Guest blogger Joey’s grabbing his winter gear and heading north! Before shipping out he’s stopped by the Wild Wire…

My expedition to the Arctic this summer with Students on Ice is certainly shaping up to be an extraordinary experience! Environmental advocacy is my passion and I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to join this group of young environmental leaders. This expedition will expose me to a completely different world and will allow me to see firsthand how my actions and those of my community are affecting the polar environment and the people who live there. It definitely is going to be an educational, eye opening, and inspirational summer.

In preparation, I have been learning as much as I can about climate change, the Arctic environment, and Inuit culture. This is through watching documentaries, keeping an eye on relevant news articles, and speaking to my friends who have been on this expedition before. I have reached out through social media to introduce Students on Ice to my network and to encourage them to follow us on our expedition through our live blog. As well, I am working with the Youth Environmental Network of York Region to plan the Ecological Action Conference taking place in October 2011.

I am humbled to be a part of this expedition, and I am very grateful to share my experiences with Earth Rangers’ members. My goal on this journey is to become a more effective environmental leader so I will be better equipped to address ecological issues in my hometown of Markham, Ontario. By fully immersing myself in the natural environment and by forming relationships and connections with the people I meet, I will not only be able to understand the issues that challenge our planet, but also to create and contribute to solutions that will make positive impacts both locally and globally.

I can’t wait to meet everyone on July 23, and I’ll be sure to share my experiences with you and Earth Rangers. We’ll be in touch!

-Joey

Up next… Joey’s first post from the Arctic

While you’re waiting don’t just sit tapping your toe, find out more about Joey, Students on Ice and this amazing Arctic and expedition.

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.