Chicago Girl Scouts Learn About Commitment to America's National Parks From Women Climbers, Ford

  Forty Girl Scouts Prep for Local Camping Trip With Advice From Members
              of First All-Female Team to Scale Mt. Everest

Forty members of Chicago's Girl Scouts of America will earn a hiking badge and learn tips about staying safe in the outdoors from members of Ford's Everest Expedition -- the first all-female team to attempt Mt. Everest in 2002. Alison Levine and Marjorie (Midge) Cross represent Ford's commitment to preserving America's National Parks. The two outdoor heroines will encourage the Chicago Girl Scouts of America to "conquer the great outdoors" at the 13th annual International Adventure Travel and Outdoor Sports show (IATOS 2003) at Navy Pier.

   GREAT VISUALS:
   -- Forty Girl Scouts earning a hiking badge from "Team No Boundaries"
      climbing experts and former Girl Scouts Alison Levine and Midge Cross

   -- Great video of Cross, the oldest member of this all-female team to
      climb Mt. Everest, and Levine, who has undergone heart surgery twice
      prior to her "Everest Expedition" experience, as they took part in
      their forty-nine-day climb last year

   -- Girl Scouts asking questions about handling emergencies in the
      outdoors and learning how to safely hike on an upcoming camping trip

   -- The Girl Scouts of Chicago learning about the importance of America's
      National Parks and participating in a special tree ceremony -- a
      symbol of helping parks to grow stronger

   -- IATOS visitors taking a journey through Ford's 4,000 sq. ft. simulated
      National Park, complete with cascades and habitat

   -- INTERVIEW OPP: Midge Cross, Alison Levine, the Chicago Girl Scouts of
      America

  Preserving America's National Parks

Whether it's hiking, climbing, skiing, running or biking, National Parks offer something for everyone to enjoy. In fact, according to the National Park Foundation, more than 87 million people visited a National Park last year, which equals approximately 286 million visits. The most visited parks in the country were Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon National Park, Olympic, Yosemite and Rocky Mountain.

As a proud partner, Ford Motor Company is committed to preserving and protecting America's National Parks and enhancing the visitor experience. From alternative transportation to education on environmental solutions, Ford's partnership with the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service enables park visitors to enjoy more than 380 national parks without compromising their beauty.

   When:            2:30 p.m. CST (local time) Friday, February 21, 2003

   Where:           IATOS/International Adventure Travel and Outdoor
                    Sports Show
                    Navy Pier/Festival Halls A&B
                    600 East Grand Avenue
                    BOOTH # 1100/Media check-in located in room # 329

   Contacts:        Karen Hampton of Ford Motor Company, +1-313-323-7045; or
                    Lela Coutsoftides of Hill & Knowlton, +1-949-223-2323,
                    DAY OF EVENT: +1-949-500-1905, for Ford Motor Company

PRNewswire -- Feb. 21