
Will Steger
Educator, Author, Entrepreneur, Environmental Issues and Eyewitness to the Effects of Climate Change
Will Steger is a polar explorer who has accomplished some of the most significant polar expeditions in history. Steger led the first confirmed dogsled journey to the North Pole without re-supply in 1986, the 1,600-mile south-north traverse of Greenland (the longest unsupported dogsled expedition in history) in 1988, and the historic seven-month, 3,741-mile International Trans-Antarctica…
Categories :
Full Bio
Will Steger is a polar explorer who has accomplished some of the most significant polar expeditions in history. Steger led the first confirmed dogsled journey to the North Pole without re-supply in 1986, the 1,600-mile south-north traverse of Greenland (the longest unsupported dogsled expedition in history) in 1988, and the historic seven-month, 3,741-mile International Trans-Antarctica Expedition in 1989–90.
Will is also an educator, author, entrepreneur and eyewitness to the effects of climate change. With his ability to blend extreme exploration and cutting-edge technology, Steger pioneered online education – reaching more than 20 million students via online daily journals and even delivering the first-ever transmission of digital photography from the North Pole.
Based on his unique eyewitness experience with climate change in the polar regions, he established the Will Steger Foundation in 2006. Now Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy, the Minneapolis-based nonprofit educates and empowers people to engage in solutions to climate change.
Steger received his B.S. in Geology and M.A. in Education at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, and taught science for three years at the secondary level. In 1970, he moved from his birthplace in suburban Minneapolis to the wilderness north of Ely, Minnesota. There he founded a winter school and developed innovative wilderness programs for 10 years. In 1991, Steger received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters, University of St. Thomas, and Honorary Doctorate of Science, Westminster College. He also holds Honorary Doctorates from Franklin Pierce University, Hamline University, and Northland College.
His unique ability to blend extreme exploration with cuttingedge technology, have allowed him to reach millions of people around the world, under some of the most hostile conditions on the planet and be a pioneer in online education. Over 20 million students followed the 1995 International Arctic Project via online daily journal entries and the first ever transmission of a digital photograph from the North Pole.
Steger’s pioneering work in adventurebased environmental education was pivotal as he founded the Global Center of Environmental Education at Hamline University and the World School for Adventure Learning at the University of St. Thomas in 1993. Steger joins Amelia Earhart, Robert Peary and Roald Amundsen in receiving the National Geographic Society’s prestigious John Oliver La Gorce Medal for “Accomplishments in Geographic Exploration, in the Sciences, and Public Service to Advance International Understanding” in 1995.
This was the first time the Society presented all three categories together and it has not been given since. In 1996, he became the National Geographic Society’s first Explorer-in-Residence. He received the Explorers Club’s Finn Ronne Memorial Award in 1997. In 2006, Steger joined Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Dr. Thor Heyerdahl and Neil Armstrong in receiving the Lindbergh Award.
Steger was given this award for “numerous polar expeditions, deep understanding of the environment and efforts to raise awareness of current environmental threats, especially climate change.” The same year Steger was appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty to serve on the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group, a group charged with recommending a Climate Action Plan to substantially reduce Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions. In 2007, Steger received the prestigious Lowell Thomas Award from the Explorers Club and the National Geographic Adventure Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on climate change.
In 2009, Steger received a Conservation Leadership Award from Conservation Minnesota Voter Center. In 2014, a Minnesota Senate Resolution honored his leadership and accomplishments for raising awareness of the urgency of climate change. Steger has been invited to testify before the United States Congress, as well as advising world leaders on the environmental protection of Antarctica. Drawing on his knowledge as an expedition leader, Steger designed the Steger Wilderness Center in Ely, MN, set in a pristine boreal forest wilderness ecosystem, to be a place for innovation in the fields of leadership, group dynamics and sustainability.
Based on his unique eyewitness experience with climate change, Steger established Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy in 2006, a Minneapolis, MN based nonprofit that educates and empowers people to engage in solutions to climate change. Steger is the author of four books: Over the Top of the World, Crossing Antarctica, North to the Pole and Saving the Earth.
Testimonials
Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!

LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!

MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!

SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!

SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!

CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!

PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!

FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
First Person Climate Change: Report From Baffin Island
In 2007, renowned climber Ed Viesturs and entrepreneur Richard Branson joined Steger, a team of Inuit hunters, and educators on a 1,200-mile, four-month-long dogsled expedition across the Canadian Arctic’s Baffin Island. Steger shares highlights of this expedition and an overview of what he and his team learned along the way.
Dogsled Dharma: The Secrets of Any Successful Expedition
Steger shares his success strategies as the leader of more than a dozen polar expeditions.
Going to the Edge and the Dramatic Changes He Has Seen During His Lifetime Traversing The Poles
A Conversation With Will Steger
Adventure & Exploration
Authors
Environment
Motivation and Inspiration
Science
Climate Change
Entrepreneurship
Design/Creativite
Sustainability
Videos
NBC Today Show - Will Steger
Will Steger
Books
News
Testimonials
GET IDEAS

1 HOUR OR LESS