Alaina Reed-Hall

Family life in a black neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Since its 1969 debut, "Sesame Street" has helped entertain and educate audiences around the world. In the United States alone, approximately 8-million people tune in to visit the street each week. "Sesame Street" is now entering its landmark 40th season, set to debut on PBS in November 2009. While recent years have had season-wide focuses such as healthy habits, getting ready for school, vocabulary development, and math literacy; this season will include a focus on nature, and will tie into a nationwide campaign designed by Sesame Workshop to nurture children's appreciation and love for nature by supporting their innate sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world. The season-wide focus will weave nature themes more directly into the television program, as well as other Sesame Workshop materials such as books, home videos and toys. The Muppets of "Sesame Street" will spend the season encouraging viewers to explore their curiosity in the outdoors through hands-on activity, and viewers will learn simple, age-appropriate ways to show care and stewardship for the environment.