Toyota and Audubon Invite Americans to Exit the Highway This Summer and Spend More Time in Nature

New York, NY, June 4, 2013 /3BL Media/ - With summer just days away, there’s no better time to start exploring nature. Toyota and the National Audubon Society announced the launch of Exit the Highway (www.ExitTheHighway.com), an online summertime travel program that invites the public to pledge to take the scenic route this summer, share inspiring photos of the nature spots they visit along the way and join in an interactive “Nature Near You” map, which will crowdsource favorite places to enjoy the outdoors. Each person who participates will be entered to win a Prius v, courtesy of Toyota.

According to a new survey conducted by Audubon and Toyota, 85 percent of Americans wish they could spend more time outside relaxing in nature, and 78 percent of us are willing to drive up to 100 miles for a new scenic destination or nature experience. In an effort to get more Americans to drive the scenic route, the weekend of June 1 has been named Exit the Highway Weekend,during which all Americans are invited to explore nature beyond the highway.

“Exit the Highway is a beautifully simple idea. Take an hour, change your routine, and spend a little time with friends and family outdoors,” said Audubon President and CEO David Yarnold. “You may discover something that will touch your heart or teach you something new, and you’ll find out who’s working to save it. And then you’ll be back for more.”

“At Toyota, our commitment to the environment is not just about our pioneering work with fuel efficient vehicles. It’s also reflected in our longstanding efforts to inspire people to join the conservation movement,” said Kevin Butt, general manager, chief environmental officer, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. “That’s why Toyota is so proud to sponsorExit the Highway for a second year. We look forward to encouraging people to develop a greater appreciation for nature and for the work that is done every day to maintain and restore what lies just beyond our highways.”

In addition to taking the pledge and submitting a photo, visitors to www.ExitTheHighway.com can:

• Discover and recommend places to explore using the interactive “Nature Near You” map;
• Find many free or low-cost nature centers with kid-friendly activities;
• Learn about nature destinations, including conservation projects from Toyota TogetherGreen, a $23.5 million initiative created by Toyota and the National Audubon Society to foster diverse environmental leadership and innovative conservation ideas.

Program participants can enter to win a Toyota Prius v by taking the pledge, submitting a nature photo, putting a favorite spot on the “Nature Near You” map or sharing a story about driving the scenic route.

In addition to encouraging people to join the program at www.ExitTheHighway.com, Toyota and Audubon will invite the more than 170 million members of the Causes community to participate at www.causes.com/Toyota.

For more information and sweepstakes rules, visit www.ExitTheHighway.com.

About the Survey:

The survey was fielded by Toluna PLC online among a representative sample of 1,030 U.S. adults. The survey was fielded May 14-16, 2013.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants. Toyota directly employs over 31,000 in the United States and its investment here is currently valued at more than $19.5 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.

Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. To date, Toyota has contributed nearly $700 million to philanthropic programs in the United States. For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/community. 

Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. Visit Audubon online at www.audubon.org.