'Tweens Go Green: Earth Day Events to Inspire Young Eco-Leaders.

SEATTLE -- Across the nation on April 22, people will be celebrating Earth Day by learning what they can do to keep our planet and its inhabitants healthy. Since its inception in 1970, a key part of Earth Day has been to encourage and educate our next generation of green citizens--kids!

In keeping with this goal, kids at Earth Day events in major cities across the country will be learning how to play Xeko, an award-winning new eco-adventure game that seeks to inspire the next generation of eco-leaders. Xeko teaches kids ages 8 and up about biodiversity and Earth's endangered ecosystems via an easy-to-learn, fast-paced game.

Xeko Earth Day game events in San Francisco, Chicago, Cleveland, Seattle, and Los Angeles will be held in varied locations including zoos and kid-friendly festivals. Kids will be playing Xeko as part of Earth Day festivities at:

* EarthFest at Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland - April 22 http://www.clemetzoo.com/pressroom/index.asp?action=details& pressrelease_id=1222

* Earth Day Celebration at the San Francisco Zoo - April 21-22 https://secure.sfzoo.org/registration/calendardetail.asp? ActivityKey=228408

* Whole Foods Earth Weekend Healthy Planet Fair, Bellevue, Wash. - April 22 http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/calendars/BLV.html

* Children's Earth Day at STAR Eco-Station, Los Angeles - April 22 http://www.ecostation.org/

* Green Festival, Chicago - April 21-22 www.greenfestivals.org

(Due to their length, some of the above URLs may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

Using stunningly illustrated cards starring endangered species like the hairy-eared dwarf-lemur of Madagascar and Costa Rica golden frog, children match wits in exciting situations that mimic real-life dramas in nature. Invented by Amy Tucker as a way to bring awareness to the planet's most endangered habitats while connecting kids with the wonders of our natural world, 4% of Xeko net sales are donated to Conservation International, a non-profit organization whose work inspired the game. "Xeko is a natural fit for celebrating Earth Day, and we're proud that kids will be playing the game--and learning a thing or two about nature--at Earth Day festivities all over the country," said Tucker.

A 2006 Weekly Reader poll found that 91% of American students surveyed believe they can make at least a little difference in the environment. The same poll found that 28% of pre-teens and teens surveyed consider themselves environmentalists. The Xeko adventure brings environmental topics to life for young people in the context of a compelling game, one that calls on each player's creativity and inherent love of animals and nature.

About Matter Group, LLC - By creating children's toys and games that turn kids into eco-adventurers, Matter Group, the maker of Xeko, hopes that kids will have fun while being inspired to preserve and protect our planet. The Seattle-based company launched the Xeko game on Earth Day 2006 and is currently working on projects to extend the Xeko entertainment property into television, film, and merchandise. www.xeko.com