Ice Axe Kids
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The World is Your Classroom
Doug is a polar adventurer and educator dedicated to sharing the profound beauty and fragility of our planet. For over a decade, Doug Stoup has traveled, climbed, skied and snowboarded at some of the most remote regions on the planet. He climbed three of the seven summits (Denali, Kilimanjaro and Vinson Massif). He was part of the First Ski and Snowboard Descent of Vinson Massif (the highest peak in Antarctica). He also became the first American male to ski to the South Pole.
Doug’s journeys have included South Georgia Island for the filming of Warren Miller’s feature film, STORM, Anvers Island (off the coast of Antarctica), Ama Dablam and Cho Oyu in the Himalayas, and the ever-popular Ice Bike Expedition on the glacial ice around Patriot Hills, Antarctica, Pole Track—an international North Pole expedition supporting climate change research, the island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic ocean for the filming of Warren Miller’s feature films WINTERVENTION and FLOW STATE, and educational and paddleboard expeditions on the Rio Negro in the Brazilian Amazon.
On January 18, 2008, Stoup made polar history by completing a 47-day expedition from the Weddell Sea (Filtchner Ice Shelf) to the South Pole, a distance of 738 miles. The team of two set out and successfully completed Ernest Shackleton’s failed 1914-1916 Imperial Trans-Antarctic crossing.
In January 2012, Doug was the guide for the South Pole Push Expedition, and lead athlete Grant Korgan 75 miles to become the first paraplegic athlete to trek to the South Pole. The expedition took nearly two weeks in –35 degree temperatures. The team arrived on January 17th, the 100-year anniversary of the Pole’s first explorer, Captain Robert F. Scott.
When not on the ice, Doug speaks to students around the country, and encourages them to interact in his adventures through the ICEAXE.TV website. He shares his experiences and desire to succeed with young people. He also guides and lectures business leaders on motivational and team-building skills. Doug believes that, “it’s through the struggles and failures in life that we find personal success and happiness.”
Doug has received major media coverage throughout his career and his video footage has appeared on numerous television programs and films. He is one of the pioneers of sending audio and video via satellite phone over the internet from remote expeditions around the world.
Doug has planned dozens of student presentations and lectures throughout the U.S. for 2013, and also plans to participate in guiding underprivileged children to Antarctica and to offer an ICE AXE KIDS educational scholarship.
Technology
Webcasting Dispatches
When Doug returns to the Arctic this spring, he’ll be taking with him a customized ICE AXE package of tech gear that will enable him to link up with participating Youth Program classrooms throughout the U.S. Not only will students be able to receive daily dispatches, photos and video; but they’ll also be able to interact and ask Doug questions live.
The ICE AXE KIDS website will be updated daily with a location map based on GPS coordinates, weather patterns based on satellite observations, along with other pertinent information on the geography, wildlife and details of the expedition.
How it Works with Schools
- Doug will call the school at a pre-arranged time via satellite phone from the Arctic. It is recommended that the school have their A/V department establish a connection to carry both sides of the conversation over an intercom or public address system. Here is a link to the type of device used for this purpose.
- A pre-determined moderator will take the call from Doug and ask any impromptu questions at that time.
- After the satellite phone call, Doug will send a video feed via ICEAXE.TV that will address questions sent in by students from (all schools) over the internet. Here is a link to the contact form.
- All that is required to receive the video feed is a broadband connection to the internet and a means to project a computer screen for classroom viewing (if an in-school presentation is planned).
- Daily progress of Doug’s expedition(s) can be followed through the website. Students and teachers can view photos, video, listen to audio, and read about the area(s) being explored.
- In addition to live dispatches, Doug will be taking along HD cameras to film a documentary of the expedition for direct-to-DVD release.
- To participate or partner with us, contact us.
