Youth Environmental Education Expedition to Antarctica

Hello all!

As I am nearing closer to the expedition date (11more sleeps!) I wanted to give you all an update on fundraising andgreat media exposure for the initiative.

Here is some recent coverage:
Listen to inteview (Dec.12 7:53 to 8:20 am) on Kootenay Co-op Radio
Read article in Halifax Daily News:<a href="http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=81464&sc=89">Eco-Activist off to Antarctica</a>


I am deeply grateful to the following people for their generous donations and help along the way:

Jennifer Keeling
Christine Squire
Ashley Harris
Ben Powless
Deb and Dana Rothkop
Sue and Al Bradley
Amelia Clarke
Victoria Vaselnuik and Harry Pringle
Naomi Devine
Rudy and Mickie Hasse
Nicole Lorusso
Robert King
Chris McClusky
Paige Goodwin
Rachel Forbes
Paul Favlo
Dave Chapman
Anjali Helferty
Jaymini Bhikha
Aftab Erfan
Candace Batycki
George Roche
Katherine Kerley
Tom Atkins
Joy Kennedy

Alsoa big thank you to the Nelson and District Credit Union and the UnitedChurch of Canada for their help, as part of their initiatives on youthempowerment and climate change/social justice work, respectively.

TOTAL DONATED TO DATE: $4,237

(Thosedonations that have gone through the Sierra Club of Canad Foundationwill not show up on the bar on the right hand corner of the page.)


All your help is greatly appreciated. You can follow some of my blogs HERE
and there is a Facebook group with regular updates!

Sincerely,
Zoe

Thank you all so much for your support!! It means so much to me.

For more information on the initiative please see below.


Thank you,
Zoe

After just graduating from Dalhousie Universitythis past October, I have been accepted into a volunteer role as astudent-to-student Chaperone on board an environmental educationexpedition to Antarctica this December and January.



The Organization

The not-for profit organization Students on Iceis a unique initiative dedicated to taking students from around theworld on incredible learning expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic.The ship-based program has modern icebreakers as our home and is theonly organization in the world that offers this kind of opportunity toyouth to be immersed in the incredible and natural environments viahands-on research activities and lectures, taught by polar experts,educators, and researchers.

My Role

Asyou can guess, the program also has a focus on climate change - one ofmy core interests over the past two years. Above all, the expeditionaims to educate and empower youth - the other of my core ambitions overthe past few years. My role on this expedition would be as a studentbut in a leadership role to other students.

I strongly believethat this expedition presents a large opportunity for me to deepen myunderstanding of the cultural, historical, and environmental importanceof the Antarctic beyond the common frame of climate change. Mostimportantly, this would then allow me to better share my knowledge andexperiences with others as I continue environmental work in Canada.


Expedition Dates and Funding Details

Theexpedition is a two-week journey from December 25 to January 8. Myparticipation in the expedition depends on whether I can raise $9,900in sponsorships and donations. (Please see below for budget details).


Iam hoping that you will assist me with part of these costs. I have beencontacting businesses and organizations as well, and am hoping thatwill help a portion of the cost. A donation of over $1000 will receivea tax receipt. Any organization or business may request to have their name and web link posted on the Students on Ice web site.


Why This is Important

Ourworld is at a critical point where we are beginning to embracepragmatic environmental solutions on a global scale. I am excited andinspired by the opportunities available and I want to be able tocommunicate, share, and build that enthusiasm in the most effective wayand with as many young people as possible - and I see Students on Iceas one of many tools to enable me, and many others, to do just that.

Budget

Antarctic Costs 2007 ($9,900 CDN per Chaperone, all-inclusive from Ottawa)



Flights $ 2,000

Fuel & inflation $ 600

Hotels $ 250

Expedition ship accommodation $ 2,900

Meals $ 750

Expedition activities $ 1,500

Education program $ 900

Expedition administration $ 1,000



For more information on the expedition, please visit the official expedition website.