Welcome to the Earth Scouts! It's a new scouting program open to all children and youth 3 to 15 years of age, in which kids can do cool activities and earn badges based on the principles of the Earth Charter: respect for nature, eradication of poverty, human rights, participatory democracy and a culture of peace.

For more information please visit www.earthcharter.org; www.earthchartercommunitiesusa.org and/or www.earthscouts.org.

Shana Banana has released a new song, entitled "Heartbeat of the Earth," to commemorate the official launch of the Earth Charter's children's component, The Earth Scouts. The song is available for any and all interested parties internationally, free of charge. Download the song (this is a large download and may take several minutes) and the lyrics.

Dr. Benjamin Keyes (Doc Benjamin) was the Executive Producer of this project, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Steve Connelly at Zen Studios in St. Petersburg, FL, and featuring the talents of the Tampa Bay Children’s Chorus, percussionist Gumbi Ortiz, fiddler Elan Chalford, flutist Linda Nash, drummer Eric Deggans, and bassist/guitarist Steve Connelly. Shana “Banana” Smith played acoustic guitar and sang lead vocal and harmonies, and Doc Benjamin contributed vocals as well.