Aidan's Antarctica Expedition

I will join my teacher and approximately 80 others from around the world to learn about Antarctica, climate change, and sustainability, while participating in a leadership development program called "Leadership on the Edge." My teacher Ms. Kim Williams was selected in 2012 by the U.S. Green Building Council and the Center for Green Schools as one of the two "coolest" teachers in America for her work in educating students about sustainability and climate change.

The minimum age for this expedition had been 15, but after making a compelling case for why I am uniquely prepared, based on prior hiking, climbing, cold weather, wilderness survival, search & rescue, and first aid training, Robert Swan made an exception. As such, I will be the youngest person to join 2041 on one of their International Antarctic Expeditions (IAE), with nearly all the others being of college age or older. Additionally, Robert Swan would like to make my school, Leonardo da Vinci K-8 school in Sacramento, CA, its first school partner with 2041 and would like it to become a model school for 2041!

Upon my return, my teacher and I will work on projects to support the mission of 2041, including planning and constructing the first Education Base (E-Base) on the West Coast. An E-Base is a net zero energy building that is powered solely by renewable energy sources and is used to teach others about the mission of 2041, climate change, and sustainability. I also plan to be a spokesperson of 2041 for kids my age.

To do all of this, I need to help raise $55,000, so that my teacher and I can join the expedition. This $55,000 is comprised of $44,000 in expedition fees; $6,500 in travel expenses to and from Ushuaia, Argentina, where the expedition begins, including flights, ground transportation, airport taxes, visa and baggage charges; $2,500 in mandatory trip and evacuation insurance; and $2,000 in specialized mandatory clothing & gear, as well as fundraising expenses and incidental costs. While most prospective IAE members start planning for their expedition a year or more in advance, we have only about 2 months! As of mid-January, we had already been successful in raising $22,000 of the $55,000 from sponsors and donors. I need your help to raise the remaining $33,000 as quickly as possible so that we may book our flights and pay the balance of the expedition fee.

For more information and to follow my journey, please check out my Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/2041Expedition

and LIKE and SHARE with your friends, so together
we can build a promising and hopeful future, united in the goal to create a better tomorrow, today.