An active, adventurous, outdoorsy, and environmentally conscious 25 year old Farmington Hills native, Amy Newman describes herself as "a mountain girl at heart." The 2004 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison holds a B.S. in Zoology and Environmental Studies and worked after graduation as an intern with the U.S. Geological Survey on the Elwha River dam removal project in Olympic National Park for a year. She is currently in Michigan spending time with family, promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle and now working toward selection for the Pole to Pole Leadership Institute - which would be the adventure of a lifetime.
    Amy took time out recently to answer a few questions about Pole to Pole:

Tell us how you found out about Pole to Pole and how you'll be a part of it.

    I found out about the Pole to Pole Leadership Institute through a friend of mine, Pete Dronkers, who works for Nevada Wilderness, NV.  If chosen for Pole to Pole, I could be part of one of three teams: the Expedition Team, Advanced Team, or the Education Team. 
    The Expedition Team consists of the first ever human-powered journey from the North Pole to the South Pole!  Methods of transportation include: cross-country skiing, travel by foot, raft, bike, and kayak.
  The Advanced Team consists of 80 international youth that will spend 6 months volunteering on multiple projects ranging from wildlife habitat conservation, climate change, AIDS issues and more. 
   The Education Team will travel to different schools in North America and Europe empowering one million youth to become active in local community projects, drawing a connection between themselves and the Advanced Teams 10 to 10,000 miles away!

What about this project appealed most to you?

   I am a strong believer in Margaret Meade's quote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."
   It may be cliché, but my lifelong goal is to make as big an impact that I can on my community and the rest of the world!  I am extremely passionate about the environment and the health of our planet and wish to share my passions with the rest of the world.  Pole to Pole will give me the opportunity to do so!
    Pole to Pole's focus on global citizenship, promoting a sustainable lifestyle, and youth empowerment are what appealed to me most.  All of these values emulate my own and give me hope for the future!  The Pole to Pole Institute would afford me the opportunity to educate and mentor America's youth, showing them that anything they dream is possible, even a human-powered journey from the North Pole to the South Pole!

What other things have you done that you'd consider adventurous?

   I enjoy pushing my limits and trying new things.  It makes me feel alive!  At 17, I packed a duffle bag and traveled across country for the first time to work at an overnight camp in Idaho Springs, CO.  At 20, I worked on trails, aided in search and rescue, and helped patrol Mt. Katahdin at Baxter State Park, ME for the Student Conservation Association.  At 23, I joined the Student Conservation Association once more, backpacking for 12 days at a time in Olympic National Park to gather samples for a project with the U.S. Geological Survey.  Between those years I led camping trips for children in Wisconsin and California. 

What do you hope to gain from this project and what do you hope to contribute to it?

   I hope to gain incredible leadership skills and a better sense of the situation of our planet through Pole to Pole.  Whether chosen to be a part of the Expedition Team, Advanced Team, or Education Team, I will gain invaluable knowledge to share with my community and the rest of the world.
   I have met other applicants involved with the program and found that all of us come from different backgrounds, cultures, and countries!  Each of us has the opportunity not only to learn from Pole to Pole, but also from each other.  It is extremely exciting!
   I hope to contribute my passion for the environment and previous life experiences to Pole to Pole. In college, I had the opportunity to work with a program called Adventure Learning Programs (ALPs).  It is a leadership organization that provides teambuilding workshops and ropes courses for groups of people associated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
  Through ALPs, I created and facilitated individually tailored workshops for over 3,000 students and faculty! I also had the opportunity to develop and lead training seminar retreats and weekly meetings to teach experiential education skills to the newer ALPs members.  ALPs afforded me the opportunity to bring people together and help them realize their full potential, helping them step outside of their comfort circles and stretch their boundaries!  I intent on bringing these skills I gained in ALPs and other organizations I have been a part of to Pole to Pole!

Tell us about the t-shirt pictured on your web page.

   Rather than recount every single detail about the shirt, I'll stick with the basics.
   Recently I've gotten into the habit of pilfering through the endless mound of vintage clothing in my parent's basement, looking for old treasures and soon to be refurbished ones. During one of these searches I happened upon a plastic grocery bag containing a pair of little girls black stretch pants and a shirt with florescent writing and pictures.
  This children's environmental t-shirt from the 1980's took me back to Mrs. Smith's class in 2nd grade. At the tender age of 8, I brought my eco-passions to school. With Mrs. Smith's help, our class adopted a manatee under the condition I give updates every month.  Along with the monthly manatee updates, I managed to get my classmates to sign petitions to save the whales and anything else that needed saving at the time.
   Fast-forward to a few months ago....upon finding the "so bright I need sunglasses to look at it" t-shirt, something clicked, I remembered my lifelong mission, as Gandhi said, to "be the change you wish to see in this world." That is when it hit me; I was destined to find out about Pole to Pole!  Any uncertainties I had about the program vanished and I realized that I was meant to apply!  

How has your family reacted to all this?

My family was a bit shocked at first, but they're incredibly supportive!

How are you doing with raising sponsorship dollars and how can people get involved?

   I have told everyone I know about Pole to Pole, including family, friends, and organizations where I am currently volunteering.  I raised the minimum amount necessary, but still have a ways to go! If you would like to sponsor me, you can check out my personal webpage. 

Anything else you'd like our readers to know?

   You don't have to go on an expedition from the North Pole to the South Pole to create massive change! You can do it right from your home through multiple small steps! Change an old light bulb to a more energy efficient one, try riding your bike to work for a day, or even turn your thermostat in your home down by 1° F.  All of these things are quick and easy, but can make a huge difference in the world! My favorite eco-tip site is www.Idealbite.com. My family and I have incorporated many of their daily eco-tips into our daily lives!