Outdoor Channel Corps Launches Conservation Tour of Duty on National Public Lands Day & Beyond

TEMECULA, Calif., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Outdoor Channel, America's Leader in Outdoor TV, today announced the launch of the Conservation Tour of Duty for its Outdoor Channel Corps initiative. The company's newly announced philanthropic effort mobilizes volunteers to restore and improve public lands and spaces to ensure that the outdoor lifestyle thrives in their communities. To encourage further participation, beginning this week, Outdoor Channel is holding a weekly sweepstakes open to volunteers who sign up to enlist here: http://bit.ly/aNak5H. A lucky volunteer will be selected weekly to be the recipient of a limited edition Outdoor Channel-branded iPod Nano and an Outdoor Channel prize pack.

Outdoor Channel Corps was created in May 2010 to leverage the unrivaled strength of the Outdoor Channel brand to mobilize passionate outdoor enthusiasts to volunteer in their communities. The program aims to recruit one million volunteers for outdoor-related projects over the next five years, making it the largest outdoor volunteer program of its kind. Projects will be organized around specific "Tours of Duty" and will focus on the principles of conservation, outreach, responsibility and education.

The Conservation Tour of Duty focuses on ensuring access to public lands and outdoor spaces through restoration and improvement volunteer events. Conservation of public lands is critical to ensuring that future generations of hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts have access to traditional recreational pursuits like hunting and fishing. According to a General Accounting Office (GAO) report, more than 50 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have inadequate access. Through its Conservation Tour of Duty, Outdoor Channel Corps is determined to dramatically improve accessibility and restore our cherished public lands.

Outdoor Channel Corps' first Conservation Tour of Duty will kick off by deploying volunteers on National Public Lands Day, September 25th, 2010, to a total of eight local markets across the U.S. The network will lead the charge in restoration and improvement projects in partnership with various cable affiliates.

"Outdoor Channel has always been a leader in conservation and related philanthropic initiatives. Outdoor Channel Corps leverages our network's unique ability to mobilize our passionate viewers to make a difference in their communities," said Denise Conroy-Galley, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Research for Outdoor Channel. "Our Conservation Tour of Duty aims to restore and improve access to public lands - a critical step in ensuring that the outdoor lifestyle continues to thrive well into the future. We look forward to working with our affiliate partners to encourage communities to take a more active role in preserving the great outdoors for generations to come."

Conservation Tour of Duty events will take place in the following locations:

* Denotes events officially held in conjunction with the National Environmental Education's (NEEF) National Public Lands Day

About Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc.

Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc. owns and operates Outdoor Channel, America's leader in outdoor TV, and Winnercomm Inc., an Emmy Award winning production and interactive company. Outdoor Channel offers programming that captures the excitement of hunting, fishing, shooting, off-road motorsports, adventure and the Western lifestyle and can be viewed on multiple platforms including high definition, video-on-demand, as well as on a dynamic broadband website. Winnercomm Inc. is one of America's leading and highest quality producers of live sporting events and sports series for cable and broadcast television. Winnercomm also owns and operates the patented Skycam and CableCam aerial camera systems which provide dramatic overhead camera angles for major sports events, including college and NFL football. For more information, please visit http://www.outdoorchannel.com.

SOURCE Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc.