Jill VanTongeren, Associate Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences at Tufts, has performed field work at spectacular geologic locations across the world, including the Dry Valleys of Antarctica, the Central Mexican Volcanic Belt, the Oman ophiolite, and the Bushveld Complex in South Africa, working on magma emplacement and evolution in both the oceanic and the continental crust. She'll share photos and stories from her travels throughout the world, as well as some of the exciting science she's been a part of as a result. She'll also highlight her recent highly successful trip to Morocco that was sponsored by HTC's Permanent Fund.

Browse through any book about birds and it is easy to assume that the basic details about species, such as where they are, what they look and sound like, and whether or not they are extinct, are all known. But in fact, even in today’s well-connected and well-documented world, some birds are mysteries. These avian mysteries are embodied in “lost” birds, species that we think are out there somewhere but that no one has been able to find or document in at least ten years. How can entire species of bird go missing like this? Why can’t anyone find them?

Join Dr. John C. Mittermeier, the director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy, to learn about these lost birds, explore why they matter for conservation, and hear stories from the incredible global effort underway to find as many of them as possible before it is too late.

John has been fascinated by lost birds from the day he happened upon an illustration of a Makira Moorhen at age 15. This passion has led him around the world on searches for lost birds in places like Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Indonesia, and Madagascar. As the director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy, he now leads a global initiative to identify lost birds and help to support local birdwatchers and citizen scientists around the world to find these species.

The Race to Alaska is a 750-mile unsupported, motorless boat race from Port Townsend, Washington to Ketchikan, Alaska. In 2019, Leigh Dorsey and Dameon Colbry completed the race in a bright yellow rowboat named Mursu. Since then, they have each, separately, completed the race by rowboat a second time. Leigh’s second trip was with her younger sister Clare Dorsey; Dameon chose to row solo his second time around. They credit the Maine Island Trail with preparing them for the many challenges of traveling long distances by rowboat, having completed an unsupported 260-mile thru-row of the Trail in 2018, along with many shorter escapes to their favorite of Maine’s wild islands. Join them as they share highlights, lessons, and photos from their long-distance row-camping adventures.

Members Night! Two presentations as outlined below.

Rob will share what 40 years of solo canoeing in the arctic can teach you. He'll tell the story of how he petted a full grown white arctic wolf (How do you do that?), and more.

Robert Perkins is a storyteller. He has traveled in the Canadian Arctic north of Yellowknife for over forty years. He is a solo canoeist and an advocate for animal rights.

Links to previous work presented by PBS include:

Talking to Angels - https://youtu.be/n5UpDCXMLX8?feature=shared

Into the Great Solitude - https://youtu.be/Al2gkkmSWF4?feature=shared

Join Captain Sean as he takes us on a journey from the wilds of the South Pacific to Central America and the Arctic. He will share stories and insights from my adventures, exploring how the challenges of leading untested crews through some of the world’s most remote areas can reveal hidden strengths and potential in ways that are as thrilling as they are unexpected.

He'll delve into the art of identifying and nurturing hidden talent, even when resources are scarce and the stakes are high, using an example from The Solomon Islands.

The talk will also highlight how extreme conditions of remote regions can turn obstacles into opportunities for growth and discovery. Whether navigating through the ice-bound channels of the Arctic or the volcanic landscapes of the Costa Rica, these adventures demonstrate that true leadership often emerges in the most unexpected places.

This talk will not only inspire your sense of adventure but also offer insights into the transformative power of exploring the unknown.

Captain Sean P. Meagher holds a United States Coast Guard Unlimited Tonnage All Oceans license for both sail and power and is an advanced ice pilot. He has commanded some of the world's most sophisticated and technologically advanced vessels. Sean has won numerous awards for exploration, conservation, and management, and speaks internationally on various topics at universities, corporations, and private institutions. He is a member of the Yacht Club d’Monaco’s Captain Club, The Saint Francis Yacht Club of San Francisco, and the New York Explorer’s Club. In addition to his professional achievements, Captain Sean has appeared on the popular television show "Below Deck" and hosts a successful YouTube show, "Dive In with Captain Sean," where he shares his vast knowledge and experiences from his maritime adventures.

Join the highly talented New York Times Photographer Doug Mills as he shares behind the scenes stories and photos of travels abroad and in the U.S. with Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden, and at the Olympics.  He is known for capturing historic and memorable shots of our times.  Doug has won two Pulitzer Prizes, several White House News Photographers Association’s “Photographer of the Year”, and multiple White House Correspondents Association’s “Photo of the Year”.