>> here's what's happening on "teen kids news." >> garbage is spilling into our rivers and oceans. it affects the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the animals that live there. but kids are fighting back. i'll tell you about it in my report. >> can video games make you a better student? we'll find out. >> i'll tell you why this historic mansion is picture perfect. >> you wouldn't dress like this to fight a fire. now this is more like it! coming up, i'll show you what firefighters need to wear. >> and we're just getting started, so stay tuned.

>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm mwanzaa. >> and i'm livia. here's our top story for this week. >> right now, nearly half a million people around the world are doing exactly what these girl scouts are doing. they're helping to clean up the tons of trash that collect on our beaches every year. >> a lot of people are leaving stuff of the beach. >> it's bad for the animals that live in the ocean. >> so one day a year has been set aside to collect the clutter along our shores. it's part of an international effort organized by the ocean conservancy. >> they've been doing this event -- i think this is the 25th year that, all over the

world, there are people cleaning up the beach, volunteers in various communities. >> it's a really good deed to clean up the beach and make your own local beach cleaner. >> look what i found! it's a plastic bag from the water, and i found wrapping and glass. >> most of the trash are things that are used only once, then thrown away, like soda bottles. >> in fact, last year, volunteers collected more than a million bottles in just one day! >> we are finding all kinds of awful stuff that people have left all over the place. >> piece of corn. >> bottle caps. >> a ball. >> a quarter. >> glass. >> a doggy's squeaky toy. >> wrappers. >> we found some concrete. >> some plastic. >> bottles. >> a dead crab. >> the first year, there seemed to be larger, bigger pieces of garbage, but this year we're

noticing there's a lot more smaller things, and so part of the message we'll go back and talk to the girls about is -- that little bit of potato-chip bag that you let fly is actually accumulating, and that's a lot of what we picked up today. >> since the program first started, volunteers from more than 150 countries have removed 145 million pounds of trash from lakes, rivers, and ocean shores. these scouts are taking pride in their contributions. >> i'm getting a badge for cleaning up the beach. >> helping community service. >> and they're doing more than just picking up trash. >> we have a list. people walk around with it and have different jobs. >> each child has a data-collection sheet, they work in pairs, and they're literally marking what items they're picking. they found a boat seat. last year we found a bicycle, some dead animals that come from strangulation because of the rubbish. >> the animals, they find it, and they think it's, like, something to eat, and then they

die. >> a piece of plastic. >> we weigh how much garbage we've collected, and then we record and report all of that back to the ocean conservancy. >> the conservancy then analyzes all the data. it helps us learn what types of trash are causing the pollution and where it's coming from -- the first step towards educating people on ways to prevent it. >> we throw away far too many things. our troop is actually going camping soon, and we bought all of our plates and silverware and things. we won't be taking paper. we won't be taking plastic. we won't even be taking cups. we're gonna take our own water bottles that the girls are all used to now carrying with them to school and to sporting events and other things. so, we're trying very hard to become less of a throwaway girl scout troop. >> i learned that it's not good to pollute the environment. >> that we have to clean the beach to help the environment. >> part of the girl scout promise is to leave a place better than you find it, so this is an activity where the girls come in, and they improve

the place that they've entered into, and they leave the world a better place. >> we have to clean the beach to help the animals. >> it's good for the environment, and it's helping our world. >> the beach is much cleaner because everybody helped. >> some communities have begun taking steps to slow the tide of garbage. a few have introduced guidelines that limit the use of common sources of litter like plastic bags and bottles. perhaps the ocean conservancy's website says it best... you don't have to be a girl scout to pitch in. to find out what you can do in your area, go to the website for the ocean conservancy. for "teen kids news," i'm diyu. >> there's a lot more ahead, so stick with us. >> "teen kids news" will be right back. you don't disappear at midnight.

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>> we all know what the american flag looks like, but every state has a flag, too, and every one of them tells a story. here's kristen with a case in point. >> california's state motto is "eureka," which is greek for "i found it." the motto dates back to the gold rush of 1849. california had gained independence from mexico the year before, but it was not yet a state. ironically, though, it already had a flag. >> what i find to be most unique about the california flag is how it came into existence. it was actually the product of a rebellion. there were pioneers out there trying to settle the land.

there was an attack on a fort at sonoma, and the american settlers were able to take the fort, and a fellow by the name of william todd got himself a white bedsheet, a couple of cans of paint, and he painted the original bear flag, which is still today the flag of the state of california. >> that revolt became known as the "bear flag revolt." the bear symbolized strength. the star was a reference to the lone star of texas. the californians saw texas as an ally in their struggle with mexico. the original flag was destroyed during the san francisco earthquake of 1906. however, early photos of it still existed, and a slightly modified version became the official state flag in 1911. by the way, william todd, the pioneer who drew the flag on a bedsheet, was the nephew of mary todd, abraham lincoln's wife. with "flag facts," i'm kristen. >> stress is an all-too-familiar feeling, but you can do something about it.

here's scott. >> here's some good news for all you gamesters out there. professor of psychology dr. sian beilock says video games can actually be good for your brain. >> it's true. let's start with early childhood first. there's research that shows that some types of video games may help develop motor skills. and then there are studies with college students. according to the data, playing video games actually helps improve memory and attention. >> so does that mean the more games i play, the better? >> no. you can't, unfortunately, swap video games for doing your homework. that's because the benefits of playing games max out after a certain point. like everything else, all things are best in moderation. >> thanks, dr. beilock. >> you're welcome. oft... and totally irresistible. your lip butter? likewise. new revlon® colorburst™ lip butter.

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>> long before there were digital cameras, taking pictures was an incredibly complex procedure. stephen tells us about the inventor who changed that. his contributions made such an impact on our world, his home is now a museum. >> photography had been invented long before eastman came along, but it was a very complicated process. eastman made it possible for regular folks to take pictures. he developed the kodak camera. instead of stiff plates, it used rolls of film. >> the first kodak, built in 1888, is here, still in working order. >> that's just one of many fascinating items on display here at the george eastman house. >> what you can do here is you can tour his 50-room mansion. it is a national historic landmark. fewer than 3% of all historic sites in the u.s. are national historic landmarks. >> this museum is dedicated to preserving important pieces of

photographic history, like this camera, which took the famous photo at iwo jima during world war ii. >> we also have the first photograph of lightning. >> eastman didn't just revolutionize photography. he helped thomas edison invent a whole new way to make pictures move. >> they basically took the film from the kodak, slit it in half -- which is where you get 35 millimeter from -- added the perforation so the film would go evenly through the camera, and, hence, we have the 35-millimeter film that was used for -- well, still in use today. >> eastman's contributions led to the development of this movie camera. it was used to make "the wizard of oz." walking through the mansion is like stepping back into the life and times of the successful industrialist. >> we continue as much as we can of what eastman used to do when he lived here. >> hands-on exhibits teach guests of all ages about early photography. >> we have many items that we classify as "pre-cinematic" toys. and that's what these are. these are called mutoscopes. you put your face in it, you

turn, and, just like a movie, which is a bunch of moving frames, these are just actually paper cards of photographs or illustrations that flip. >> while the eastman house gives visitors a snapshot of the past, it also focuses on the importance of preserving history for our future. >> we're the world leader in preservation when it comes to photographic materials, whether it be motion pictures and still photography and books, for that matter. we're the oldest photo museum. we're the ones that started it. so it started here, and we continue to do it. if this stuff is not taken care of properly, it will be gone, so we won't have anything to look at. you know, years from now, they'll say, "gee, what is 'technicolor?'" and i'll say, "well, we use to have a camera, but we don't." so if we take care of it, treat it well, it will be here for the ages. >> nowadays, special effects like photoshop have taken photography into a different dimension. but this place reminds us of how it all began. i'm stephen for "teen kids news." >> three. >> two. >> one.

>> hey, teens, if you want to be a reporter on our show, listen up! "teen kids news" is partnering with madame tussauds and b&h in search for a new reporter. open auditions will be held on february 12th. check out our website for all the details.

be out there! be out there! [female announcer] time was, kids did what came naturally, spending free time running barefoot through the grass, wading knee deep in streams, climbing to the tallest branch. but today, american kids are more likely found texting, watching tv, or gazing at a computer screen. they spend more than seven hours in front of electronic media. something essential has been lost. childhood's connection to the natural world. that's why national wildlife federation created the be out there movement. kids moving indoors causes a host of problems, from obesity to adhd.

but outdoor play can go a long way to improving kid's health, body, mind and spirit. it helps them stay fit, enhances creativity and attention spans and could even make them better students. do your part. be a part of be out there. there's a reason why they call it the great outdoors. learn more at be out there dot org. [kids shouting] be out there! >> if you still think math and science are just for guys, you're way out of date. in fact, girls are getting a lot of encouragement to head in a direction that can lead to great careers. as emily reports, they're getting on board -- literally. >> here at the intrepid sea, air, space museum, camp g.o.a.l.s. is all about

math, science, and empowering girls. >> camp g.o.a.l.s. stands for greater opportunities advancing leadership and science for girls. >> funded by motorola, this is a free, six-week summer program for 8th and 9th graders. >> lots of studies have shown that girls, especially middle and high school, they start to lose their focus in the math and science, and there's not that much support for girls who really enjoy math and science. so this camp actually gives them a chance to be with other girls that also enjoy science and to be with people and professionals that can promote them in the realms of math and science. >> different women in the science field, like doctors and marine biology, they've been coming in and talking to us about the science field and everything, and they've just been inspiring us. >> the girls also get to do some pretty interesting hands-on activities. >> this is one of the reasons that i like camp -- that we get to actually bring out what we learn. so you don't just read and

write, you actually get to experiment. >> here they are using catapults to learn about standard deviation. the assignment is to launch a marble over and over, and, each time, measure the distance it travels before hitting the floor. >> so, you take your raw-data numbers, and then you calculate the average and you see how much the average differs from your actual raw-data numbers. so you see how accurate your experiment is. >> every week, the camp focuses on a different type of science, ranging from aeronautics to medicine. >> we're creating a roller coaster to learn about the momentum and speed of regular roller coasters. >> so they have to take some of the forces of physics and try to apply them to engineering a roller coaster and deciding to see which design works best for different materials. [ all cheering ]

>> so, what do the instructors hope the girls get out of this program? >> typically, in a lot of high schools, the math and sciences are really dominated mostly by males, so we want to give these girls an opportunity to see that science and math is fun, it's accessible, and that there are lots of women professionals in these fields as well. >> i actually want to become an astronomer. >> i want to be a doctor when i grow up. >> it made me like science a lot more. >> with all that's offered here, i guess the message from this camp is "whatever floats your boat." at the intrepid museum, i'm emily for "teen kids news." >> scientists in australia were trying to solve a mystery -- why a certain brand of beer bottle seemed to attract male beetles. finally, they figured it out. that kind of beer bottle was the exact same color as female beetles. so it caused a kind of beetle mania.

girl: hi, mom. hi, sweetie. [ beep ] man: how's it going, buddy? i'm bored. [ beep ] i think i'll ride my bike. [ tv playing ] [ beep ] it may never be this easy to help your kids find balance, but you have more power than you know. the we can! parents' handbook and web site can help you maximize that power. you'll learn how to help kids choose healthier foods... and how to make it fun for them to get active. who can help kids maintain a healthy weight?

we can! visit the we can! web site for a free parents' handbook, plus tips, tools, and resources. a message from the u.s. department of health and human services. >> this report is brought to you by lucasfilm ltd. and 20th century fox. >> whoa! just hang on! >> take anakin skywalker's advice and hang on tight. "star wars: episode i -- the phantom menace" is racing to theaters in 3d. >> skywalker's been forced onto the service ramp! >> legendary filmmaker george lucas is relaunching the "star wars" experience in a big way. >> oh, my! >> "star wars" became a worldwide sensation when the first movie came out 1977. the phenomenon grew with two more blockbusters in the early '80s. they wowed viewers with special effects that were ahead of their time. when "the phantom menace" was being produced in the late '90s, technology had come light-years further. for example, nearly all of this pod race was created by what's

called cgi -- computer generated imaging. now a new generation of technological wizardry is available. so, on february 10th, the first chapter of the six-part saga will be told anew. >> you refer to the prophesy of the one who will bring balance to the force. >> even those who already know the story of anakin or obi-wan kenobi as a young man will be thrilled by the new 3d experience. >> you believe it's this boy? >> the force is unusually strong with him. >> and the force is with us in 3d starting february 10th. for "teen kids news," i'm lauren. >> it's been said that firefighters save hearts and homes. they also carry a heavy load -- the burden of responsibility, and, as carina found out, the burden of all the gear they must wear. >> no question about it -- fighting fires is dangerous business.

it takes a lot of training, skill, courage, and equipment. when i visited the bergen county fire academy, instructor mike o'hagen gave me a hands-on lesson in firefighting fashion and safety. >> firefighters go into extremely hot temperatures -- temperatures that exceed 1,300, 1,400, 1,500 degrees. without that protection of that thermal barrier within your gear, you would just burn up right away. we have minutes to re-- seconds to rescue people, and we need all the protection we can physically get. >> firefighters call it their "bunker" or "turnout" gear. and it turns out there's a lot of it, as i discovered when i agreed to put it all on. so, where do we start? >> well, let's start by trying on some bunker gear. >> okay. >> let's step into our boots and pants. >> okay. >> what you want to do is pull these up as you step in. pull up on these straps.

there you go. >> keep in mind as you watch this that real firefighters can gear up in a matter of moments. i needed more time and more help. heavy! >> heavy, isn't it? firefighter gear weighs somewhere between 50 to 65 pounds, fully dressed. >> wow. button it up? >> yeah, before you start with that, just grab that black hood. that's a nomex hood that will protect your neck when you're in a hot, burning building. >> if you have long hair, you have to make sure every strand is tucked in. next comes fastening all the buckles on the turnout coat. >> okay, super. now what we're gonna do is put our breathing apparatus on. >> okay. >> i'll help you with this. you're gonna put this on like it's a coat. >> imagine climbing a ladder into a burning building with this thing on. that's why it has to be fastened securely. it's called a "scott pack," and it can make the difference between life and death. >> so, the breathing apparatus

will give you probably somewhere between 20 minutes of air, depending on how hard you're working. so what you're gonna do is just push your hair back off your face a little bit, and just put this on like this over your face like that. and what you're gonna do -- i'll allow you to do this -- take these tabs here that i have and pull them straight backwards. >> a few more adjustments to the mask, the hood, and the collar, and i'm ready for the helmet... then the ear flaps... and the gloves. but i'm not done yet. >> and then the last thing we're gonna do is we're gonna take our regulator, put it into your face piece, and you're good to go. breathe. go ahead. take a breath. [ inhales ] can you breathe? >> yeah. >> very good. okay, so how does that feel? >> how do i feel? i can barely hold up my thumbs! >> it's a lot of work, running up and down stairs, ladders -- you'll get tired pretty quickly.

>> just standing still mame tired, but i now understand why it's essential for firefighters to train with their gear on. it's the only way you can build up the muscles and stamina needed to do the job. oh, and there's one more thing. the most important piece of gear is impossible to see. it's guts, because that's what it takes to be a firefighter. for "teen kids news," i'm carina. >> by the way, while we were at the fire academy, we learned something very important. there are communities all across the country that depend on volunteer firefighters, and unfortunately, there are far fewer volunteers than there used to be. however, many areas offer junior firefighting programs like the one here at the fire academy in bergen county. these programs are open to boys and girls 16 and older. if you're interested, check with your local fire station. that's it for this week. thanks for joining us.

>> we'll see you next week on "teen kids news." >> here's a shout-out to american troops serving in pakistan.