IAGmedia presents Let's Go Chipper! Into the Great Outdoors, a 40-minute animated feature for kids aged 2 - 6.

The mission is to educate children about enjoying nature and playing outdoors - but doing it safely and in a way that respects the environment. There's plenty of useful information here and it's all baked into a storyline about a family of suburban squirrels as they head to the forest for a camping trip. It's the first such trip for young Chipper, and his parents and a park ranger teach him all about camping gear, appropriate clothing, pitching tents, using a compass, and campfire safety. When Chipper wanders away from the campsite, woodland animals befriend him and as they help him find his way back to his family, they also share important facts about protecting the environment-and once he's reunited with his family, the park ranger shares advice about what to do if you get lost in the woods.

The dialogue and animation are rather straightforward but the safety and environmental information certainly is sound. The program also includes a number of songs, most of them rambly-banjo-fueled tunes that you'll end up humming in spite of yourself. The DVD also includes a bonus feature with sing-along versions of these songs. The animated program ends with a live-action music video tribute to beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and inspiring scenes of underwater creatures.

With its safety tips and pro-environment message, Let's Go Chipper! Into the Great Outdoors is a good selection for families and for scouting groups or other youth organizations that may be planning an outdoor excursion and need a novel way to prep kids ahead of time.