Scouting Thomas iPad app fills void for outdoor youth organizations

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Oct. 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Set in the world of the fictional Junior Campout Scouts, the great outdoors, and camping, the characters emphasize teamwork, safety, friendship and respect. The app features animated cartoons, interactive jokes and comics, a how-to project, a game section and more.

Created by start up developer Flying Monkey Pie Productions, LLC – led by animator Bryon Carson and songwriter Steve Belkin, Scouting Thomas introduced Thomas and his friends in the Junior Campout Scouts to the world via their iTunes App Store.

The Scouting Thomas iPad app, has found an unexpected appreciation from people of all ages. A hilariously fun entertainment and activity center, Scouting Thomas strives to bring outdoor skills edutainment to kids in a way that encourages positive interactivity, challenges, and rewards.

Animated and co-designed by the talented Bryon Carson who was Senior Animator for the original Jumpstart Educational software series from Knowledge Adventure and Animation Director for the children’s apps The Truly Great Noodle and Warner Bros.’ Happy Feet Two App, Scouting Thomas caters to the under-served worldwide community of children involved in outdoors focused programs and organizations. Not just through animation, but also through original music penned by co-designer Steve Belkin and writing partner Kevin Jones, both of whom have had music featured in television and film including the children’s classic “Where The Red Fern Grows”.

“Steve and I, as well as producing partners Chris Woodward and Bob Prasad, are former Cubmasters,” says Carson, “And as leaders and parents of kids who have been involved in these kinds of groups, we noticed that there didn’t seem to be much material out there that reflected the experiences our children and their friends were having. We all felt a really strong need to combine our talents and come up with a concept that kids could relate to, whether they are involved in Cub Scouts, Navigators, Woodcraft, Camp Fire, Y-Guides or any other youth organizations. Or even if they are not and are just interested in some great characters.”

Check out the "Buddy System" Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ96Gm07WEc



Designed to entertain and inspire, Scouting Thomas is a true multimedia app that features animated cartoons, interactive jokes and comics, a how-to project, and a game section featuring a combination crossword puzzle meets word scramble game aptly called Scrambl’dcross. And the centerpiece is an original campfire song called “The Buddy System” that shows everyone the value of being safe by taking a buddy along instead of doing things alone. After viewing the animated music video, kids will be humming the tune in no time at all.

Guiding the user through the app is a group of fun characters with relatable and loveable personalities. “We wanted to have characters that our kids could identify with.” says Belkin, “There’s a little bit of all the kids we’ve mentored over the years in each of these characters. There’s the over imaginative Thomas, his loyal friend Buddy, the always supportive Devon, Ernesto, the builder, the cool and kind James, and the loveable collector, Mouse.”

Device Requirements:

* Compatible with iPad.
* Requires iOS 4.3 or later.

Pricing and Availability:

Scouting Thomas is $3.99 (USD) and available worldwide through the iTunes App Store in the Entertainment category.

Promo codes are available by request for qualified reviewers.  Contact steve@flyingmonkeypie.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/scoutingthomas
Scouting Thomas website: http://www.scoutingthomas.com
Purchase and Download: https://itunes.apple.com/app/scouting-thomas/id651819276
Screenshots: http://www.scoutingthomas.com/#!about/cgff
App Icon: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B99EPMhL7vISSjFJRk43RHZkUms/edit?usp=sharing

Flying Monkey Pie Productions, LLC is located in Los Angeles, California and is an entertainment and app development studio with a passion for creating fun and engaging products. Scouting Thomas(TM) and (C) 2012-2013 Flying Monkey Pie Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.