This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

All Aboard!

Spanish Translation

Andrea Delbanco

Britney Bear, 20, from Atlanta, Georgia, cannot believe her good fortune. "I never thought in a thousand years that I'd be chosen," she says. "Having the opportunity to go to Antarctica is so out of this world!" Britney is among 12 young people from seven countries looking forward to an amazing adventure. The explorers range in age from 15 to 20. On October 18, after 10 days of intense training in Switzerland, at least eight of them will set sail from Argentina on a two-week expedition. Explorer Mike Horn will lead the young travelers.

No, it's not a reality TV show. It's Pangaea (pan-jee-ah), which stands for Pan Global Adventure for Environmental Action. Some scientists believe that the modern continents were once connected. They call that landmass Pangaea.

The Pangaea Expedition, connecting young people to every continent, will last four years. Twelve teams of explorers will cross all of the oceans and visit the North and South Poles (see map). Horn and the teams of young people will sail aboard his Earth-friendly yacht, which was built especially for these journeys. Their goal: To learn how to help save the planet.

Man on a Mission

Mike Horn is an accomplished adventurer. In 1999, he followed the equator around the Earth on foot, on bicycle and by boat. Four years ago, he completed a 27-month solo lap of the Arctic Circle on foot and by boat, kayak and ski kite. In 2006, he and Norwegian explorer Borge Ousland became the first people ever to travel to the North Pole in the dark of winter without using a dogsled or a motorized vehicle.

"The planet is an amazing, beautiful place," Horn told TFK. Through exploration, he has gained enormous respect for nature. But his travels have shown him that our planet is in danger. "We (hear) a lot about the impact of man on the environment," says Horn. "But I don't think we all really understand what it means."

Horn says he learns best by taking action and believes others do too. He began exploring at age 8, when he got his first bicycle. "I saw it as a tool to go out and explore," says Horn. "I was a very curious child. I didn't want to sit around and watch TV."

Horn knows that not all kids get the chance to explore the world, no matter how much they dream about it. "We're all born with an adventurous spirit," he says. "It just needs to get stimulated." So Horn created Pangaea with the goal of getting young people involved.

Pangaea's Promise

Different explorers will travel on the 12 Pangaea trips. Anyone age 13 to 20 can apply at mikehorn.com to try to join. Kids chosen from each continent attend training camps before setting sail on a 10- to 12-day voyage with all expenses paid.

The first part of each expedition is devoted to sightseeing. Horn believes that respect for the environment comes from witnessing the power of nature. "Once you've seen the beauty of the planet, you'll see that we have to conserve this beauty for the future," he says.

Next comes hard work. Cleanup projects rid the ocean and beach of trash. Teams will use nets to skim the water. Then they will compact the trash into large plastic cubes that can be recycled. Coral reef programs will allow young explorers to accompany professional divers under the ocean to reconstruct damaged coral reefs. Other teams will plant trees in tropical regions and reroute water in deserts. Each environmental project is overseen by experts in the field.

Horn asks each explorer to teach his or her skills to others after the adventure ends. He believes that young people who are knowledgeable and passionate about nature will be best equipped to lead their generation in saving the planet. "Kids have amazing ideas, and they want to speak out," he says. "They are our best untapped source of energy."

Next: Wall Street's Woes