Gettysburg College's Expedition Institute 2012: Baltic Crossing is a culmination of over a years worth of discussion, hundreds of phone calls and emails, countless hours of meetings, contacting and working with multinational businesses, all while trying to learn how to bring a vision to fruition.  The students have built this expedition from ground up, realizing the challenge was handed to them, not the expedition.

Five juniors from Gettysburg College will kayak across the Baltic Sea from Stockholm, Sweden to Helsinki, Finland beginning the first week of June 2012. It is with the hand written letter from Yvon Chouinard, owner of Patagonia, the assistance of Point 65 manufacturing the Whiskey 18 sea kayak specifically for this expedition, and the many other donations that has provided the students the foundation to move just one idea from the drafting table to the launch site.  

• The medium for this entrepreneurial leadership experience is experiential (sea kayaking), the methodology is visionary (critical thinking, risk assessment, & strategic planning), the outcome is professional (intellectually and developmentally).

This expedition is going to be one of the greatest professional development opportunities these students will experience. On their own, they have connected with individuals and companies throughout the US, UK, Sweden, Aland, and Finland. With just a few weeks to go, the work is far from over. The students are still seeking financial support, donations,and assistance, as they continue to  review an incredible amount of logistics--this expedition is just a month away.

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