Oregon Pirates Visit Dubai for Ocean Conservation

PORTLAND, OR – October 30, 2008 – Why is a one-legged pirate from the United States visiting children in Dubai? Laura Sams and Robert Sams, a sister/brother team who use sea turtles, fish and yes, pirates, to teach children about life underwater and marine conservation, produced a week of educational assemblies sponsored by The Save Our Seas Foundation, an organization dedicated to teaching people about the ocean.

Laura Sams and Robert Sams are children’s book authors and professional wildlife filmmakers. They recently released their new children’s book, A Pirate’s Quest, and movie, The Riddle in a Bottle, to help children learn how life on earth is connected through moving water. The book uses beautiful oil paintings of nature to show a one-legged pirate’s search for a lost peg leg from the lakes to the rivers to the sea.  The movie is about solving a mysterious riddle from the ocean. The movie, funded in part by The Save Our Seas Foundation, was one of three Finalists for the Panda Award for the Best Children’s Wildlife Film Worldwide at the 2008 Wildscreen Film Festival, the most prestigious wildlife film festival in the world.  The Save Our Seas Foundation brought the Sams to Dubai because of environmental issues it faces as one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

The sister/brother duo are performing the program, Oceans, Writing and Pirates, Ahoy! during their visit to Repton Dubai Primary, Jess Arabian Ranches, and Jess Jumeirah primary schools. “We are so excited to be visiting Dubai for the first time!” Laura Sams said. “Hopefully our programs will inspire students to learn more about the ocean and ultimately write their own stories. We think it is critical for ocean conservation to help young people learn how to share their passion for the ocean and ultimately teach their own families and friends through stories, songs and art.”

Robert Sams said, “Our programs are very interactive and focus on the positive ways we can help the ocean. We need to give kids a chance to love the ocean before we ask them to save it.”

One of the program highlights featured Robert Sams singing a pirate song from the book and movie. The song is about the pirate searching for his peg leg by following the moving water around the world.

“The children have seen the video and are excited and enthusiastic to see the pirate in real life,” said Chris Clarke, Executive Director of The Save Our Seas Foundation. “The music is contagious and it will inspire all the children to create their own tales of the sea which is great. Our organization is dedicated to helping people not only learn about the ocean but take action to help it.” The Save Our Seas Foundation is giving ocean-based books to every child at the three schools visited by the Sams.

The Save Our Seas Foundation was established in 2003 to help educate and create awareness of the need to take responsibility for protecting and preserving what is truly the last frontier, the ocean. A non-profit Swiss Foundation, The Save Our Seas Foundation has a field office in Dubai, marine research facility in Jeddah Saudi Arabia and shark research centre in Cape Town, South Africa. It funds over 100 projects in over 30 countries around the world, from education initiatives to research programs. To learn more about The Save Our Seas Foundation, visit www.saveourseas.com.

About Sisbro Studios
Founded in 2001, Sisbro Studios creates award-winning high-quality movies, books, music and educational media that entertain and inspire children to learn about and explore the natural world. Sisbro Studios has been presented with over 40 international awards for its smart and entertaining product offering. Product families include:  The Riddle in a Bottle, Lost in the Woods: The Movie, Stranger in the Woods: The Movie and Bearly Alike for films, A Pirate’s Quest for books, and Lost in the Woods: The Soundtrack, and Stranger in the Woods: The Soundtrack for music. For more information about Sisbro Studios, visit www.sisbro.com.