ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For Orlando children, autumn is just another season of sunny days and mild temperatures. Many kids may never experience the “season of color” when leaves change from green to vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow. This fall, children of all ages across Central Florida will be able to experience the colorful season in many parts of the country, as well as learn about the many facets and roles that trees play in our everyday lives. On September 27^th, the Nature Explore “Exploring Trees Inside and Out” Traveling Exhibit branches out to share an interactive, environmental education experience with thousands of visitors at the Orlando Science Center through January 4^th, 2009.

The Orlando Science Center is the third location to showcase the “Exploring Trees Inside and Out” Traveling exhibit after more than 200,000 visitors have enjoyed the exhibit at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle and the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis since the beginning of its three-year tour at the beginning of the year.

“Doubletree Hotels and the Arbor Day Foundation have worked together to encourage kids and adults of all ages about the importance of trees in our everyday lives. As a result, we’ve proudly helped to plant more than 250,000 trees in cities across North America during the past five years,” said Mary Beth Parks, vice president – brand marketing for Doubletree Hotels. “`Exploring Trees Inside and Out' is a natural extension of this growing relationship, which we hope will inspire thousands of people in Orlando, the state of Florida and cities across America to get out and explore the natural wonders outside their front doors.”

Presented by Doubletree Hotels and developed by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, the spacious, 2,500-square-foot exhibit is designed to create a better understanding among children ages 2 to 10 about the significant role trees play in the environment. A variety of inventive and interactive elements allow children to explore trees in a multi-sensory way never before possible through its fun-packed and educational components. For example, children will be able to:

• Sit inside a giant leaf and be surrounded by the light, sound, and sensation of photosynthesis
• Help a seed “grow” into a young oak inside a huge acorn
• Explore the “heart” of a tree trunk and move the “blood” of the tree up and down its “veins”
• Smell scents from various trees, then discover just a few of the many products we get from trees
• Crawl through a log and experience it as a habitat for other living things
• Hear the sounds of animals that live in trees, and even become a forest creature in a “green screen” experience that allows children to fly like a bird and soar over the treetops
• “Perch” in a larger-than-life bird’s nest and play among the nest’s eggs and sticks

“Exploring Trees Inside and Out” is part of Doubletree’s latest effort to help raise environmental awareness among children – inspiring and empowering a new generation of children to take simple steps toward conserving and preserving the earth’s natural resources. Following Orlando, the exhibit will continue to the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum in February. The exhibit will travel to several of the top science centers and children’s museums across the U.S. through the end of 2010.

In addition to sponsoring “Exploring Trees Inside and Out,” Doubletree continues to grow its role in environmental education and awareness programs through various collaborations with organizations such as the Arbor Day Foundation. Since 2002, Doubletree has helped educate and inspire more than 100,000 elementary school students in communities across the U.S. and Canada about the importance of trees and being eco-conscious through its Teaching Kids to CARE program.

“The Arbor Day Foundation developed the `Exploring Trees Inside and Out' Traveling exhibit with Dimensions Educational Research Foundation in the hopes that people leave with a greater understanding and appreciation of trees,” according to chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, John Rosenow. “We are appreciative that Doubletree Hotels has become the exclusive sponsor of this project that will continue to educate children and adults on the important role that nature plays in our everyday lives.”

The Orlando Science Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Grounds stay open until 9 p.m. Friday through Saturday. The tree exhibit is included with admission: $23 for adults and $18 for children age 3-17 (kids age 2 and under are free).

For more information about the everyday importance of trees and the “Exploring Trees Inside and Out” Traveling exhibit, please visit www.doubletree.com/thinktrees.

About Doubletree Hotels

With a growing collection of contemporary, upscale accommodations in more than 160 gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations throughout the U.S., Canada and Latin America, Doubletree Hotels, Guest Suites and Resorts are distinctively designed properties that provide true comfort to today’s business and leisure travelers. From the millions of delighted hotel guests who are welcomed with the brand’s legendary, warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in to the advantages of the award-winning Hilton HHonors^® guest reward program, each Doubletree guest receives a satisfying stay wherever their travels take them. To make reservations at any Doubletree hotel, travelers can visit our website at www.doubletree.com, contact their preferred travel professional or call 1-800-222-TREE in the U.S. and Canada.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at www.arborday.org.

About the Orlando Science Center

The Orlando Science Center is one of America’s top hands-on science centers where learning is always fun. Located in Orlando, Florida, interactive learning and discovery await within the center’s more than four levels of hands-on exhibits, labs, live programs, giant screen films, and active observatory. The science center provides educational opportunities both within and outside the center’s walls, including field trips, family science nights at schools and community centers and other outreach. For more information, visit www.osc.org.

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Orlando Science Center
Jeff Stanford, 407-514-2145
JStanford@osc.org
or
Doubletree Hotels
Thomas Wingham / Lisa Cole
310-205-4545 / 305-796-8383
thomas.wingham@hilton.com
lisa.cole@hilton.com
or
Cohn & Wolfe
Katie Wittenburg / Elaine Pacheco
310-967-2952 / 310-967-2961
katie_wittenburg@cohnwolfe.com
elaine_pacheco@cohnwolfe.com