Arctic Expedition for a sustainable society

THE CAMPAIGN IS ENDING 30. 4. 2019   LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN!

My name is Patricia and I am the only Slovak ever selected for this life-changing Arctic expedition, led by the world-famous polar explorer who is the first person in history to walk to both Poles, Robert Swan O.B.E.





My Story

When I was about 10 years old, I saw a documentary about global warming. There was one scene that I can still remember clearly. It showed a polar bear swimming in the ocean further and further from the coast in order to find food. The voice-over was the following: “If the polar bear does not soon find an iceberg to have a rest, it will drown…“The powerlessness I felt at that moment was terrible. Then I decided: I must do something to prevent such situations from happening.



I continued living my life, driven by my passion for nature and animals. I was trying to do my best to protect the environment by recycling, saving water, not wasting energy… In my secondary school I launched a project which was aimed at decreasing the negative impact of our school by facilitating and encouraging recycling. When I came to university, I became a member of a sustainable development association which enables me to be part of different projects in the field.

Despite all these activities, I fell that I should do something more. Then, I learnt about this expedition. I realised that it is exactly what I need to do to assure that situations like in that documentary will not happen anymore.


The Expedition

The Aim of the expedition is to educate and engage young people so that they contribute to a more sustainable world. We will take part in the Leadership on the Edge program, which consists of a unique blend of leadership improvements, climate change training and sustainability education.

To help our leadership development there will be a series of workshops to determine our abilities, and find skills upon which we want to improve.  The best part of this program is the collaboration among participants, over 80 people from different nations,  exchanging ideas, improving team work and cross-cultural skills. The goal is that these ideas are further built upon in different parts of the world and allowing to find climate solutions.



We will be taught by Robert Swan, one of the greatest storytellers in the world, how to formulate our thoughts into a clear and concise message, and address it to a larger audience. Furthermore, every participant will receive personalised coaching and will be given the opportunity to tell their story in front of the others to get direct feedback about their speech from the Climate Change team.

In order to turn ideas into actions we will be empowered with facts, figures, and tools that will help us create a strong base of knowledge about Climate Change. We will learn how to approach it with optimism and solutions that can benefit people and the planet.

Experts in glaciology, geography and wildlife will share with us their knowledge during informative lectures. We will learn how the fragile ecosystem of the Arctic works and what is necessary to do not only for its protection, but also for that of the entire planet.

Leaders of the expedition will share with us their experiences and adventures and we will discover the history of exploration of Polar regions.



This will be completed by discovering the amazing wilderness of the Arctic and adventures like kayaking or hiking to assure that we really fall in love with this incredible place and we do our best to preserve it for future generations. 

When is it going to happen

The expedition is taking place from 15th to 26th June 2019, during Arctic summer.

Please note: As members of Sustainable Travel International and Leave No Trace, the organisers of the expedition pay special attention to minimize the impact of this journey on the Arctic wilderness.  A special care is paid also to the Carbon Footprint.  The carbon impact of each member will be offset and we, as participants, will be given an opportunity to partner with the endeavour.

  About me 



My name is Patrícia Bátovská and I am an enthusiastic 19-year-old girl who wishes to change the world. If I had to describe myself in one word it would be busy! I am a very energetic person, taking part in many activities and I am not used to giving up, so I have always plenty of things to do. But I enjoy it!

I am a big lover of nature and animals and they are one of the main reasons why I want to make this world more sustainable and a better place to live. My other passions, environmental volunteering and travelling give me the opportunity to do so.



My commitments

Give lectures/presentations on climate change sustainable development and the Arctic at schools, companies and organisations

Share first-hand knowledge gained from this experience through my blog

Implement more of environmentally-friendly actions (reducing waste, building’s CO2 emissions, encouraging recycling) at my school within the sustainable development association that I am part of

Write a travel book to share on my personal blog to raise actionable awareness

Create an action plan for people to reduce their domestic CO2 emissions on a daily basis

Use this legitimate climate change experience to create an „eco-company” in the following years  



Robert Swan and the 2041 Foundation

The Expedition is being organised by foundation 2041 and The Explorer`s Passage (thank you!) founded respectively by Robert Swan and Jeff Bonaldi. Both organisations are led by amazing and inspirational people who are doing their best to save our Earth.

About Robert Swan, the leader of the expedition, and his incredible adventures 

In 1984, after years of fundraising Robert and his team set off for their journey to Antarctica. In the footsteps of explorer Robert Scott, their aim was to walk to South Pole. After 70 days without radio connection during which they covered 900 miles, exposed to harsh conditions of the Antarctica they finally reached the coveted point. 



Three years later Robert with other 8 explorers made a journey to the North Pole. Due to ocean melt which started much earlier that it had been predicted this journey was much more difficult.  When Robert was talking about this experience, he called himself „a damn good survivor” because they had truly doubted if they would return home from that journey.

During both of the adventures Robert witnessed the tremendous impact of people`s actions on these places. This led him to set up 2041 foundation, the aim of which is to protect polar regions, provide solutions to decrease climate change and raise awareness and educates others.

In 2018 Robert Swan returned to the South Pole with his son Barney, powered entirely by renewable energies to sensitize people to use of green energies and to the importance of their implementation in everyday life. How can this be done? This is what we are going to be taught on the expedition.



Where does the name 2041 come from?

Antarctica is protected from mining by a treaty that assures it has the status of a „natural reserve reserved for science and peace belonging to no one“. Yet, this legislation expires in 2041. One of the main targets of the foundation is to assure protection of Antarctica even after this year.

A message from Robert Swan

(CLICK here to watch VIDEO of Robert Swan talking about me!) 



10 funny facts about the Arctic

Polar bears actually have black skin and clear, colourless fur. Their hairs scatter light which make them seem white.

The bearded seals use their heads to smash thin ice to create breathing holes

Arctic fox can easily live in temperatures up to −70 °C

The polar bears can smell a seal one metre below the ice

There is an iceberg in Arctic called Blood Falls. It is because of its red colour caused by oxidation of salt water

The beluga whale can change the shape of its forehead, called a melon, which probably helps them with echolocation

Arctic foxes change colour of their fur according to year season. White in winter and dark in summer. Some researches even claim that foxes living in areas with unclean snow have their hair white grey colour

The Canada lynx has big foot that serve as snowshoes

A single puffin (kind of bird) was once recorded carrying 62 fish at once

The narwhal's tusk is in reality a large tooth

Moose can run at speeds of 35 miles per hour, which is faster than James Bolt




The Budget


The total cost of the expedition is 15 700 €   ($ 17,930) and it consists of:     


Expedition fee:  14,255 €  ($ 16,280)

Airfare:  440 €  ($  500)

Insurance : 175 €  ($ 200)

Food:  180 €  ($ 200)

Gear and equipment to the Arctic cold: 650 €  ($ 750)


To finance this expedition I am not only asking kind people like you to support me but I am also approaching companies with the proposal of a sponsorship. In addition, I have got support from foundation of my school. Thus, I have split the amount needed into three categories.

Crowdfunding:  3 000 €

Sponsors: $ 11 200 €

Toulouse Business School foundation: 1 500  €




By exceeding the crowdfunding target, you will help me a lot since it would mean less money that I need from sponsors (which is not easy to get). All the amount collected is going to be used to finance my participation in the expedition. Furthermore, if the total cost of expedition is exceeded the money will be donated directly to 2041 foundation. 

Thank you a thousand times for your support. Let´s change the world together!


REWARDS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION

Snowflake (10 €)

Thank you for taking action! Your name will appear on the list of ACTION TAKERS published on my webpage. My gratitude will also be expressed by a word of thanks with Gandhi´s quote sent by email.


Handful of snowflakes (15 €)

Electronic postcard with personal dedication! With a photo of the Arctic taken during the Expedition and my handwriting signature.
+  previous reward


Snow flurry (25 €)

Your name in a short SUM UP video from all the activities of the Expedition published on my social media. Plus, five stunning photos of the Arctic taken by myself during the Expedition.
+ all the previous rewards


Snowfall (50 €)

Your favourite Arctic animal will be named after you! Tell me which ones it is and once we see them during the Expedition I will pick one, name it after you and send you (by email) the picture of your new namesake with the word of thanks from their part for helping protecting their home. Plus, ten breath-taking photos of the Arctic taken by myself during the Expedition.
+ all the previous rewards


Snow burst (75 €)

Once in lifetime opportunity to ask a question to Jeff Bonaldi, one of the leaders of the Expedition and founder of The Explorer´s passage which has been organising expeditions with 2041 for years. In addition, an electronic poster with splendid Arctic images and my handwritten: Thank you (your name) and my signature.
+ all the previous rewards


Snowsquall (100 €)

My travel e-book full of amazing experiences from the Arctic and funny stories. Plus, little dictionary with a very useful sentence („Hello, I am saving our planet.“) translated into language of every participant of the Expedition.
+ all the previous rewards


Snow storm (150 €)

My up-to-date action plan to reduce CO2 emissions on a daily basis where the knowledge from the sustainability programme will be revealed.
+ all the previous rewards


Snow blizzard (250 €)

A personalised video of gratitude from my part with all stunning images and shoots from the Arctic.
+ all the previous rewards


Sluff avalanche (250 €)

Meeting with you in person (or Skype call, depending on your and my location) to share with you the first-hand experience from this unforgettable Expedition.
+ all the previous rewards


Avalanche (1000 €)

Thank you! You have become a real sponsor! I am going to wear  your name (your company/organisation logo) on a t-shirt during the Expedition so that everybody sees how much you care about planet Earth!
+ all the previous rewards