March 22, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Sarah Melnitsky, Cronin and Company, Inc., 860-659-0514 smelnitsky@cronin-co.com

AnnMarie Kemp, Cronin and Company, Inc., 860-659-0514 akemp@cronin-co.com

Registration Closing For "The Great Park Pursuit - The Connecticut State Parks Family Adventure"

HARTFORD/CONN. April 7, 2006 - As a result of the overwhelming response to "The Great Park Pursuit," the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will be closing game registration early Monday morning, April 10. The game is part of the No Child Left Inside℠ campaign - a statewide initiative designed to raise awareness for state parks and forests and build enthusiasm for the outdoors among children.

In just two weeks, more than 400 families totaling over 1,000 people have registered to participate in this park and forest adventure on the No Child Left Inside web site - www.nochildleftinside.org. Families across Connecticut have shown their excitement for the eight-week game that will take teams on a tour of parks and forests participating in activities and challenges for a chance to win prizes. The game kicks off at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill on May 6.

"We are delighted and encouraged by the response to this game," says Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Gina McCarthy. "However, the settings for many of these exciting challenges will be parks and forests known for their quaintness and natural beauty, which presents a challenge when it comes to managing large crowds of people at one time. To enhance the experience and provide a full flavor of what Connecticut's state park and forest system has to offer, we decided to close registration a few weeks ahead of the originally announced date of April 28."

Families that miss the registration cut-off are encouraged to continue visiting the No Child Left Inside web site to learn more about Connecticut's state parks and forests and receive information on other programs. Details on various activities and events will be posted to the site, and people can sign-up to receive information on future campaign initiatives.

"We want to thank everyone for their interest in this endeavor, and all the activities associated with the DEP's No Child Left Inside initiative," adds Commissioner McCarthy. "Connecticut has many wonderful outdoor opportunities for families to enjoy and we urge people to visit the beaches and trails in our state parks and forests to fully understand how wonderful they are!"

The No Child Left Inside campaign was created by the DEP to raise awareness for the recreational activities available at the state's 137 state parks and forests, attract families to the parks and build enthusiasm for the outdoors among children. "The Great Park Pursuit, The Connecticut State Parks Family Adventure" is being executed by DEP with support from the Friends of Connecticut State Parks, Connecticut Forest and Park Association and WFSB-TV/3.