Linda Ellerbee and Nick News Take Kids on a Wilderness Adventure Rafting Through the Grand Canyon

Linda Ellerbee and Nick News Take Kids on a Wilderness Adventure Rafting Through the Grand Canyon

A Nick News Adventure: The Great Wave Train - Rafting Down the Colorado River Airs Sunday, Oct. 23, at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon

NEW YORK, Oct. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Most kids are familiar with The Grand Canyon but not nearly as many have rafted through it while camping for over a week. In this latest Nick News Adventure, award-winning journalist Linda Ellerbee takes six kids on a rafting and wilderness adventure down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Their journey airs on Nickelodeon Sunday, Oct. 23, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

"During the eight days of this adventure, we covered hundreds of miles through The Grand Canyon, and rode some of its biggest rapids. With some waves measuring 20 feet, it's no wonder they call this the Great Wave Train," said Ellerbee. "The Grand Canyon is simply like no place else on Earth."

Featured on the Nick News trip are: Indira Woods, a 14-year-old from Nashville, TN, with a love for the outdoors and the environment; Natasha Pradhan, a 14-year-old from Cupertino, CA, who had never been camping, but always wanted to try it; Michael Forbes, a 13-year-old high school football star from Cranberry Township, PA; Justus Nethero, a 15-year-old from Columbus, OH, who volunteers at the Columbus Zoo and likes camping and kayaking; Derek Housh, a 13-year-old Boy Scout from San Diego, CA, who loves the outdoors, camping and hiking; and Derek's younger sister, Nicole. Derek was awarded a spot on the trip after winning "The Grandest Canyon Contest," a Nickelodeon essay contest where kids were asked to write, in 250 words or less, why they would like to explore the Grand Canyon and why they think they should be picked for this adventure.

Over the course of the eight-day trip, Ellerbee and the group cover a total of 226 miles in a paddle boat. The group learns rafting skills such as flipping a raft and maneuvering the craft through wild territory like 20 foot waves. They also learn the necessities of any camping trip like setting up tents and making camp.

Nick News, which is in its 14th year -- the longest-running kids' news show in television history -- has built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important issues of the day. A recipient of a 2005 Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming, the program has covered the tough topics, including the Sept. 11 attacks, the Columbine tragedy, divorce, bullying, learning disorders, all the presidential elections since 1992, the Balkan war, the Iraq War, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and AIDS. In 1992, Ellerbee's special, "A Conversation with Magic," which featured Magic Johnson, set the standard for talking with kids about AIDS. In 1994, the entire series, Nick News, won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming. In 1998, "What Are You Staring At?" a program about kids with physical disabilities, won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming. In 2002, "Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan," won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming. In 2004, two Nick News Specials, "The Courage to Live: Kids, South Africa and AIDS" and "There's No Place Like Home," a special about homeless kids in America, were both nominated for the Outstanding Children's Programming Emmy. In fact, Nick News has received more than 20 Emmy nominations. Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is also the recipient of two Peabody Awards, including a personal one given to Ellerbee for her coverage of the President Clinton investigation; a Columbia duPont Award; and more than a dozen Parents' Choice Awards.

Nickelodeon, now in its 26th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 89 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for more than nine consecutive years.

Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Joanna Roses, +1-212-846-7326, joanna.roses@nick.com, or Nancy Hostler, +1-212-846-7491, nancy.hostler@nick.com, both of Nickelodeon

Web site: http://www.nick.com/

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