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Aaron Doering. Ruby, Beacon and Terex, three of the 31 Polar Huskies on the trip, proved to be hearty traveling companions. . Aaron Doering.
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Aaron Doering Ruby, Beacon and Terex, three of the 31 Polar Huskies on the trip, proved to be hearty traveling companions.
Aaron Doering Wanted: Adventurer/explorer to withstand subzero night temperatures, while rooming in a 5’x8’ tent with colleague. Compatibility and congeniality important. Must be able to deliver adventure learning project to classrooms around the world. No extra charge for beautiful full moons.
Aaron Doering On the second day of the trip, the unthinkable happens to one of the sleds: it starts to sink into Great Slave Lake. While memorably scary, this was not the most dangerous day of the adventure.
Aaron Doering This far north of Mankato, the winter holds about four hours of daylight. On this particular day, the sun never got any higher or stronger.
Aaron Doering Time Line: December 2003–June 2004Online Classroom Coverage: January 11–May 7, 2004Approx. Mileage: 3000 milesTeam 31 Polar Huskies and an International team of six educators and explorersConditions -50 F to +40 F. Daylight hours from 6 in January to 24 in JuneTerrain Tundra, Arctic Ocean, glaciers, Baffin Island mountains, Atlantic Ocean
Aaron Doering A long way from Armstrong Hall, thinks Aaron Doering (MSU ’05, Masters in Geography), where a walk even from the furthest parking lot did not merit 8 layers of clothing.
Aaron Doering Sending the daily audio update from the tent.
Aaron Doering Dangers of the trip were plentiful, yet each decision made in planning and travel was premised on “safety first.” Here, the rock gardens of the Arctic, nearly hidden by blowing snow, presented hazardous obstacles for the sleds. Doering reports that the most dangerous situation for the group was a blizzard that lasted for days and nearly enveloped the tents.
Aaron Doering Week 22... "The Arctic is a very special place that truly is the barometer to all of our actions in the mid-lattitudes. Our hope is that you have learned a great deal during Arctic Transect 2004 and that you have been inspired to make a difference on a local scale."-Team Arctic Transect 2004
Aaron Doering The 6 months gave the adventure team even more time to share of themselves. “You get to know everyone really well. You find out what they were like growing up and how that explains who you are today. You find out each person’s perspective of what the group is enduring,” Doering explains.
Aaron Doering Arctic Transect 2004 included a strong cultural connection with the native Inuit, which included the traditional Inuit mode of travel and making camp whenever possible along the route. When the group descended on the Inuit communities, they were met with celebrations.
Aaron Doering Arctic Transect 2004 An Educational Exploration of Nunavut set out to document arctic climate change and deliver an adventure learning project. By dogsledding across the territory of Nunavut, the team met Inuit Elders and students, documented traditional ecological knowledge in the remote communities visited along the trail and gathered scientific data daily from the field for NASA and Environment Canada. .
Aaron Doering Aaron Doering, a native of Good Thunder, Minnesota, is currently a professor at the University of Minnesota, where he teaches courses related to how technology can be used to help classroom learning. He is proud that his connections with MSU, as well as his training, were put to good use for the trip.
Aaron Doering In planning for Arctic Transect 2004, Doering was confident that “adventure learning” would bring a fresh model to classroom learning. In an interview with MSU’s Alumni Magazine, he predicted, “The expedition and dogs will attract students into our project, eventually leading them to an authentic education. I don’t think they’ll be asking many questions about why they’re studying this.” A 300 page curriculum was available free to teachers worldwide.
Aaron Doering Ruby, Beacon and Terex, three of the 31 Polar Huskies on the trip, proved to be hearty traveling companions.
Aaron Doering From the basement of Armstrong Hall, WALTER, the Weather Analysis Laboratory for Teaching and Educational Resources http://www.mnsu.edu/weather/the_lab.html) provided timely and valuable information to the team about current and emerging conditions. Doering maintains this was critical to their navigation decisions and the team’s ultimate success.
Aaron Doering Doering is a consultant to the National Geographic Society and professor at the University of Minnesota. Before that, he taught middle and high school social studies in Rochester, Minnesota, and was able to take his students to more than 17 countries to study physical and cultural geography.
Aaron Doering A warm greeting from students in Pelly Bay, Nunavut.
