Amy and Dave Freeman, adventurers, environmental activists and authors, will discuss “A Year in the Wilderness: Bearing Witness in the Boundary Waters” at Eastern Kentucky University, as the first presentation in the 2018-19 “Truths and Consequences” Chautauqua Lecture Series.
The Freemans will address EKU students and others on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in O’Donnell Hall of the Whitlock Building. The talk, free and open to the public, will serve as the keynote address of the University’s Celebration of Science and Mathematics Week and as the annual Bruce MacLaren Distinguished Lecture in honor of the founding Chautauqua director.
The husband and wife team have traveled a total of 30,000 miles by kayak, canoe and dogsled through wild terrains. The Freemans are members of the Save the Boundary Waters Coalition, a group dedicated to raising awareness about the threats of mining and industrial pollution to the pristine waters on the U.S.-Canadian border. Their passion for the cause led them to embark on a year-long journey through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in support of a campaign to protect the area from proposed sulfide-ore copper mining. During their 366-day trek from 2015 to 2016, the Freemans camped at 120 camp sites, explored 500 bodies of water, and traveled more than 2,000 miles by foot, canoe, ski, snowshoe and dog team.
The Freemans recorded their trip in their 2017 book, “A Year in the Wilderness,” which was named a Big Indie Book of Fall 2017 by Publisher’s Weekly. They also documented their trip in the short film “Bear Witness” and on social media. In 2014, they were named National Geographic Adventurers of the Year, and their adventures and articles have been featured on many national news outlets.
The Freemans’ lecture will be sponsored by the College of Science, the Department of Biological Sciences, the Division of Natural Areas and the Honors Program.
For more information about the Chautauqua lecture series, visit www.chautauqua.eku.edu, or contact Chautauqua Lecture Coordinator Erik Liddell at erik.liddell@eku.edu.