Ann Bancroft
Ann Bancroft is the first known woman in history to cross the ice to the North and South Poles. In 1986, Ann dogsledded 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from the Northwest Territories in Canada to the North Pole as the only female member of the Steger International Polar Expedition. In 1993, she led the American Women’s Expedition to the South Pole, a 67-day expedition of 660 miles (1,060 km) on skis by four women. Most recently, in February 2001, Ann and Liv Arnesen from Norway became the first team of women to ski across Antarctica’s landmass.
Born in 1955 in Mendota Heights, Minn., Ann’s love of the outdoors began early in life. Aside from the two years she spent with her family in Kenya, East Africa (in fifth and sixth grades), Ann was a student of Minnesota’s vast wilderness. Her father often took her on camping and canoe trips in northern Minnesota. At age eight, she began to lead her own mini-expeditions, cajoling her cousins into accompanying her on backyard winter camping trips.
Ann’s passion for polar adventures is matched by her enthusiasm for teaching children. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from the University of Oregon, Ann taught physical and special education in Minneapolis schools and coached softball, basketball, track and field, volleyball and tennis. She also was an instructor for Wilderness Inquiry, an organization that helps disabled and able-bodied individuals enjoy the wilderness year round.
Ann’s other achievements include founding and leading the Ann Bancroft Foundation, a non-profit organization that celebrates the existing and potential achievements of women and girls. She has been featured in the book Remarkable Women of the Twentieth Century (1998); inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame (1995); named Ms. magazine’s “Woman of the Year” (1987); and honored with numerous awards for her accomplishments. Most recently, Ann, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, appeared in “Ennis’ Gift, a film about learning differences,” a documentary produced by the Ennis Cosby Foundation featuring celebrities who have dealt with learning disabilities, such as James Earl Jones, Henry Winkler, Danny Glover and Bruce Jenner.
A nationally and internationally known entity, Ann has been featured in Time, People, USA Today, Ms., McCall’s, Vogue, Good Housekeeping, Glamour, National Geographic, Outside, Sports Illustrated for Kids and on BBC, CNN and National Public Radio. She is currently serving on the National Women’s Hall of Fame board of directors and has been a spokesperson for the M.S. Society, United Way, United Cerebral Palsy and the Learning Disabilities Association.
With Ann’s polar expeditions have come severe tests of teamwork and leadership, as well as opportunities to shatter female stereotypes, making Ann a sought-after speaker among corporations, schools and non-profit organizations.
Bancroft currently lives in Scandia, Minnesota.
Major Accomplishments
- February 2001 – Bancroft and Norwegian polar explorer Liv Arnesen become the first women in history to sail and ski across Antarctica´s landmass – completing a 94-day, 1,717-mile (2,747 km) trek.
- 1993 – Bancroft leads the American Women´s Expedition to the South Pole, a 67-day expedition of 660 miles (1,060 km) on skis by four women, earning the distinction of being the first woman in history to cross the ice to both the North and South Poles.
- 1992 – Bancroft leads the first American women´s east to west crossing of Greenland.
- 1986 – Bancroft dogsleds 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from the Northwest Territories in Canada to the North Pole as the only female member of the Steger International Polar Expedition, earning the distinction of being the first known woman in history to cross the ice to the North Pole.
Lectures and Appearances
If you wish to book Ann for a lecture or appearance, please use the contact form below.
Ann’s teachings
As the first woman to cross the ice to both the North and South Poles, Ann Bancroft leads audiences of all ages on a variety of historic journeys with interpersonal stories of leadership and adventure combined with historic film and still imagery. Whether Ann is sharing stories from the recent Bancroft Arnesen Expedition – a 1,717 mile journey on foot to become the first women to cross the continent of Antarctica (2001), she translates her challenges and accomplishments to everyday life and empowers each person to work individually or as a team to reach their goals.
In her 17 years of speaking, Ann has experienced the power that sharing her stories can create. Ann and Liv´s Antarctic expedition helped shape Bancroft Arnesen Explore, designed to share Ann and Liv´s stories with audiences around the globe through multi-media presentations, short films, workshops, curricula andlectures as a way to motivate people to reach for their own dreams, particularly women and girls. Bancroft Arnesen Explore recently launched No Horizon Is So Far, which Ann and Liv co-authored with Cheryl Dahle, telling the story of Ann and Liv´s crossing of Antarctica.
Having made the transition from educator to polar explorer and expedition leader, Ann is expert in understanding the shifting dynamics of a team, leadership and personal growth, perseverance and adapting to adverse, changing conditions which relate so closely with challenges of daily life.
The tenacity and courage that define her character have earned Bancroft worldwide recognition as one of today´s most influential role models. Ann has been named among Glamour magazine´s “Women of the Year” (2001); featured in the book Remarkable Women of the Twentieth Century (1998); inducted into the National Women´s Hall of Fame (1995); named Ms. magazine´s "e;Woman of the Year"e; (1987); and honored with numerous other awards for her accomplishments.
Bancroft also founded and leads the Ann Bancroft Foundation, a non-profit that has programs that celebrate and ignite the potential in adolescent girls in Minnesota.
An internationally known speaker, Bancroft´s expeditions have been followed by BBC, CNN, National Public Radio, NBC Nightly News and NBC´s Today show. She also has been featured in Time, People, USA Today, Ms., McCall´s, Ladies Home Journal, Vogue, Good Housekeeping, Glamour, Health, National Geographic, Outside, Sports Illustrated, O, the Oprah Magazine, and Working Mother.
Bancroft lives outside of Minneapolis in Scandia, Minn. and is 50.
Ann in her own words
When I was about 12 years old I found a book on my parents book shelf. The name of the book was Endurance by Alfred Lansing. What drew me to the pages of an adult book as a poor reader was the photographs. I was so fascinated by the images that I no longer was intimidated by the words and thickness of the book. I wanted to know about this adventure at the bottom of the world. This began my curiosity with Antarctica and the dream of one day crossing it.
My motivation often comes from the students and people that follow the adventure. On my last expedition to Antarctica, thoughts of kids all over the nation following us inspired me on tough days to stay at it. I know this will be a strong force on this upcoming crossing. I am also living my dream and doing what I feel I was meant to do. It is totally energizing to step out each day living a dream.
How they met
A tale of two worlds, two women, one dream …
Despite living worlds apart, Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen have shared the same dream — to ski across Antarctica – since they were young girls. At age 12, they both read about legendary Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and vowed to follow in his footsteps.
As they grew older, Ann and Liv’s lives grew remarkably similar. They both became teachers — Ann, an elementary school teacher in Minnesota, Liv a high school teacher in Olso. They each led world-famous expeditions to the South Pole — Ann in 1993, Liv in 1994.
Their paths crossed for the first time in 1998. While Ann & Liv knew of one another (the polar explorer community is very small), they had not met. Ann was looking for a partner to accompany her across Antarctica and she was an admirer of Liv’s. So she made contact with Liv to find out if Liv was interested. They talked about their dream, their hero, their South Pole adventures and their passion for teaching. Ann & Liv had so much in common, they joked that they were “soul sisters.”
What came of the conversation was The Bancroft Arnesen Expedition!
Heard lately