Uncategorized

Women Skiiers to Make History Crossing Antarctica

Polar explorers Ann Bancroft and Liv Arneson dream of becoming the first all-women team to ski across Antarctica. If successful, Bancroft and Arneson will also have skiied the longest distance ever covered by women.

The “Bancroft Arnesen Expedition” is slated to begin in November of 2000, when the duo will begin their 2,400-mile trek through sub-zero temperatures and raging winds. Both skiiers are familiar with chilly climates. Bancroft lives in Scandia, Minnesota, and Arnesen in Olso, Norway.

The two also share another similarity — both are former school teachers and coaches. “As former teachers, Ann and I are teaming up to expand the walls of the classroom and ignite the love of learning, exploration and discovery of Antarctica among children — and the explorers in all of us — around the world,” said Arneson.

To achieve this goal, Arneson and Bancroft have enlisted the National Center for Health Education (NCHE) and Base Camp Promotions to help plan their expedition and to create educational materials based on their expedition. The resulting curriculum will be distributed at no charge to at least 30,000 K-6 classrooms, and will cover subjects including health, nutrition, first aid, geography, history, and meteorology.

Arneson and Bancroft will correspond with students during their expedition via a Web site, satellite phones, e-mail, and other technology. PBS-member station Oregon Public Broadcasting intends to produce a documentary based on the “Bancroft Arneson Expedition.”

For more information, see http://www.yourexpedition.com.

Sources:

Business Wire - May 4, 1999

Support eh ERA banner