Nature Cat — a PBS Kids series and co-production of Spiffy Pictures and WTTW — follows Fred, a house cat who dreams of exploring the great outdoors. In each episode, Fred transforms into Nature Cat, “backyard explorer extraordinaire.”
With the help of his animal friends Squeeks, Hal, Ronald, and Daisy, Nature Cat embarks on action-packed adventures full of nature investigation. Together, they inspire young people to get outside, engage with nature and science, and become the next generation of environmental stewards.
PBS KIDS
NATURE CAT | THE HIDDEN CAT TOY TREASURE
CATEGORICAL REQUIREMENTS
NATURE CAT EXPLORER PATCH
The new Nature Cat Explorer Patch shares the same goals. Girl Scouts can earn this new patch by completing one activity in each of four categories:
Nature Exploration – girls can keep a nature journal, trace a seed path, or create artwork or musical instruments using natural materials;
Super Science – girls can study the wind, or make art with ice;
Earth Day is Every Day – girls can transform an old t-shirt into a reusable tote, complete a recycling challenge, or make a composter;
Animal Friends – girls can compare animal tracks, or make homemade butterfly nectar or a bird feeder.
To fulfill some requirements of the patch, Girl Scouts can also visit the upcoming Nature Cat traveling exhibit Backyard and Beyond at Kohl Children’s Museum in Glenview, opening to the public in August 2019.
“We are delighted to bring Nature Cat together with the Girl Scouts, and to get girls outside,” said Sandra Cordova Micek, President and CEO of WTTW. “This partnership aligns perfectly with WTTW’s purpose — to enrich lives, engage communities, and inspire exploration.”
“We are pleased to partner with WTTW on this wonderful initiative,” said Nancy Wright, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. “Outdoor education and exploration are integral to the Girl Scout experience, and we’re excited to grow our program with this partnership.”
“Our goal with Nature Cat is to encourage kids to have fun, hands-on experiences with nature, and this innovative partnership delivers on that goal,” said David Rudman, Spiffy Pictures.
The Nature Cat Explorer Patch is made possible by The Segal Family Foundation. Explore the WTTW Kids Nature Cat patch program and activities at wttw.com/naturecat.
Pictured, top to bottom:
Hal, Daisy, Squeeks, and Ronald
About WTTW Kids
WTTW Kids supports the entire ecosystem in which children learn, including their teachers, parents, and community. Through PBS Kids programming on WTTW11 (11.1), the 24/7 WTTW/PBS Kids channel (11.4), and on wttw.com/kids, WTTW Kids offers children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital media, and community-based programs. Kids and parents can stream programs live and on-demand on wttw.com/kids, where they will also find games, activities, and invitations to local family events. Follow WTTW on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, andYouTube.
About Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana impacts the lives of more than 51,000 girls and nearly 20,000 adult members who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) ™ to change the world. We serve 245 communities in six Illinois counties (Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee, Lake, and Will) and four Indiana counties (Jasper, Lake, Newton, and Porter) as the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. For more information, visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org or call 1-855-ILOVEGS (456-8347).
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. More information is available at spiffypictures.com.
Send your merit badge news to Reel Chicago Editor Dan Patton, dan@reelchicago.com.
