09/07/2026
As this adventure came to an end, I kept coming back to one idea: everyone is an explorer.
My Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship took me from Iceland into some of the most remote parts of East Greenland. I stood beneath the incredible Dynjandi waterfall in Iceland and traveled deep into Greenland’s fjords, where we hiked across tundra and glacial valleys and explored by Zodiac. We cruised past enormous icebergs and glaciers, sometimes on water so clear and still that the mountains seemed to disappear into their own reflections.
And the wildlife! We saw musk ox roaming the hillsides, polar bears, whales, and more birds than I could possibly name. We found polar bear tracks in the sand and learned to look more closely at the smallest signs of life around us. At the same time, we saw evidence of a changing Arctic, including the lack of expected sea ice and what that means for the wildlife that depends on it. Seeing climate change rather than simply reading about it was powerful.
There were plenty of adventures, including long hikes and a polar plunge, but there were quiet moments too. I read three books, spent hours watching the landscape from the ship, and simply slowed down.
One of the most meaningful parts of the journey was sharing it with Jinhui, my partner in crime onboard The Endurance, and the wonderful people we met along the way. We learned together, laughed a lot, pushed ourselves, and formed friendships I know will continue long after the expedition.
This experience reminded me that travel does more than teach us. It rejuvenates us. It makes us curious again. It asks us to be courageous, to observe closely, and to remain open to whatever comes next.
That may be the biggest thing I am bringing home to my students. Exploration doesn’t require a ship to Greenland. The world begins right in our own backyard. I want to find more ways to get my students, especially urban students who may not always have access to outdoor experiences, outside exploring, noticing, wondering, and discovering.
I am returning home energized as a teacher, incredibly grateful for the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship, and excited to share what I have learned with my students and with educators across Maine.
More curious. More courageous. More observant. And definitely not finished exploring.
