NORTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. (February 1, 2016) – Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, the world's leading manufacturer of high performance sports optics for birders and nature enthusiasts, is continuing its partnership with New Jersey Audubon to promote conservation through birds and birdwatching.

ZEISS continues to serve as the lead sponsor of this program, which helps increase environmental literacy and STEM learning among the State's children by using birds and bird watching as the springboard for engagement. Says, Dale Rosselet, VP for Education at NJ Audubon, "This program provides young people throughout New Jersey, the expertise, skills, and equipment to enjoy birdwatching, as well as strengthen the children's foundation in healthy outdoor pursuits." Specific youth-oriented outreach efforts include:

- Continuing to engage children in birdwatching in informal situations, e.g. through boy scouts, summer camps, afterschool programs and the NJ Young Birders Club.

- For 2016, NJ Audubon will conduct a minimum of 10 youth birding field trips as well as three targeted events just for young birders including their annual Autumn and Spring events. Additionally, they will bring birdwatching to at least three underserved communities through school-based/afterschool/weekend programming.

- The Carl Zeiss Sports Optics Youth Challenge – World Series of Birding
In 2016, NJ Audubon anticipates an additional effort for the World Series of Birding that will help grow youth engagement including increased outreach to afterschool clubs and through the growing network of schools engaged in Eco-Schools USA, an international sustainability program coordinated in NJ by NJ Audubon. Schools looking to achieve recognition for school gardens and increasing biodiversity on their school grounds are poised to become involved in the World Series.

To learn more about ZEISS Sports Optics birding products visit http://www.zeiss.com/sports-optics/en_de/nature/home.html or go to facebook.com/zeissbirding.

About New Jersey Audubon

The New Jersey Audubon is a privately supported, not-for profit, state-wide membership organization. Founded in 1897, and one of the oldest independent Audubon societies, New Jersey Audubon is working to make New Jersey a better place for people and wildlife. New Jersey Audubon fosters environmental awareness and a conservation ethic among New Jersey's citizens; protects New Jersey's birds, mammals, other animals, and plants, especially endangered and threatened species; and promotes preservation of New Jersey's valuable natural habitats. To learn more, visit http://www.njaudubon.org/. Visit also the NJ Young Birders Club, www.njaudubon.org/njyoungbirders.

About the ZEISS Group
ZEISS is an international leader in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. The more than 24,000 employees of ZEISS generated revenue of about 4.2 billion euros in fiscal year 2012/13. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. ZEISS has been contributing to technological progress for more than 160 years. ZEISS develops and produces solutions for the semiconductor, automotive and mechanical engineering industries, biomedical research and medical technology, as well as eyeglass lenses, camera and cine lenses, binoculars and planetariums. ZEISS is present in over 40 countries around the globe with more than 40 production facilities, around 50 sales and service locations and over 20 research and development sites. Carl Zeiss AG is fully owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation).

For media and press relations, please contact:

Richard W. Moncrief
Carl Zeiss Consumer Optics
Phone: (804)-425-8455
E-mail: richard.moncrief@zeiss.com
www.zeiss.com/press
http://www.zeiss.com/sports-optics/en_de/nature/home.html
www.facebook.com/ZEISSbirding