BRUCE SMITH SHARES POLAR EXPERIENCES AT ROTARY ON JUNE 3
Bruce Smith presents a program of photos and memories of travel to Antarctica and the High Arctic to the Rotary Club of San Marcos on Wednesday, June 3 at noon. He has titled the program “Traveling to Extremes.” Rotary meets at the VFW Hall, 1701 Hunter Road. Visitors are always welcome at Rotary meetings.
Smith traveled to both places with Quark Expeditions, a company that specializes in polar travel. The ships it uses carry fewer than 200 passengers and have double hardened hulls that can withstand travel through polar sea ice. Smith says the small number of passengers on a ship designed specifically for polar exploration makes the experience special, and safe.
“We were able to plow through sea ice and get out and walk on the islands and glaciers and even kayak and cross-country ski. We got close to wildlife and experienced nature in a more intimate way than the large cruise ships are able to do, he said.”
The presentation focuses on a trip to Svalbard and Antarctica. Svalbard is a group of islands located in the Arctic Ocean between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole. The most northern parts of the archipelago are above the 80th parallel, referred to as the High Arctic. The other part of the presentation focuses on Antarctica and the rough seas, called the Drake Passage, which separates South America from the southern continent. Smith says he will share photos and stories about landscapes, ecology, and wildlife such as polar bears, penguins, sea birds and walrus.
Before retiring, he was the Director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University and worked in media for 25 years before becoming an academic for many years. He has traveled to 77 countries and all seven continents. He lived in Alaska for 13 years.
Rotary is a nonprofit, nonpolitical and nonreligious service organization. Smith is a member of the Rotary Club of San Marcos and was previously a member of Rotary clubs in Alaska and South Dakota.
#d5840servicestrong #polarbear #penguin #svalbard #antarctica #quarkexpeditions #smtx #smtxrotary #sanmarcostx