Renowned Explorer Will Steger Leads Youth on Arctic Expedition to Examine Global Warming Impact

Steger and Six Young Explorers Make Final Preparations for 60-Day, 1,400-Mile Dogsled Expedition

Today famed polar explorer Will Steger announced he is departing on an international expedition to document the impact of global warming in the Arctic region. Steger will be joined by a team of six young explorers -- from Norway, Great Britain, Canada and the United States -- on a 60-day, 1,400-mile dogsled expedition across Ellesmere Island, which is the northernmost part of the North American continent.

The expedition team will depart on March 28 and is currently making final preparations on Baffin Island. The team will follow in the footsteps of Arctic explorers who traversed the region in the early 1900s and use their historical routes, journals and archived photos to document the disintegrating ice shelves, retreating glaciers and destruction of wildlife habitat.

Steger and his team members seek to inspire international cooperation in environmental stewardship, mobilize Generation Y to produce global warming solutions and educate youth by providing an eyewitness account of their experiences through videos, podcasts, photos, blog entries and lesson plans at www.globalwarming101.com.

Steger, the 2007 recipient of two prestigious awards from National Geographic and The Explorers Club, selected the team members, ages 21-28, for their accomplishments in exploration: two National Geographic grantees; two kite-skiing international record holders; the 2007 Iditarod "Rookie of the Year"; a polar historian; and Sam Branson, the son of Virgin Group's Richard Branson who joined Steger on his 2007 expedition to Baffin Island.

"My team is composed of some of the brightest young explorers in the world," Steger said. "They continue to inspire my efforts to solve global warming and will serve as excellent role models for future generations."

The Ellesmere Island Expedition team -- profiled on www.globalwarming101.com -- is available for interviews until they depart on March 28.

The Ellesmere Island Expedition is produced by the Will Steger Foundation through partnerships with Fagen, Inc., the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the National Geographic Society, SuperValu, the Renewable Fuels Foundation, the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company and Piper Jaffray.

For more information about the expedition or to schedule an interview with one of the team members, please contact Meghan Krause at 612.333.4595 or mkrause@greenmarksports.com.

About the Will Steger Foundation and Global Warming 101

Established in January 2006 by renowned polar explorer Will Steger, the Will Steger Foundation promotes change through education and advocacy. Global Warming 101 is the first initiative of the Will Steger Foundation and raises broad public awareness about global warming as witnessed through Will Steger's polar expeditions. Global Warming 101 expeditions offer a unique view of people and places at the tipping point of climate change, while www.globalwarming101.com serves as an international platform for furthering education, discussion and activism, and sharing the experiences and updates from each expedition.

About the Ellesmere Island Expedition

In March, Steger will lead six young explorers from four different countries -- Norway, Great Britain, Canada and the United States -- to document the impact of and inspire solutions to global warming. The team includes two National Geographic grantees, two kite-skiing international record holders, the 2007 Iditarod "Rookie of the Year," a polar historian; and Sam Branson, who is the son of Virgin Group's Richard Branson and joined Steger on his 2007 expedition to Baffin Island. People from around the world will be able to track the Ellesmere Island Expedition team on www.globalwarming101.com, which will include profiles, videos, images, podcasts and blog entries from team members.