Ann Bancroft is the first known woman in history to cross the ice to the North and South Poles.

In 1986, Ann dogsledded 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from the Northwest Territories in Canada to the North Pole as the only female member of the Steger International Polar Expedition. In 1993, she led the American Women s Expedition to the South Pole, a 67-day expedition of 660 miles (1,060 km) on skis by four women. Most recently, in February 2001, Ann and Liv Arnesen from Norway became the first team of women to ski across Antarctica s landmass. Born in 1955 in Mendota Heights, Minn., Ann s love of the outdoors began early in life. Aside from the two years she spent with her family in Kenya, East Africa (in fifth and sixth grades), Ann was a student of Minnesota s vast wilderness. Her father often took her on camping and canoe trips in northern Minnesota. At age eight, she began to lead her own mini-expeditions, cajoling her cousins into accompanying her on backyard winter camping trips. Ann s passion for polar adventures is matched by her enthusiasm for teaching children. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from the University of Oregon, Ann taught physical and special education in Minneapolis schools and coached softball, basketball, track and field, volleyball and tennis. She also was an instructor for Wilderness Inquiry, an organization that helps disabled and able-bodied individuals enjoy the wilderness year round. Ann s other achievements include founding and leading the Ann Bancroft Foundation, a non-profit organization that celebrates the existing and potential achievements of women and girls. She has been 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 awards for her accomplishments. Most recently, Ann, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, appeared in Ennis Gift, a film about learning differences, a documentary produced by the Ennis Cosby Foundation featuring celebrities who have dealt with learning disabilities, such as James Earl Jones, Henry Winkler, Danny Glover and Bruce Jenner. A nationally and internationally known entity, Ann has been featured in Time, People, USA Today, Ms., McCall s, Vogue, Good Housekeeping, Glamour, National Geographic, Outside, Sports Illustrated for Kids and on BBC, CNN and National Public Radio. She is currently serving on the National Women s Hall of Fame board of directors and has been a spokesperson for the M.S. Society, United Way, United Cerebral Palsy and the Learning Disabilities Association. With Ann s polar expeditions have come severe tests of teamwork and leadership, as well as opportunities to shatter female stereotypes, making Ann a sought-after speaker among corporations, schools and non-profit organizations. Bancroft currently lives in Scandia, Minnesota. Major Accomplishments - February 2001 Bancroft and Norwegian polar explorer Liv Arnesen become the first women in history to sail and ski across Antarcticas landmass completing a 94-day, 1,717-mile (2,747 km) trek. - 1993 Bancroft leads the American Womens Expedition to the South Pole, a 67-day expedition of 660 miles (1,060 km) on skis by four women, earning the distinction of being the first woman in history to cross the ice to both the North and South Poles. - 1992 Bancroft leads the first American womens east to west crossing of Greenland.

- 1986 Bancroft dogsleds 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from the Northwest Territories in Canada to the North Pole as the only female member of the Steger International Polar Expedition, earning the distinction of being the first known woman in history to cross the ice to the North Pole. Ann s teachings Posted by YourExpedition on Apr 6, 2010 in Ann Bancroft, Uncategorized | 0 Comments As the first woman to cross the ice to both the North and South Poles, Ann Bancroft leads audiences of all ages on a variety of historic journeys with interpersonal stories of leadership and adventure combined with historic film and still imagery. Whether Ann is sharing stories from the recent Bancroft Arnesen Expedition a 1,717 mile journey on foot to become the first women to cross the continent of Antarctica (2001), she translates her challenges and accomplishments to everyday life and empowers each person to work individually or as a team to reach their goals. In her 17 years of speaking, Ann has experienced the power that sharing her stories can create. Ann and Livs Antarctic expedition helped shape Bancroft Arnesen Explore, designed to share Ann and Livs stories with audiences around the globe through multi-media presentations, short films, workshops, curricula andlectures as a way to motivate people to reach for their own dreams, particularly women and girls. Bancroft Arnesen Explore recently launched No Horizon Is So Far, which Ann and Liv co-authored with Cheryl Dahle, telling the story of Ann and Livs crossing of Antarctica. Having made the transition from educator to polar explorer and expedition leader, Ann is expert in understanding the shifting dynamics of a team, leadership and personal growth, perseverance and adapting to adverse, changing conditions which relate so closely with challenges of daily life. The tenacity and courage that define her character have earned Bancroft worldwide recognition as one of todays most influential role models. Ann has been named among Glamour magazines Women of the Year (2001); featured in the book Remarkable Women of the Twentieth Century (1998); inducted into the National Womens Hall of Fame (1995); named Ms. magazines &quote;Woman of the Year&quote; (1987); and honored with numerous other awards for her accomplishments. Bancroft also founded and leads the Ann Bancroft Foundation, a non-profit that has programs that celebrate and ignite the potential in adolescent girls in Minnesota. An internationally known speaker, Bancrofts expeditions have been followed by BBC, CNN, National Public Radio, NBC Nightly News and NBCs Today show. She also has been featured in Time, People, USA Today, Ms., McCalls, Ladies Home Journal, Vogue, Good Housekeeping, Glamour, Health, National Geographic, Outside, Sports Illustrated, O, the Oprah Magazine, and Working Mother. Bancroft lives outside of Minneapolis in Scandia, Minn. and is 50. Ann in her own words Posted by YourExpedition on Apr 6, 2010 in Ann Bancroft, Uncategorized | 0 Comments When I was about 12 years old I found a book on my parents book shelf. The name of the book was Endurance by Alfred Lansing. What drew me to the pages of an adult book as a poor reader was the photographs. I was so fascinated by the images that I no longer was intimidated by the words and thickness of the book. I wanted to know 2

about this adventure at the bottom of the world. This began my curiosity with Antarctica and the dream of one day crossing it. My motivation often comes from the students and people that follow the adventure. On my last expedition to Antarctica, thoughts of kids all over the nation following us inspired me on tough days to stay at it. I know this will be a strong force on this upcoming crossing. I am also living my dream and doing what I feel I was meant to do. It is totally energizing to step out each day living a dream. How they met Posted by YourExpedition on Apr 6, 2010 in Ann Bancroft, Uncategorized | 0 Comments A tale of two worlds, two women, one dream Despite living worlds apart, Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen have shared the same dream to ski across Antarctica since they were young girls. At age 12, they both read about legendary Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and vowed to follow in his footsteps. As they grew older, Ann and Liv s lives grew remarkably similar. They both became teachers Ann, an elementary school teacher in Minnesota, Liv a high school teacher in Olso. They each led world-famous expeditions to the South Pole Ann in 1993, Liv in 1994. Their paths crossed for the first time in 1998. While Ann & Liv knew of one another (the polar explorer community is very small), they had not met. Ann was looking for a partner to accompany her across Antarctica and she was an admirer of Liv s. So she made contact with Liv to find out if Liv was interested. They talked about their dream, their hero, their South Pole adventures and their passion for teaching. Ann & Liv had so much in common, they joked that they were soul sisters. What came of the conversation was The Bancroft Arnesen Expedition! Bancroft and Arnesen are both accomplished explorers. Each has enjoyed the thrill of setting a nearly unattainable goal and surmounting it. Because they also have had experience working with young people, these explorers know the value of their story as an inspiration to all children. After two years of preparation, Bancroft and Arnesen began the difficult journey in November. They will take approximately 100 days to make the crossing and hope to reach their journey's end by mid-February. Along the way, the women will face winds that gust to 100 miles per hour and temperatures that average -30 degrees F. Towing sleds of about 250 pounds, the explorers travel about 1 mile per hour, but they also sail on skis and go much faster when the wind cooperates! Cold and icy Antarctica presents unique challenges to would-be conquerors! The explorers will travel over two glaciers and will need to be on the alert for crevasses, or deep cracks in the ice. The Bancroft Arnesen Expedition Web site is the best way to track the explorers' progress. They submit daily reports for publication on the site's Update page. Teachers may join a mailing list to receive information on new lesson plans and current information about the expedition.

The Education Home page is the perfect place for educators to start. The page is an index of all materials created for teachers. You will find a Calendar that explains the itinerary of the trip and a Route Map so students can see where the explorers will travel. Students may send e-mail to the explorers at Send a Message. Another part of the site that offers information for teachers and students is the Explorers page. There students can read biographies of Bancroft and Arnesen, learn what inspired them to become explorers, and discover a few of their favorite things. The free Curriculum materials that appear on the site include Polar Activities and Dare to Dream. The polar activities target a new subject each week, and past lessons are contained in the archive. Lessons focus on the geography and geology of Antarctica. The activities in Dare to Dream promote setting goals and achieving them. In Go the Distance, Bancroft and Arnesen challenge classes to ski, walk, canoe, bike, skate, or run as far as the explorers will ski and sail as they cross Antarctica. CLASSROOM EXPLORATION Image Taking full advantage of the opportunity to follow a genuine expedition in real time are Robin Vernuccio and her students at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School in New York, New York. Vernuccio learned of the program through her position as a Girl Scout leader. She also attended a workshop about the Bancroft Arnesen Expedition during the National Science Teachers of America conference in Orlando last spring and got hooked on Web exploration! Working with the school's computer and physical education teachers, Vernuccio, the lower school science specialist, created a special workshop about the expedition, which convenes before school. Many students signed up for the voluntary activity, open to boys and girls in the fourth grade. During the weekly meetings, the students use the Web site to catch up on the latest news from the expedition. "[Students] have sent messages to Liv and Ann twice, once before the New Year and once after they made it to the South Pole," said Vernuccio. "[The kids] voted on the Net about when they thought Liv and Ann would reach the Pole, and they really enjoyed that! We follow the map of Antarctica weekly with map pins on a special bulletin board in the science room and read aloud Today's News week after week." The students have especially enjoyed viewing the explorers' training videos online. They have also liked reading the women's journals. One of the boys in Vernuccio's class compared reading the journals to "being alive during the time of Christopher Columbus and being able to read his logs over his shoulder as he made his way to the Americas"! LIFE LESSONS FROM WAY, WAY DOWN UNDER "The reactions from the students have been nothing less than truly enthusiastic," Vernuccio reported. "They know that they are part of history being made. They follow the news on the Internet and really feel that they are part of this much larger, incredible thing that is happening. Rather than being bystanders and watching things unfurl through the nightly news or in the print media, they are following events as they are happening." Some of Vernuccio's students took time to share some comments about the expedition with Education World. "The BAE expedition is about two ladies going across Antarctica. I have learned what they eat, how they live and survive out there in the cold. They are on the expedition because they are interested in having a great adventure. I 4

am like the explorers because I like adventure. You can't know people well until 'you have walked ten miles in their shoes.' The most interesting thing I have learned is how many calories they are eating each day in order to ski and sail in the cold and the snow," said Jesse, a member of Vernuccio's expedition group. Risa, another student, explained, "The BAE expedition is about two teachers who want to prove that they are not afraid and can do what they set out to do. I have learned that Ann and Liv are not afraid and have a lot in common with each other. They are on the expedition because they would like to be part of history, the first two women to ski across Antarctica. I am like the explorers because last year in the third grade, I was commander of the class's simulated Mission to Mars. We went where 'no kid had gone before' in class on a voyage to Mars. Personally, I like to be brave and try new things. I would like to be more like Ann and Liv because they are brave enough to leave home and their families and go off on an adventure with someone they know but not that well. I have learned how important it is to work as a team." "The Bancroft Arnesen Expedition is about two women who want to complete their goal of skiing across Antarctica," said Michael. "I have learned from Ann and Liv that if people really want to achieve their dreams, they have to work really hard. But they can do it if they work hard. They are on the expedition because they want to prove to kids that if they try hard, they can achieve their dreams. I am like the explorers because I like trying to do things that people have never done before. I would like to be more like them by trying to reach my goals and do things that other people have never done before. I learned that the explorers are willing to risk their lives in trying to prove to the kids of the world that if you try hard enough, you can do it!" Vernuccio explained that the children have developed close ties to the explorers. "The children are living with Liv and Ann as the wind blows the wrong way and allows them only a 9-mile advance in a day," she observed. "You can't imagine how many of them came in after the explorers covered 66.6 miles in one day when the wind picked up and excitedly told me about it. They found out about it from e-mails they received at home. Many of them saw the South Pole arrival on the evening news and bragged about the accomplishment in class. They truly feel like part of the expedition. They also liked comparing their arrival predictions with those of students from around the world." In the opinion of their teacher, the students are in awe of Bancroft and Arnesen. The kids know how difficult it is to be cold and out in the cold and to exert oneself day after day. They also have experienced working on a long-term assignment for many weeks and seeing it through to completion. The students can relate the obstacles the explorers face to what they are doing in school, in sports, and during after school activities. They recognize, however, that the stakes are much higher for the women in Antarctica. They truly care for Bancroft and Arnesen and wish them the best. One of the students told Vernuccio, "I know that I would never want to go to Antarctica in my lifetime and do what Ann and Liv are doing, but I am grateful for the chance to do it through them." The pursuit of the explorers has been an inspiration to all the students in the program, and it has encouraged them to follow their own dreams. The explorers still have a long way to go, so there is plenty of time to get involved. Visit the Bancroft Arnesen Expedition Web site to learn more! EMBARKS ON ARCTIC WARMING 2007 For more than 20 years, world-renowned polar explorers and educators , Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen have made history and inspired millions skiing and ski-sailing over ice in the extreme cold of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. But 5

March, 2007, they set out on a new expedition across the Arctic Ocean, their primary goal was not to make history, but to change the future. Bancroft and Arnesen set forth to use their 75-day journey to raise awareness among kids on global warming s impact on the fragile Arctic, and in particular help young people understand how they can help prevent further climate change. While temperatures worldwide are increasing as a result of global warming, they re rising twice as fast in the Arctic. Polar bears face extinction. Ice is turning to sea. Permafrost is melting. Coastlines are eroding. Because global warming impacts the polar regions first and most dramatically, the changes in the Arctic are a lens into what the rest of the world may experience in the future, unless changes are made swiftly. With Explore Arctic Warming 2007 , Bancroft (51, Scandia, Minn.) and Arnesen (53, Oslo, Norway) began a grueling 530-mile journey from Canada s Ward Hunt Island to the North Pole, traveling on foot, towing sleds and planning to occasionally swim beginning during a season when the sun barely rises above the horizon. From there, Bancroft and Arnesen planned to ski another two weeks to the TARA, a French research vessel drifting in the Arctic pack ice. As in past expeditions, they communicated with classrooms worldwide, only this time with improved technology. The women distributed daily audio messages and provided photos from the Arctic on their Web site for teachers and students to follow, providing a rare first-hand, real-time account of the changing Arctic. Bancroft, who 20 years prior became the first known woman to cross the ice to the North Pole, had an especially unique perspective on the changes in the Arctic that few in the world can provide. The Web site (www.bancroftarnesenexplore.com) featured helpful tips for students and people of all ages to take action against global warming. Unfortunately, on March 12, not even a week into the expedition, Bancroft and Arnesen were evacuated from the Arctic Ocean. Arnesen had to repair a binding on her snowshoe, which was damaged when their equipment was hit by an out-of-control airplane before leaving Ward Hunt Island. She had to make a strap around her left foot to secure the snowshoe. That makeshift binding coupled with temperatures in excess of 140 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, negative 60 degrees Celsius aided Liv s injury which she kept a close eye on as they continued their travel. Once the decision was made to evacuate, the women walked a day and a half back to Ward Hunt Island where a plane could evacuate them from the ice. If they would have continued on for another week, it would have been impossible to get picked up. Liv ended up losing the tip of her big toe due to the frostbite injury. Had Bancroft and Arnesen completed their Explore Arctic Warming 2007 in mid-May and board TARA as planned they would have become the first women to travel without re-supply to both the North and South Poles. Both are familiar with such firsts. In 2001, they captivated millions of people worldwide as they fulfilled their childhood dream and became the first women to ski across Antarctica. In 1993, Bancroft led the first women s expedition to the South Pole and in 1994 Arnesen became the first woman to ski solo to the South Pole. FAST FACTS When: Bancroft and Arnesen departed Canada s Ward Hunt Island in early March, marking the beginning of International Polar Year. They expected to arrive in late April about 60 days later at the North Pole. From there, they would ski to TARA a French research vessel drifting in the Arctic pack ice for their return home in mid-May. How: The women traveled by foot, towing sleds. They also brought special swim-gear to pass through bodies of water created in part by the warming climate.

Conditions: Often, lows can be around -70 Fahrenheit. Daytime light is typically twilight, as the sun barely rises above the horizon for the first couple weeks. As they work North, the sunlight increases. Route: First stage is Canada s Ward Hunt Island to the North Pole, where they will re-supply. From there, they would ski approximately two weeks to TARA, which was drifting in the Arctic. In November 2012, renowned Polar explorers and educators anne bancroft and liv arnesen will lead a team of six women, from six continents, on an 800 mile, 80-day long expedition to the South Pole. Each of the women will be representing the key water challenges on their continent. Together, their journey will be the centerpiece of a global awareness and outreach program that will spur us all to join hands in solving our global water crisis. The expedition will embrace worldwide media coverage, the global classroom and conscious business partnerships to create awareness of the critical water crisis and to encourage a move to action on global and local levels. The project is designed to complement the efforts of international conservation organizations, institutions, government and enterprise on this vitally important subject. As with the other successful Bancroft-Arnesen expeditions, this project will make a determined effort to engage with youth by means of technology and a tailored educational methodology and curriculum. Our goal is to reach 2 million classrooms and 50 million youth. The expedition provides a unique partnership opportunity for organizations that are committed to the same values as those celebrated by Bancroft Arnesen Explore:
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Environment, currently emphasizing the fresh water crisis; The essential role of education in making sustainable changes; Empowerment of girls and women to achieve their dreams; Cross-cultural communication and understanding; The ability of each person to make a difference in the world

Why water? Humans need fresh water to survive. We grow food with it, drink it, cook with it and bathe in it. We use it to create the goods and services that form our global economy. There is no substitute for fresh water. It is more crucial for human survival than any source of fuel. But fresh water is becoming scarce. One in eight people lack access to clean water and more than three million die each year from water-related health problems. Battles for water are creating tensions between people, interests groups and regions. In some cases, they are causing armed conflicts. Left untouched, these challenges will only worsen. Within just 15 years from now, nearly two billion people will live in areas of severe water scarcity. The consequences are clear. We can solve the water crisis by bringing it to the forefront of the global agenda. This means raising awareness on water access issues, promoting resource efficiency and cooperation on the problems of pollution and climate change. Why Antarctica? Antarctica, home to our planets largest fresh water reserves, will again be visited by Bancroft Arnesen Explore. Where in the World is Antarctica? Why, at the bottom of the world of course! Seems like an easy answer, but you 7

would be surprised how many people get Antarctica and the Arctic confused. The early Greek geographers believed there must be a large land mass around the South Pole to balance the known land in the Northern Hemisphere. They named it the opposite of the Arctic, The Anti-Arktikos or Antarctic, which means literally opposite to the Arctic. Antarctica is the windiest and driest continent on the earth. Most people do not know that Antarctica is considered a polar desert because it receives on average of only about 2 inches of rain per year. (In comparison, the Sahara desert receives a little over an inch per year.) The average temperature during the summer months is plus +2 degrees C (+36 degrees F) and during the winter months the average temperature drops to minus 10 degrees C (+14 degrees). Below, you can see the Antarctic continent thru Google Earth. The blue dots mark the route Ann and Liv took when crossing the continent in 2001. Team Kim Smith resides in Cape Town, South Africa and is pursuing a Masters degree in Developmental Studies. With her university, Kim has had the opportunity to travel extensively and has begun a global dialogue that has further solidified her dedication to community development. The ideas and views of friends from all over the world further ignited my passion for wanting to be an instrument of change. Kim works with various non-profitable projects in townships such as Khayelitsha and Bonteheuwel in Cape Town addressing the changes her country faces as a means to promote collaboration and cooperation with one another in an effort to achieve great things. I am an ordinary person from a small community in Cape Town, but my ability to dream and to dream big has never failed me. Bachendri Pal is Chief Adventure Programmes at Tata Steel Ltd. in India and a nationally honored expedition leader. Bachendris accomplishments in mountaineering are an inspiration to audiences of all ages particularly empowering to women. Bachendri shares the stories of her Everest expedition as a platform to encourage others to also realize adventure and enterprise in their lives and to reach for their own Everest. Olfat Haider is Program Manager at Beit Gaefen an Arab-Jewish Center in Haifa. One of her projects involves leading an annual student expedition to the Alps. Olfat was born and raised in Haifa, Israel, where she lives today. As an outstanding young volleyball player, she joined the Israeli National Womens Team, as its only Arab member. She has been involved in several projects promoting peaceful co-existence between Jewish and Arab youth in Israel. She has also led and facilitated numerous multicultural and multi-ethnic groups of various ages in wide-ranging projects and initiatives. Lisa Kanawa is a Senior Advisor on Maori Strategy with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in New Zealand. Dedicated to sustainable development, Lisa is in a unique position to engagee indigineous people in national issues pertaining to natural resources and climate change to raise their development and economic potential. Lisa enjoys the diversity of the communities she works with and also the diversity of the aspirations. Marcia Gutierrez, from Chile, is the fifth member of the team. Marcias profile will be up shortly. Wang Jing is one of Chinas select few women mountaineers. She sets down all her climbing exploits on her blog, which is staple reading among Beijings outdoor enthusiasts. Wang is co-founder of the Beijing Toread Camping Equipment Co., Ltd., and she personally hand-stitched the first Toread tent and also designed the company logo. It took ten years of hard work to establish Toread as Beijings premier outdoor products company.