Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation
Wow! The Company You’ll Keep!
Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation (ASC) is a subject we just can’t stop talking about…and shouldn’t. Over the past few months we’ve been studying this organization’s amazing wealth of expeditions, and the hard work that these teams of scientists and adventurers do in order to study, rejuvenate, and save our natural world. In fact, with each and every grain of knowledge that we receive about this amazing group of people, ASC becomes far more than something a person SHOULD do – it becomes something a person WANTS to do! Build better habitat locally to reach globally.
Every single one of ASC’s projects is organized by combining the outdoors-person with scientists who analyze all the data that is found by these adventurers. It is volunteers like YOU who keep these amazing programs running, and allow an incredible group of scientists and adventurers to continue to go in-depth in order to investigate various animals, flowers, vegetables, and locations to better understand the world around us; and, most importantly, to stop that world from disappearing.
But what we have never discussed is the incredible group of people who are behind the inner-workings of ASC. This ‘band of talent’ come from all different parts of the world and all different backgrounds, and they bring to the table some seriously outstanding gifts, skills, talents, and knowledge.
Take the scientists for example. The ASC scientists represent all different specialties: glaciology; biogeochemistry; soil science; climate change; wildlife ecology; comparative physiology; landscape ecology; high altitude physiology/medicine; ecology; microbiology; and the list goes on!
Now, Gregg Treinish is the Executive Director of ASC, and this man is a scientist and adventure athlete extraordinaire. Gregg formulated the idea for ASC in late 2010 because of his firm belief that it’s the responsibility of those who recreate in natural areas to protect those same areas. Gregg has worked as a wildlife biologist, a backcountry guide, and a supervisor in wilderness therapy programs in Colorado and Montana. Not only has Gregg traveled to five continents, but in 2004 he hiked the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail; and, in 2008, he completed the first ever trek of the Andes Mountain Range, which took more than twenty-two months and covered 7,800 miles. For this amazing accomplishment, Gregg was awarded the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year award. Right now Gregg is tracking lynx, wolverine, and grizzly bears for Wild Things Unlimited. Doing all this and having degrees in Sociology as well as Ecology and Evolution makes Gregg one of the most skilled and talented individuals on the planet; not to mention, the absolute perfect man to represent this incredible organization.
The list of ASC’s Advisory Council also reads like a “who’s who.” Lance Craighead has been the Executive Director of the Craighead Institute since 1994; their mission being to maintain healthy populations of native plants, wildlife, and people as part of sustainable, functioning ecosystems. There is also Conrad Anker, an American rock climber, mountaineer, and author who is famous for this challenging ascents in the high Himalaya and Antarctica. In 1999, Anker was also the climber who spotted the body of legendary British climber, George Mallory, on Mount Everest.
And the list doesn’t end there. Jon Bowermaster is a six-time grantee of the National Geographic Expeditions Council, as well as an award-winning writer and filmmaker who recently concluded the OCEANS 8 project. This eight-part film series documents the incredible expedition Jon and his teams around the world took by sea kayak during the past ten years. Trip Jennings is an explorer, filmmaker, and a passionate conservationist. He’s spent the last three years being chased by crocodiles, evading the Chinese military, and being pinned down by rebels with AK-47’s. It’s as if Indiana Jones actually WAS on the face of the planet. Roz Savage is an ocean rower, environmental campaigner, author, speaker, AND the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean. Dr. Beth Holland is a recognized leader in the understanding of the global nitrogen cycle and its role in the climate and earth systems.
On to, Celine S. Cousteau. Being the founder and Executive Director of the non-profit organization CauseCentric Productions, this woman seeks to educate and inspire through adventure and visual storytelling. And, yes, she is the daughter of ocean explorer and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau and granddaughter of the legendary Jacques Yves Cousteau. Captain Joel S. Fogel is the chairman of the Philadelphia chapter of the Explorers Club, and was recognized by the Chapter for a lifetime of exploration!
Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation (ASC), opens people up to the most amazing studies and expeditions being completed all across the world. And the recent updates are that, ASC is now recruiting CDT hikers to take part in their white-tailed ptarmigan study: www.adventureandscience.org/ptarmigan.html; as well as recruiting hikers to participate in a study of garlic-mustard on the Appalachian Trail.
What’s coming soon? In 2012, Danielle Katz and John Dye will run twelve of California’s most critical rivers from, Source to Sea, in order to raise awareness about the diminishing health of California watersheds. The goal of this project is to inspire knowledge and conservation for twelve Watersheds throughout California. The campaign will combine scientific observations and education with individual stories of these rivers and people’s adventures going down them. This journey will be documented on the website www.riversforchange.org, and we will bring you more information about this in the next article.
The next generation deserves to enjoy the incredible resources and assets this world STILL has to offer, and ASC needs to be able to continue to do the fantastic work they’re doing. Everyone in Florida and the Florida Coast Line ought to get involved with this organization. Become a member today!
Goodness knows, you could not keep better company than the scientists, adventurers, and advisors that make up this incredible organization!
Until Next Time, Everybody!
For more information, go NOW to:
www.adventureandscience.org
www.adventureandscience.org/membership.html
