i2P Youth Ambassadors continue to inspire after completing their epic expeditions!!! In this section i2P will feature all of the incredible work the Ambassadors are doing. From speaking at schools to coordinating community action to changing the world one step at a time...their stories are amazing, and we have been collecting content for awhile now! Stay tuned!
Since being selected for i2P's Baffin Island expedition in fall 2009, Thomsen has continued to devote his time and energy towards becoming an internationally competitive cross country skier. Thomsen aims to inspire youth in his community through his successes in competition and through his healthy lifestyle of outdoor adventure and fitness pursuits. At any opportunity, Thomsen is excited to share his experiences and knowledge with youth both in his home training base of Whistler, BC, and in his hometown of Yellowknife, NT.
After being chosen as an impossible2Possible Youth Ambassador for Expedition Bolivia in May 2011, Ashley now spends much of her time sharing her own adventure story and encouraging youth to reach beyond their perceived limits. Since returning, Ashley has strived to pair her new love of running with her passion for philanthropic work and has done so through participating in a number of incredible fundraisers such as a Toronto's 10km Run for Wells and Maumee Bay's Triathlon for the Cure. She remains actively involved with Canada's National team for Aesthetic Group Gymnastics, and is very excited to help them prepare for the 2012 World Championships in South Africa. Ashley is now the founder of 'Project: Ghana', an educational endeavor that aims to take university students to Ghana next May to participate in international service learning.
After being chosen as an i2P 2010 Youth Ambassador for the Amazon Expedition Bridget began preparing for her semester abroad in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. While half way around the world, Bridget was able to take classes towards her environmental science major and dedicate two hours a week to tutoring students at Masifunde, a homework club for kids in the Walmer township. Some weekend sightseeing trips included Cape Town and a visit up north to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana to view one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls. At the very end of her term, Bridget headed to Knysna Elephant Park to volunteer with the African Elephant Research Unit. Duties included recording the elephant's behaviors and interactions with each other and guests to the park. This experience was very unique and has prompted Bridget to hopefully travel back to Africa one day to study these magnificent animals in more detail. Since arriving back on American soil, Bridget has competed in her first ultra marathon, the Buckeye Trail 50k and is now fully emerged in her final year of Lake Erie College Storm volleyball. Some plans for the future include entering the Toledo Marathon in the spring and hopefully qualifying herself to run in the Boston Marathon. Also, Bridget may attend graduate school or take a trip back to South Africa to pursue her interest in African elephants in the near future.
After being a Youth Ambassador for the Running Tunisia 2010 expedition, Andy was busy applying to and interviewing at medical schools. He spent two months teaching in the village of Kikima, Kenya, where he lived at the children's home, which was made possible through work by author and i2P alumnus, Eric Walters. Andy taught science, math, English, and P.E. to fifth and sixth graders at the local primary school and was deeply moved by the experience. He is now beginning his studies at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Andy's involvement with i2P has piqued his interest in global health and at this time he is considering specializing in infectious disease.
After the Baffin Expedition in 2009, Amanda James continued her education in Conservation Biology and Environmental Sciences at the University of California Riverside where she received her B.S. in Conservation Biology in June 2011. There she volunteered as a pet rehabilitator at a local no-kill shelter and worked in school laboratories studying water and soil quality, stable isotope applications, and water and soil chemistry. She also volunteered for the San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research working with a Stephen's Kangaroo Rats, a Southern California endangered species and helped on another project monitoring and banding over 8 different species of migrating hummingbirds. Following the expedition she pursued running as a hobby and has completed several half marathons and a handful of triathlons; she hopes to move up to marathons soon and pursue open water distance competitions. Currently she is pursuing her master's degree in Environmental Soil and Water Sciences. Her love for conservation and understanding the physical environment was strengthened and deepened by her expedition to the arctic. She hopes to one day utilize both her biology background with a strong understanding of the abiotic environment to better understand and combat climate impacts on regional and native species across the globe. She lives in Southern California with her husband Marcus James and their dog Zeus.
Since joining the i2P Team in May 2011 as a Youth Ambassador, Ryan has been very active in his senior year of high school. Ryan is continuing his varsity cross-country and track running and working hard to earn a spot on the podium at the state competition. Ryan also has many community service projects plans for his club this coming school year and is excited to lead his senior class as class president.
Tamara's life has changed since she was selected to be a Youth Ambassador for the Baffin Island Expedition. Tamara learned from this expedition that nothing is out of reach and all dreams are possible. She is currently finishing her last year of University where she will graduate with Honors in Criminology. i2P has taught Tamara to give back to others and has inspired her to do more volunteer work, such as volunteering with Restorative Justice and other programs. Tamara was fortunate enough to be a team member of the Bolivia expedition, which was an absolute amazing experience and sparked for her, a new love for running. i2P has changed her life completely and she looks forward to being an i2P member for many, many years to come.
Jill Gilday is tackling new adventures! After retiring from full time speed skating at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, she has been home in Yellowknife for the summer and is starting full time studies in the fall at the University of Calgary to finish off her kinesiology degree. This summer she has been busy working full and part time jobs, helping with the local speed skating program, and working closely with the i2P team on the upcoming expedition as well as an alumni engagement program. She has made contact with the superintendents of the two Yellowknife school boards and is excited to be helping the school boards give their students the opportunity to be inspired by i2P. And of course, in the time left over, has worked hard to squeeze in her runs to maintain her fitness, have fun and enjoy the beautiful Yellowknife weather!