Polar adventurer and expedition guide Eric Larsen, along with Jack Wolfskin, an outdoor apparel, equipment, and footwear company announced their first BIPOC Polar Scholarship. The scholarship will cover all expenses for the participation of six BIPOC individuals in Eric’s Level 1 Polar Training Course on Lake of the Woods in northern Minnesota.
Based out of a remote cabin, this eight-day course equips participants with the skills and safety knowledge required when preparing for modern-day polar travel. The course will have participants complete a ‘mini’ expedition on Lake of the Woods.
For scholarship recipients, all the necessary gear, equipment, travel costs, and course fees will be provided by a generous donation from Jack Wolfskin.
Larsen, an accomplished polar adventurer and mountaineer, looks forward to bringing his decades of experience to the course to help guide the next generation of explorers. Larsen has completed more North and South Pole expeditions than any other American in history and was the first and only person to successfully complete expeditions to the South Pole, North Pole, and the summit of Mount Everest in a continuous 365-day period in 2010. Additionally, he completed a human-powered full (from land) North Pole expedition.
The Polar Academy and scholarship program has taken several years of planning, community outreach, and committee selection. The training committee will be co-led by Emily Ford, a Minnesota winter adventurer and dog musher, and two prior polar training participants, Eric Cedeno and Danica Carey.
An additional committee member will include Rohan Freeman, who grew up in Jamaica and was the first African American to climb the Seven Summits. This group of four individuals will form the selection committee, deciding the six winners for this year’s Polar Scholarship based on a variety of criteria.
In recent years, Larsen has overcome a recent battle with stage 3B colorectal cancer and has been working with Jack Wolfskin to develop a winter expedition clothing line. The German-based manufacturer is stepping up to assist with clothing and financial support for scholarships in the Polar Academy.
For participants interested in attending, details are listed below:
- Deadline to apply: Dec. 1
- Scholarship winners will be announced: Dec. 8
- Course Dates: 20-28
The Polar Academy is made possible through gear and equipment contributions from Fischer Skis, Uvex, OneWay, Baffin, Therm-a-Rest, MSR, Stanley, and Seirus Innovation.
To learn more about the scholarship and apply, visit http://www.ericlarsenexplore.com/scholarship/.
