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Dave and Amy Freeman

April 6, 2014 By Dave Freeman

 

Dave and Amy Freeman Photo by: Nate Ptacek

Dave and Amy Freeman
Photo by: Nate Ptacek

Since 2001 Dave and Amy Freeman have traveled over 30,000 miles by kayak, canoe and dogsled through some of the world’s wildest places, from the Amazon to the Arctic. National Geographic named Dave and Amy Adventurers of the Year in 2014 and their images, videos, and articles been published by a wide range of media sources from the CBC, NBC, and FOX to the Chicago Tribune, National Geographic, Outside, Backpacker, Canoe and Kayak, and Minnesota Public Radio.

The Freemans are memorable speakers and skilled educators who use their wilderness journeys to inspire, educate and entertain a diverse range of audiences, from armchair adventurers and k-12 students to business leaders and seasoned wilderness travelers. They use exploration to highlight life lessons, conservation, and backcountry skills that benefit a varied audience. When Dave and Amy aren’t on expeditions or speaking tours, they guide canoe, kayak and dogsled trips near their home on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Northern Minnesota.

The Freemans also run the Wilderness Classroom, an educational nonprofit organization that introduces kids to wild places and unique cultures.  They actively engage thousands of elementary and middle school students in their expeditions using the internet and live school programs. The North American Odyssey, the latest of many such educational expeditions, actively engaged over 85,000 students through www.wildernessclassroom.org; Dave and Amy worked directly with over 25,000 students during school assemblies.

Watch this 3 minute National Geographic video to learn more about the Freemans. 

Filed Under: About, FreemansExplore

Engaging, Fun and Inspiring Presentations

April 2, 2014 By Dave Freeman

Dave and Amy Freeman present during a school assembly

Dave and Amy Freeman’s presentations captivate, inspire, and educate their audiences.

Dave and Amy Freeman are memorable speakers who have been delivering thoughtful, inspiring and impactful programs for more than a decade. They tailor their messages to resonate with a wide range of ages and interests from inspiring keynote presentations to hands-on programs with young children. The Freemans have given over 700 presentations  at a wide range of venues from conferences, trade shows, libraries, colleges, outdoor expos, festivals, retail stores, museums and k-12 schools to the New York Stock Exchange. Plus, they work with K-12 classrooms around the world through interactive presentations using Skype.

Dave and Amy Freeman have traveled over 30,000 miles by canoe, kayak, and dogsled over the last decade and use stunning images, videos, and stories from their expeditions to draw clear connections between their experiences in the field and the topics they present. Many schools, businesses, and institutions invite them back year after year to inspire, educate and entertain their audiences.

Presentation Topics

  • Inspiration and Motivation
  • Setting and Achieving Goals
  • Leadership
  • Conservation
  • Communication and Team Work
  • Canoeing/Kayaking/Dogsledding/Camping
  • Wilderness
  • Amazon Rainforest

Schedule a presentation!

Contact Dave and Amy to discuss their availability, rates, and how they can tailor a program to fit the interests and time frame of our event.

Filed Under: FreemansExplore, Presentations

Dave and Amy Freeman’s Major Wilderness Treks

March 18, 2014 By Dave Freeman

Our team tells us it is time to get going after a short break. -McKenzie River, North West Territories

Our team tells us it is time to get going after a short break. -McKenzie River, North West Territories

Since they met in 2005 Dave and Amy Freeman have traveled over 30,000 miles together by canoe, kayak, and dogsled. In a normal year they spend more nights sleeping in a tent or under the stars than they  spend with a roof over their heads. Below is a list of the major wilderness treks that they have successfully completed. The Freemans’ over arching goal is to use their human-powered treks to gain appreciation and protection for wild places, to encourage people to spend time outside, and inspire people to set audacious goals and work hard to achieving them.

A Year in the Wilderness (September 23rd, 2015 – September 23rd, 2016)

Dave and Amy Freeman embarked on a 365-day adventure in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in support of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters’ efforts to protect the Boundary Waters from proposed sulfide-ore copper mining on the Wilderness edge. The two will traveled approximately 3,000 miles by canoe and dog team as they explored more than 500 lakes and streams throughout the year. The journey will begin on September 23, 2015, the fall equinox, on the edge of the Boundary Waters in Ely, Minnesota, and concluded 366 days later when the Freemans paddled out of the wilderness after spending an entire year with out crossing a road, entering a building, or leaving the Wilderness.

Completed Expeditions

Paddle to DC (August-December 2014)

On August, 24 of 2014, Dave and Amy Freeman began a 101-day journey along the waterways of the United States and Canada from Ely, Minnesota to Washington D.C. in hopes of delivering their canoe to the White House in early December. The “petition” canoe was signed by thousands of people who are determined that no sulfide ore mining should be allowed in the Boundary Waters Watershed. The Freemans traveled over 2,000 miles by water, paddling the signature canoe on the smaller lakes, rivers, and sailing a 27 foot sailboat named “Yemaya” across the Great Lakes with the canoe on board.

Rio Roosevelt Centennial Expedition (May-June 2014)

Dave and a team of 8 Americans and Brazilians retraced President Theodore Roosevelt’s historic first descent of the Rio Roosevelt, or River if Doubt,  in 1914. They  spent over 6 weeks in Brazil and 35 days canoeing over 400 miles down the remote and challenging Rio Roosevelt.

North American Odyssey (2010-2013)

Amy and Dave spent 3 years traveling over 11,700 miles across North America by canoe, kayak, and dogsled through some of the wildest places and most unique ecosystems on the continent.

Trans-Amazon Expedition (2007-2008)

The Freemans led an international team of scientists, educators and explorers on a 3,000 mile traverse of South America. They cycled from the Pacific Ocean up and over the Andes Mountains and then spent nearly 6 months paddling across the Amazon Basin to the mouth of the Amazon River.

Superior Waters Project (2006)

In the Fall of 2006 Dave and Amy completed their first major wilderness trek together. They circumnavigated Lake Superior during the stormy months of September and October. After 54 days of which they were windbound for 16 they completed their 1,000 mile paddle just before Halloween.

Project Peru 2  (2006)

In the Spring of 2006 Dave led an international team on a 6 week exploratory canoe trip in the Peruvian Amazon. Their team completed the first known canoe descent of the Pacaya River in modern times.

Project Peru 1  (2005)

In the Spring of 2005 Dave Freeman led a team on a 6 week canoe trip in Amazon. They paddled dugout canoes and descended the Samiria River through the heart of the remote Pacaya Samiria National Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon.

 

Filed Under: Expeditions, FreemansExplore

Guided Adventures in the Boundary Waters and Beyond

February 19, 2014 By Dave Freeman

Canoeing and fishing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area WildernessWhen we are not on expeditions Amy and I lead canoeing and dogsledding wilderness adventures in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and sea kayak trips along the North Shore of Lake Superior. We have over 20 years of combined experience leading wilderness trips and can organize and lead your family or group on an unforgettable wilderness journey.

Do you have your sights set on a location outside of the Boundary Waters? We have paddled and dogsledded over 30,000 miles, crisscrossing North and South America in the process. Let us know what type of wilderness experience you are looking for, we would love to help make it happen.

Please contact us to discuss how we can be apart of your next wilderness experience.

This business is operated under special use permit from the Superior National Forest.

Filed Under: FreemansExplore, Guided Adventures

Educational Programs

January 17, 2014 By Dave Freeman

Education plays a major role in all of the Freeman’s expeditions and there are a variety of ways that K-12 students and teachers can participate.

The Wilderness Classroom Organization

The Wilderness Classroom’s goal is to improve students’ core academic skills and appreciation for the environment by connecting classrooms with expeditions around the globe. Through the Wilderness Classroom students and teachers use lesson plans, photos, videos, online polls, and other interactive features of www.wildernessclassroom.org to participate in the Freeman’s adventures, as well as a wide range of other projects that connect scientists, explorers, and travelers with classrooms. For example, during the North American Odyssey over 85,000 students and 2,700 teachers from around the globe used the Wilderness Classroom to follow the Freeman’s 11,700 mile journey across North America by canoe, kayak, and dogsled and learn along with them. National Geographic named Dave and Amy Freeman “Adventurers of the Year” in 2014 for their educational efforts.

The Wilderness Classroom’s lesson plans and activities are aligned to Common Core Standards and designed with a 3th through 8th grade audience in mind, but educators working with students of all ages, from K-12 have successfully used Wilderness Classroom expeditions in their classrooms. All lesson plans and other education resources are made available to classrooms for free thanks to corporate sponsors, private donors, and grants.

We encourage teachers to register and start using the Wilderness Classroom today!

Skype in the Classroom

Through a partnership with Skype and the Wilderness Classroom the Freeman’s offer a variety of Skype lessons. During Skype Lessons, which typically last 20 to 30 minutes Dave and Amy use Skype’s video conferencing and screen sharing technology to interact with classrooms on a variety of topics ranging from the Amazon Rainforest to Dogsledding. This provides classrooms from around the world a unique opportunity to ask questions and interact with the explorers in a meaningful and impactful way. It is not uncommon for the adventurers to video conference with classrooms from several different countries in the same day.

Google’s Connect Classroom

Through a partnership between Google, EdReach, and the Wilderness Classroom the Freemans are developing a series of  virtual field trips, which allow groups of classrooms to connect with the Freeman’s using Google Hangout. The Dave and Amy are also part of the Google Glass Explorers program. They are also using video taken through Google Glass to provide participating classrooms with a POV perspective while dogsledding and doing other activities to put the students on the back of a dogsled, and spark their interest in exploration and the outdoors. The virtual field trips are being promoted by a range of media sources including Google and National Geographic.

Filed Under: Education, FreemansExplore

Media Archives

January 17, 2014 By Dave Freeman

Below is a list of some of the media that has been generated by Dave and Amy Freeman’s  recent wilderness adventures.

Outside Online, “Couple Completes 3-Year, 11,700-Mile Honeymoon” by Joe Spring 4/11/13

Paddling Headquarters, “Amy and Dave Freeman complete their massive 11,700 mile North American Odyssey” by David Johnston 4/10/13

Idaho Mountain Express, “Couple completes 11,700-mile journey” 4/10/13

Duluth News Tribune, “Grand Marais couple complete 11,700-mile expedition” by Sam Cook 4/7/13

Chicago Adventure Travel Examiner, “Wilderness Classroom finish the epic North American Odyssey” by Ted Nelson 4/7/13

ABC News, Sarasota, FL, “Kayakers depart Sarasota on part of a huge North American journey” 3/13/13

St. Paul Pioneer Press, “Minn. couple near end of 11,700-mile kayak odyssey” 3/11/13

KMSP TV, “Three years, 11,700 miles, one great kayak excursion” by Lindsey LaBelle 3/11/13

Duluth News Tribune, “Grand Marais couple nears end of 11,700-mile educational expedition” by Sam Cook 3/10/13

Republished:

SC Times, “Minnesota couple near end of 11,700-mile kayak odyssey” 3/11/13
Miami Herald, “Minnesota couple near the end of 11,700 mile kayak odyssey” 3/11/13
The Republic, “MN Kayak Odyssey” 3/11/13
KTTC, “Minnesota couple near the end of 11,700 mile kayak odyssey” 3/11/13
KHQ, “Minnesota couple near the end of 11,700 mile kayak odyssey” 3/11/13
Key C TV, “Minnesota couple near the end of 11,700 mile kayak odyssey” 3/11/13
WQOW, “Minnesota couple near the end of 11,700 mile kayak odyssey” 3/11/13
KNDO, “Minnesota couple near the end of 11,700 mile kayak odyssey” 3/11/13
WFLX, “Minnesota couple near the end of 11,700 mile kayak odyssey” 3/11/13
WDAZ, “Minnesota couple near the end of 11,700 mile kayak odyssey” 3/11/13

New York Daily News, “Minnesota couple look forward to wrapping up the last leg of their 11,700 mile journey across North America” by Carol Kuruvilla 3/7/13

Tampa Bay Times,”Couple kayak into Tampa near end of three-year journey” by Will Hobson3/6/13

Trade Only Today, “Couple paddles across continent for educational cause” 1/15/13

WCTI Channel 12: New Bern, North Carolina, “Couple kayaking to Key West visits NC coast” 1/2/13

Bayside Gazette: Ocean City, MD, “Couple on expedition makes stop in OC” by Nancy Powell 11/29/12

Cape May Star and Wave, “Traveling Across North America Couple Pauses for Hurricane Sandy” by Cain Chamberlin 11/21/12

The Press of Atlantic City: “Everyone Has a Story: Duo puts cross country trip on hold to help storm cleanup” by Michelle Brunetti Post 11/6/12

New Haven Register, “New Haven native talks at Foote School about nature adventures” by Helen Bennett 10/5/12

Plymouth Old Colony Memorial, “North American Odyssey: The Wilderness Classroom, Paddlers’ 12,000 Mile Trek Lands in America’s Hometown” by Rich Harbert 10/2/12

Canoe & Kayak online, “Back to School, The Wilderness Classroom Paddles On” by Conor Mihell 9/14/12

CHSJ News 94.1 FM, “Couple kayak St. John River as wilderness classroom” with Amanda Debsen 8/24/12

CHSJ News 94.1 FM, “St. John River potential for water trail” with Amanda Debsen 8/24/12

CBC Radio  with Elke Semerad 8/24/12

CBC News, “US couple’s kayak wilderness class comes to N.B.” interview with Roy Gjelstad 8/21/12

CBC Television NB Newsmaker for 8/21/12

CBC Television, “Kayak journey hits N.B.” 8/21/12

Fiddlehead Focus, “North American Odyssey brings couple on kayak adventure” by Julie Daigle 8/16/12

Canoe & Kayak online,  “En Route: Wilderness Classroom (Lake Superior)” by Katey Dolezal 7/2/12

Canoe & Kayak Paddle With Purpose Awards nominee, 5/25/12

Outside Online, “Expedition Watch: A Honeymoon Crossing of North America” by Joe Spring 5/3/12

ExplorersWeb, “ExWeb interview with Dave Freeman: husband-and-wife team on 11,700 mile journey” 4/25/13

Canoe & Kayak online, “Wilderness Classroom” by Katey Dolezal 4/11/12

Canoe & Kayak online, “10 Paddlers to Watch” by Conor Mihell 2/10/12

Filed Under: Media Archives

Backpacking in the Tombstone Territorial Park

January 1, 2014 By Dave Freeman

Backpacking above treeline through the Tombstone Territorial Park in the Yukon Territory during the North American Odyssey.

Backpacking above treeline through the Tombstone Territorial Park in the Yukon Territory during the North American Odyssey.

 

During the North American Odyssey Amy and I spent 10 days backpacking through the Tombstone Territorial Park in the Yukon Territory.  This amazing wilderness covers a large swath north of Dawson City. We were told there were a couple miles of trails in one corner of the park, but we spent 10 days without seeing another human or human footprint. The ridge tops were blanketed with beautiful alpine tundra and provided amazing views and easy travel. Bushwacking through the alders, and crossing the bogs and ragging rivers in the valleys was another story.

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: hiking, North American Odyssey, Tombstone Territorial Park, Yukon Territory

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