Meet Dora The Explorer! Caitlin Sanchez Interview

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• published: 15 Aug 2010
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Watch the hour-long prime-time special "Dora's Big Birthday Adventure" TONIGHT (Aug 15) at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon marking Dora's 10th anniversary. More info: http://www.nickjr.com/dora-big-birthday-adventure/?af=1 Caitlin Sanchez stopped by ClevverTV to talk to us about the 10th birthday of Dora The Explorer. Caitlin is the voice of the main character Dora The Explorer. She told us all about what it is like playing such an iconic character and also the cool stuff they are doing with their Beyond The Backpack campaign to help prepare young kids for school. About Dora The Explorer: Dora the Explorer, created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes and Eric Weiner, is a play-along, animated adventure series starring Dora (Caitlin Sanchez). Dora is a seven-year-old Latina heroine whose adventures take place in an imaginative, tropical world filled with jungles, beaches and rainforests. She explores her world just as preschoolers do everyday, and the show is designed to actively engage its audience in an interactive quest using a variety of learning techniques. About Beyond The Backpack: Nickelodeon is marking the 10th anniversary of the world's most beloved Latina heroine, Dora the Explorer, with a unique pro-social campaign titled "Beyond the Backpack" that champions overall school readiness for preschoolers. The campaign will serve as the key component of Nickelodeon's overall plans for Dora the Explorer's anniversary, and will consist of a PSA campaign featuring Salma Hayek Pinault and Dora herself; a fundraising auction of limited-edition Dora backpacks, with designs by Hayek Pinault and other celebrities; financial grants; a dedicated web site with downloadable toolkits for parents and educators; and local community activities across the country. Nickelodeon's anniversary plans for Dora also include four prime-time TV specials; an original documentary produced by Academy Award®-nominated Brett Morgen (The Kid Stays in the Picture); and new online Dora content for preschoolers and their parents. At a press conference held today at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, Calif., Nickelodeon President Cyma Zarghami was joined by Hayek Pinault and Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund, to outline the anniversary plans and "Beyond the Backpack", which is named after Dora's iconic backpack that helps her be prepared for all of her adventures. Directly following the day's announcements, the anniversary activities were officially launched by Hayek Pinault reading an interactive Dora the Explorer storybook about education and getting ready for school to a group of L.A.-area preschoolers. "Beyond the Backpack" is a multi-year, multi-platform program that champions overall school readiness for preschoolers as they prepare for the important adventure of going to school. In partnership with The Children's Defense Fund, National Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and other experts and leaders in school readiness who will form an advisory committee, "Beyond the Backpack" will help provide parents and educators with tools and resources that can help kids prepare for a well-rounded, positive school experience. "Beyond the Backpack" is designed to call attention to the emotional, physical, experiential and actual competencies that preschoolers need for those first, crucial steps into school, including: social skills and emotional intelligence; early literacy and math skills; in-school involvement and resources like school supplies; and health and wellness basics. The measurable components of the campaign include dedicated PSAs; a web site with information, links to partner organizations and downloadable content for parents and educators; financial resources and grants; fundraising activities; and community events. To add further support to the "Beyond the Backpack" initiative, Hayek Pinault is featured in a forthcoming "Beyond the Backpack" PSA television campaign alongside Dora. Hayek also is leading an effort with Nickelodeon to create a limited-edition series of celebrity-designed backpacks for auction this summer. With more participants to be announced shortly, Hayek Pinault, John Leguizamo, Slash and Shakira will put their personal touches on special Dora-themed backpacks. A limited quantity of each backpack will be auctioned off globally, in countries including the United States, France, the UK, Mexico, Canada, Spain, The Netherlands, Greece, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. One hundred percent of the U.S. proceeds will benefit the Children's Defense Fund. One hundred percent of international proceeds will go toward childhood education in each respective country. Since its launch on Aug. 14, 2000, Dora the Explorer has emerged as a global phenomenon and ranks among the top-rated shows in major television markets worldwide. The show is seen in more than 151 markets around the world and is translated in more than 30 languages.