‘North Pole South Pole’ Game Takes Top Honor at CLIF Kid Backyard Game of the Year Playoffs

EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CLIF Kid®, maker of organic snacks for active kids, awarded “North Pole South Pole,” created by Abigail, age seven, of Albany, Ore., the winner of its 2012 Backyard Game of the Year Playoffs on Saturday, July 14 at Marina Green in San Francisco.

“We got to play my game with kids from all over and we had so much fun. Plus, I won a scholarship that will help with college when I grow up.”

Kids and their families gathered in San Francisco to participate in the second annual Backyard Game of the Year Playoffs. The games played were selected through a national contest that challenged kids to get outdoors and invent imaginative backyard game ideas. Of the six finalists, Abigail’s game was chosen as the 2012 Backyard Game of the Year because the game challenged kids of all ages with a straightforward objective coupled with fun and silly movements that kept them laughing all the way through. Abigail took home the grand prize, a $10,000 educational scholarship presented by CLIF Kid.

“It was so cool that CLIF Kid picked my backyard game idea to be the winner,” said Abigail, grand prize winner at the CLIF Kid Backyard Game Playoffs. “We got to play my game with kids from all over and we had so much fun. Plus, I won a scholarship that will help with college when I grow up.”

In addition to Abigail, CLIF Kid flew five finalists to San Francisco to present their games to a panel of expert judges and local families who came out to the event. Judges included Richard Louv, best-selling author and outdoor play advocate who coined the term Nature-Deficit Disorder® in his book Last Child in the Woods, Jonny Moseley, U.S. Olympic gold medalist in freestyle skiing, and Dana King, award winning news anchor for CBS in San Francisco. Each finalist received a Marin bicycle and a Bell helmet and the five runners-up each won a $1,000 educational scholarship.

Game rules for the six games unveiled at the CLIF Kid Backyard Game of the Year Playoffs – “Dance Tag,” “Footloose Derby,” “North Pole South Pole,” “Tortoise & the Hare Ball,” “Sidewalk Chalk Adventure” and “Zombie Hunt” – can be downloaded at www.ClifKidBackyardGame.com for all kids to play outside or in their backyards.

“Getting kids outside playing regularly and using their imaginations is an important step for living healthy, active lives,” said Jennifer Yun, brand director for CLIF Kid. “It’s our hope that other kids will be inspired by Abigail and our other finalists who have demonstrated that kids’ creativity thrives when challenged to get outside and have fun.”

A 2012 Kelton Research survey found kids spend 56 percent more time per week in front of a screen than they do engaged in outdoor play. Recognizing the continued need for connecting kids with outside playtime, CLIF Kid will donate the winning game’s rules and equipment for a second year to Children & Nature Network, a non-profit organization working to reconnect kids with nature. Children & Nature Network provides a critical link between researchers, educators and organizations dedicated to children's health and wellness.

About CLIF Kid

CLIF Kid makes organic snacks that are specially-created for kids’ growing bodies, developing taste buds and active lives. The snack line features more of the nutrients that growing bodies need most in flavors kids crave with CLIF Kid Zbar, a whole grain snack bar that comes in soft-baked and crispy varieties, and CLIF Kid Zfruit, a tangy, chewy fruit rope offering a full serving of organic fruit. For more information, please visit www.clifkid.com and check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/clifkid.

About Clif Bar & Company

Clif Bar & Company is a leading maker of nutritious, organic foods and drinks, including CLIF® BAR energy bar, LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®; and CLIF Kid®, Nourishing Kids in Motion®. Focused on sports nutrition and healthy snacks, the family and employee-owned company is committed to sustaining its business, brands, people, community and the planet. For more information on Clif Bar & Company, please visit www.clifbar.com, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/clifbar and follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/clifbar.