Zegrahm Expeditions Announces Community Partnership with WILD Expeditions in Conjunction with Scotland & Iceland Expedition

Zegrahm Expeditions is excited to announce a community-based partnership with W.I.L.D. Expeditions, an adventure education organization dedicated to empowering our youth to be stewards of the environment through life-changing kayaking and sailing experiences. W.I.L.D. Expeditions has recently begun work building a traditional 56-foot Viking ship to educate kids about Viking heritage and give them additional means to explore the waters of the Pacific Northwest. In conjunction with Zegrahm’s July 2011 Scotland and Iceland expedition, In the Wake of the Vikings, the adventure travel company is offering any traveler who lives in the Northwest and books this upcoming voyage an exclusive tour of the Viking ship in Anacortes, Washington, including the opportunity to meet the shipbuilder himself. In addition, for each of these bookings Zegrahm will donate $1,000 per booking to W.I.L.D. Expeditions to help complete the building of the ship and fund upcoming youth programs.

The building of the vessel is being completed by master shipwright, Jay Smith, who was recently featured on the History Channel special, “The Big Build: Viking Longboat.” Jay has gathered over 70 crooks from oak trees in Oregon for the ship's frames and pure Alaskan yellow cedar from British Columbia for planking. Studying with Scandinavian masters to perfect his trade, the ship will be traditionally built by hand using many of the old Viking tools.

Not only will Zegrahm’s Scotland and Iceland expedition expose travelers to the unspoiled islands of the Faroes and the volcanic wonders of Iceland—two areas that are difficult to explore on your own—but Zegrahm’s expert expedition team adds an educational component by bringing the region’s cultural heritage and natural history to life. Among others, archaeologist, Colleen Batey, will share her stories of excavating Viking sites in Northern Scotland, Iceland, and the Orkney Islands, and her work with the Smithsonian on the Vikings: North Atlantic Saga exhibit. Iceland native, Ragnar Hauksson, will lecture on the everyday life of Icelanders coupled with the folklore, fairy tales, and sagas. And, Iceland expedition leader and Zegrahm cofounder, Mike Messick, will ensure that travelers make the most of their time in these northern realms with ample opportunities to explore the itinerary’s planned ports of call and several expeditionary exploits by Zodiac. Additionally, travelers will have the opportunity to:

• “Storm the beach”—via Zodiac—at Dunrobin and explore this 13th-century castle and its Versailles-inspired gardens
• Sail past seabird colonies perched on cliffs along the region’s dramatic fjords
• Take a cliff-side hike and enjoy stunning views while learning about the volcanic geology below your feet
• Tour (and taste!) Scotland’s best-known industry: whiskey
• Visit picturesque coastal villages still steeped in Viking tradition
• Embark on a thrilling snow mobile ride across Europe’s largest glacier

Zegrahm President Jon Nicholson notes, “We hope travelers will join us on this eye-opening Scotland and Iceland expedition that showcases the lives of true expeditionary travelers—the Vikings—who have made such an impact on our own cultural heritage here in the Pacific Northwest. Not only will the voyage itself and the private tour of a real-life Viking ship be inspirational, but we are excited to support a wonderful organization that is enhancing the lives of youth in our area.”

To learn more about this expedition, visit Zegrahm’s Web site at http://www.zeco.com.

Seattle-based Zegrahm Expeditions Inc., founded in 1990, is a leading adventure travel company specializing in small-ship expedition cruises, tours, and safaris to remote and intriguing destinations around the world. Led by expert guides and lecturers, Zegrahm itineraries are carefully crafted and all-inclusive, feature deluxe accommodations, and operate in all seven continents. For more information, please access http://www.zeco.com.

W.I.L.D. Expeditions, a non-profit 501(C)3 organization, was founded in 1997 by Geoff Briggs and is based on 40 years of experience leading thousands of youth on backcountry expeditions in Northern Ontario and the Pacific Northwest. W.I.L.D. (Wilderness Intensive Leadership Development) Expeditions is dedicated to empowering youth to be stewards of themselves, their environment, and their community through life-changing kayaking and sailing experiences, in addition to adventures aboard their Viking ship. For more information, please access http://www.wildexpeditions.org.

Press Contact:
Carmin Arnot
Zegrahm Expeditions Inc
192 Nickerson Street, #200
Seattle, WA 98109
206-285-4000