Journeys to Peace
Polar
explorers and educators Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen will bring their
motivational and adventurous stories to the symposium and area schools.
The first women to cross the Antarctic landmass on foot, next month,
they leave for a 1,200-mile journey across the Arctic Ocean. They will
speak at 2 p.m. Thursday on campus as part of the symposium. The day
before, they will meet and motivate girls and young women at Annie
Wright School.
In conjunction with their expedition, PLU professors Ron Byrnes and Mike Hillis created a K-12 curriculum “Exploring Cultural Conflicts: Journeys Toward Peace.” You can read that curriculum here. More than three million children followed their last expedition via the Internet.
Here’s a brief look at the two explorers:
Ann Bancroft
Ann
Bancroft is one of the world’s preeminent polar explorers and an
internationally recognized leader who is dedicated to inspiring women,
girls and audiences around the world to unleash the power of their
dreams. Through her various roles as an explorer, educator and
sought-after speaker, Bancroft believes that by sharing stories related
to her dreams of outdoor adventure, she can help inspire a global
audience to pursue their individual dreams.
Bancroft’s teamwork and leadership skills have undergone severe tests
during her polar expeditions and provided her with opportunities to
shatter female stereotypes. The tenacity and courage that define her
character have earned Bancroft worldwide recognition as one of today’s
most influential role models for women and girls. She has been named
among Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year (2001); featured in the book
“Remarkable Women of the Twentieth Century” (1998); inducted into the
National Women’s Hall of Fame (1995); named Ms. magazine’s Woman of the
Year (1987); and honored with numerous other awards for her
accomplishments.
Liv Arnesen
Liv
(pronounced ‘leave’) Arnesen’s rich life experiences, both on and off
the ice, have made her an internationally recognized leader and role
model for women and girls. A self-proclaimed “keen” but not fanatical
outdoors enthusiast, Arnesen is most interested in the development of
adults and children. Through her diverse roles as a polar explorer,
educator and motivational leader, Arnesen ignites passion in others to
reach beyond their normal boundaries and achieve their dreams by
sharing her own stories about exploring some of the most remote places
on earth.
Arnesen is a highly sought-after
motivational speaker among corporations, schools and nonprofit
organizations. She has been named among Glamour magazine’s Women of the
Year (2001); selected for the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame’s
Trailblazer award (2001); presented with the Norwegian-American Chamber
of Commerce Achievement Award (2001); and recognized by the Russian
Geographic Society with a “Diploma of Honor” (1999).
Read more about these remarkable women and their amazing accomplishments at www.yourexpedition.com