'Pest Quest' Children's Show Brings Fascinating World of Bugs, Rodents and Wildlife to Kids of All Ages

FAIRFAX, Va. (July 6, 2010) – The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) announced the creation of a new children's show that teaches kids about the fascinating world of insects, rodents and small wildlife. The entertaining and educational show, aptly named "Pest Quest," will deliver buggy factoids to junior scientists and is available on NPMA's websites, PestWorld.org and PestWorldForKids.org.

"Pest Quest" is hosted by a group of energetic pre-teens in a fun, colorful science lab full of gadgets and bubbling beakers. Each episode explores a variety of different topics, from wolf spiders, velvet ants and click beetles to opossums, pigeons and bats (and everything in between). Other fun features include "Pest Commander Pete's Head Scratchers" and "Itsy-Bitsy Mystery" quizzes, which engage viewers and test their pest knowledge. In addition to sharing fun facts, the show aims to educate viewers about the risks posed by certain creatures when they enter homes and properties and become pests.

Twenty-four episodes have been produced for the first season of "Pest Quest," focusing on species found within the United States. New episodes will be posted to the Pest Quest Channel twice a month.

"Children are fascinated by bugs and anything 'creepy crawly'," says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA. "We wanted to foster and encourage that interest by creating a web-based program that allowed us to share our wealth of pest knowledge with such a captive audience, evoking their inner-entomologist and scientist."

NPMA has a variety of programs designed for use in the classroom and on the family computer for children in grades K-8. Lesson plans, science projects, report writing programs, interactive games and other fun facts are on PestWorldForKids.org. The Pest Quest Channel is the next installment in NPMA's commitment to science education.

The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 7,000 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry's commitment to the protection of public health, food and property.

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