The History Channel, your cable company, and the Girl Scouts of the USA want to enliven the history in your hometown. So let your hometown know! Below is a sample press release that helps illustrate your bold intentions and how your community can help. We've also included some pointers that you may want to include when speaking to the press that will hopefully inspire the members of your town to participate.

Press Release Example Immediate Release [Sample Press Release] Release must be approved by local Girl Scout Council The Past Comes Alive in [Name of City] [Your cable company] and The History Channel Announce Hometown History Project with local Girl Scouts [City], [Date] - [Your cable company] and The History Channel, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to making the past come alive with historical documentaries, movies and miniseries, announce an exciting new project with the [your town's] Girl Scouts. Hometown History helps Girl Scouts explore the story of their own hometown, the diverse experiences of our citizens, and our historical sites and buildings. A unique set of guidelines, developed by The History Channel with the help of the Girl Scouts of the USA, gives participants the key to discovering our past. They find out about national resources like the National Park Service, the National Register of Historic Places and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. They meet senior citizens to get a personal view of life in our city before their time. They gain skills in researching local history through their school, their library and historical sites. Members of Girl Scout Troops [Numbers] are recording oral histories of [your town], interviewing citizens and capturing their memories with photos, drawings, audio cassettes, and in print. They are exploring their neighborhood's history to learn how communities change over long periods of time, through the "Neighborhoods in Time" project. Our local [Girl Scout troops] are using the "Buildings in Time" project to learn about historic structures, architectural design, and lifestyles. Among the historic buildings chosen are [list] . Participants learn how each building relates to the growth of the city and how local culture as well as local building materials influenced the style and execution of the architecture, and develop an appreciation for preserving these important sites. When their project is finished, the Girl Scouts will display their projects and view a special video developed by The History Channel at a Hometown History event, co-sponsored by [your cable company] to be held [date, time, location]. A Hometown History patch will be awarded to Girl Scouts who have successfully completed the project. [Your cable company] is dedicated to enriching the communities it serves, said [GM]. The History Channel gives our subscribers a vibrant look at the past, and Hometown History gives them a chance to travel back to a time when [city] was young. By knowing where we came from, we can be better equipped to make [city] an even greater place to live in the future. Too many Americans are growing up with no real sense of history, said Dr. Libby O'Connell, historian for The History Channel. We developed Hometown History to help kids understand the concept of change over time within their own communities, while having a great time exploring the past. Quote from local Girl Scout Council Executive Director: For more information on how to get involved with this project, contact [name, title, company, phone] . Hometown History has been endorsed by The American Association for State and Local History.

Press Points HERE ARE SOME TALKING POINTS ABOUT "HOMETOWN HISTORY" YOU MAY WANT TO INCLUDE IN DISCUSSIONS OR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESS. Too many young people in America are growing up without a strong sense of history. 57% of high school seniors tested nationwide failed to achieve a basic competency level on a U.S. history exam given by the National Assessment of Education Progress, an independent agency that conducts tests for the U.S. Department of Education.* Many kids think history is boring and irrelevant. But The History Channel, our cable company, and the Girl Scouts of the USA are working to change that. The History Channel has developed a community outreach project, entitled "Hometown History," to help young people around the country get involved in history in a fun and exciting way. Co-sponsored by [Your Cable company], "Hometown History" provides three different activities for the Girl Scouts of the USA to discover the past in their own neighborhood. The activities include oral history, community history, and architectural history. They are designed to help girls learn about the nature of historical change while exploring unique aspects of the past in a local context. Once the activities are completed, Girl Scouts will have a chance to display their projects and view a special video developed by The History Channel at a "Hometown History" local celebration, co-sponsored by [your cable company] and The History Channel. Every Girl Scout who completes one activity will be entitled to receive an "Hometown History" patch. Participating in "Hometown History" does not guarantee increased scores on standardized exams. But generating enthusiasm for history in young people can give them a lifelong interest in understanding the rich complexities of our past. * As cited in Newsday, Vol. 56, No.61, November 2, 1995