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Northwest Alabama teacher chosen for Antarctic expedition


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MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. (AP) — Kathy Eldridge is always up for an adventure, and in December, the Muscle Shoals High science teacher will spend two weeks in Antarctica.

Eldridge was among 35 educators from the United States and Canada chosen from 2,700 applicants as a 2015 Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow.

The 14-day voyage aboard the ship, National Geographic Explorer, will provide Eldridge and two teachers from Montana and Ontario, Canada, with field experiences, accompanied by Lindblad-National Geographic expedition experts.

"This is just an amazing professional development opportunity, and I'm just humbled to be selected," Eldridge said. "It's definitely the adventure of a lifetime.'

The 23-year teacher said the fellowship program, in its ninth year, was established to honor former National Geographic Society Chairman Gilbert M. Grosvenor's lifetime commitment to geographic education.

While in Antarctica from Dec. 7-20, Eldridge will have field experiences with kayaking, wildlife photography, studying penguin groups and hiking on glaciers. It will be the summer season in Antarctica at that time, with average temperature ranges of 20 degrees to 40 degrees.

"I'm looking forward to the raw, natural beauty of that untouched scenery," she said. "I've always studied about arctic explorers and shared it with my classes, and this experience will allow me to really motivate my students to have that same sense of adventure. Though I teach science, I've always incorporated geography into my classes, and my students will certainly gain from the unique experiences I'll be bringing back."

Muscle Shoals High School Principal Chad Holden said Eldridge's selection is an honor for her as well as the school.

"The research she'll be doing along with other educators and scientists is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a science teacher, and we're proud of her for being selected," he said.

Next month Eldridge will attend a planning and hands-on workshop at the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

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Information from: TimesDaily, http://www.timesdaily.com/

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LISA SINGLETON-RICKMAN

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