Ohio Residents Invited to Explore the Buckeye State's Natural Treasures This Summer

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, Ohio residents will experience and celebrate the outdoors in a new way, thanks to The Nature Conservancy in Ohio and Honda of America Mfg. Inc. The two organizations have teamed up to launch an exclusive summer challenge called Natural Treasures of Ohio, encouraging Ohio residents to visit one or more pre-selected natural areas for a chance to win a 2012 Honda Insight Hybrid.

"The Nature Conservancy in Ohio is committed to educating Ohioans about the extraordinary natural areas right in their backyard," said Josh Knights, the executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Ohio. "Through this summer's promotion, we hope to expand the community of conservation-minded Buckeyes who will act to protect the future of Ohio's natural treasures."

Starting May 22, participants who are up to the challenge will visit one or more natural areas in Ohio, where they can explore the property through a series of fun family-friendly activities.

"Whether you're an amateur explorer or an outdoors enthusiast, we'll provide several activities that guide you through some of Ohio's most treasured areas," said Knights. "We promise you'll find something interesting and educational for the entire family."

"Honda has had a rich and productive partnership with the Nature Conservancy on a variety of environmental initiatives over the years," said Rick Schostek, senior vice president of Honda of America Mfg., Inc. "Protecting the environment has always been important to us, and in fact this fall we will introduce our all-new Earth Dreams Technology to maintain Honda's leadership in fuel-efficiency and low emissions."

Schostek added, "Honda's commitment to the environment extends into our Ohio operations, where more than 13,000 associates support our efforts to achieve zero-waste to local landfills and our ongoing initiatives to reduce energy consumption and resulting CO2 emissions."

The official promotion, Natural Treasures of Ohio, runs May 22 through August 8. Prior to the launch of the promotion, Ohio residents are encouraged to visit the Natural Treasures web site at www.nature.org/naturaltreasuresohio or https://www.facebook.com/ohionatureconservancy to sign up for exclusive emails about the sweepstakes and other Conservancy initiatives.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is the leading organization working around the world to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Since 1958, the Conservancy has protected more than 55,000 acres of the most vital freshwater and forest habitats in Ohio. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org/ohio  

About Honda in Ohio

Honda operates a number of operations in Ohio that include four manufacturing plants, a major R&D center for the development of new products, and other operations that support the manufacturing, development and sales of Honda and Acura products for American customers. Honda has eliminated virtually all waste going to local landfills from its plants, and is continuing initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases throughout its operations. In addition to its own operations, approximately 150 companies throughout Ohio supply parts to Honda's North American manufacturing operations. For more information about Honda, visit www.hondanews.com and www.ohio.honda.com.

SOURCE The Nature Conservancy in Ohio