Ann Bancroft facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ann Bancroft
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Bancroft in 2006
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| Born | September 29, 1955 |
| Alma mater | University of Oregon |
| Occupation | Explorer, teacher, author, public speaker |
| Known for | First woman to trek to the North Pole |
Ann Bancroft, born on September 29, 1955, is an American writer, teacher, explorer, and speaker. She was the first woman to complete many challenging trips to the Arctic and Antarctic. She was honored in the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1995.
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Ann Bancroft's Early Life and Education
Ann Bancroft was born in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, and grew up in St. Paul. When she was in fifth and sixth grade, she lived in Kenya for two years. Ann started leading outdoor adventures at just 8 years old. She would convince her cousins to join her on backyard trips. Her family encouraged her to take on challenges.
Ann faced dyslexia from a young age, which made learning difficult. However, she worked hard and graduated from high school. She then attended the University of Oregon, earning a degree in Physical Education in 1981. Ann also spent time at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan in Ely, Minnesota, as both a camper and a staff member. She later taught Physical Education and Special Education in schools in St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Ann Bancroft's Work and Foundations
In 1991, Ann Bancroft started the Ann Bancroft Foundation. This foundation was created to help support an important all-women's expedition to the Antarctic in 1993. The Ann Bancroft Foundation still helps the Wilderness Inquiry group today. Ann also teaches at Wilderness Inquiry. This group helps individuals and families go on outdoor adventures. These trips are open to people of all abilities.
Ann Bancroft also co-owns an exploration company called Bancroft Arnesen Explore with Liv Arnesen. Together, they have explored many parts of the world. Ann has been on expeditions on the Ganges River in India, crossed Greenland, traveled to the North Pole, and crossed the South Pole.
Ann Bancroft's Amazing Expeditions
Ann Bancroft stopped teaching in 1986 to join the "Will Steger International North Pole Expedition." After 56 days of traveling by dogsled, she reached the North Pole with five other team members. This made Ann the first woman to reach the North Pole by foot and sled.
She also became the first woman to cross both polar ice caps. This means she reached both the North and South Poles. In 1992–1993, Ann led a team of four women on a skiing trip to the South Pole. This was the first time an all-female team had crossed the ice to the South Pole.
In 2001, Ann Bancroft and Norwegian explorer Liv Arnesen made history again. They became the first women to ski all the way across Antarctica.
In March 2007, Ann and Liv Arnesen went on another trip across the Arctic Ocean. Their goal was to bring attention to global warming. Millions of schoolchildren followed their journey. However, the expedition had to stop early. Liv Arnesen got frostbite on three of her toes. Also, the extreme cold drained the batteries of their electronic gear.
In 2017, Ann led a trip on the Ganges River as part of the "Access Water Initiative Series." The purpose of this Ganges River expedition was to show how important clean water is. It also showed that waste travels downstream. This trip lasted 60 days and covered 1,500 miles of waterway.
Ann Bancroft has continued her "Access Water Initiative Series." In 2018, she paddled down the 2,320-mile Mississippi River with Liv Arnesen and other female explorers. In 2019, she led an expedition in Africa. In 2021, she explored Oceania. In 2023, she led a trip in South America. These expeditions encourage children to protect their waterways, which are a very important resource.
Ann Bancroft's Achievements
- First woman to reach the North Pole in 1986.
- Named Woman of the Year by Ms. Magazine in 1987.
- Led the first east–west crossing of Greenland in 1992.
- Became the first woman to reach both the North and South Poles in 1992.
- Led the first all-female expedition to the South Pole in 1992–1993.
- Included in Remarkable Women of the Twentieth Century in 1998.
- Second woman (after Liv Arnesen) to cross Antarctica on foot in 2001.
- Named Woman of the Year by Glamour Magazine in 2001.
- Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame for the United States in 2005.
- Attempted another expedition to the North Pole with Liv Arnesen in 2007, but frostbite stopped their journey.
- Named one of history's greatest polar explorers in 2011.
- Finished the first Source to Sea Access Water expedition on the Ganges River with seven other women in 2015. This trip covered 1,500 miles in 60 days.
Books by Ann Bancroft
Ann Bancroft co-authored the book No Horizon Is So Far: Two Women and Their Historic Journey Across Antarctica. This book describes Ann Bancroft's and Liv Arnesen's 1,700-mile journey across Antarctica in 2000–2001. It won an Amelia Bloomer award in 2005.
See also
In Spanish: Ann Bancroft para niños
