Club Penguin Champions Real World Environmental Change Through Online Play

KELOWNA, British Columbia, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Club Penguin is celebrating Earth Month this year with the launch of new activities allowing players to learn through role play about endangered species and declining habitats. These in-world activities align with the real-world environmental efforts Club Penguin supports – allowing kids to impact social change through play.

Now – April 25th players can dress up as endangered species such as Rockhopper Penguins, Andean Cats, African Painted Dogs and Snow Leopards and learn through role play in the Earth Month themed environments in game.  Players can also decorate their igloo to create the perfect natural habitat for these animals and further extend their role play experience. 

 "Earth month is the perfect time to educate our players through original game play about the animals and environments they are helping to protect in the real world," said Lane Merrifield, one of Club Penguin's co-founders and executive vice president of Disney Online Studios.  "Kids care about the planet and Club Penguin makes it easy for them to drive meaningful change."

As part of Club Penguin's Coins for Change program, an annual in-world event where the company matches the virtual coins players donate to real world causes -- players voted to give 37% of a $2M donation to support environment and conservation projects including: the Wetlands in China, Coral Reefs in the South East Asian waters, Penguin nesting sites in Argentina & Africa and ongoing educational programs that protect endangered animals living in community members' environments around the world. These specific causes inspired the in-world game play featured on the site during Earth Month.

To find out more about Club Penguin's earth month initiatives watch this video: http://bit.ly/HUloQp

To learn more visit http://www.clubpenguin.com/global-citizenship/

Media Contact: Michelle Chidoni - [email protected], 415-609-0858

About Club Penguin

Club Penguin (www.clubpenguin.com), a product of Disney Online Studios, is the #1 virtual world for children. Club Penguin works to maintain a fun and safe online entertainment experience by using filtering technology and live moderators. The award-winning virtual world of Club Penguin contains no third-party advertising and is free to use and enjoy, however a subscription membership provides access to additional features that enhance the play experience. Club Penguin, headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, is enjoyed by children around the world, and can be played in English, German, Portuguese, French and Spanish.

About Disney Interactive Media Group

Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG) is one of the world's largest creators of high-quality interactive entertainment across all current and emerging digital media platforms. Products and content released and operated by DIMG include blockbuster mobile, social and console games, online virtual worlds, and the #1-ranked web destination Disney.com and the Moms and Family network of websites.

Disney Interactive Media Group is the interactive entertainment affiliate of The Walt Disney Company (NSYE: DIS).

SOURCE Disney Interactive Media Group