When David Freeman flew into the Duluth International Airport at noon Thursday, he was met by friends wearing floppy, pink foam rabbit ears and a 10-foot-tall Energizer bunny.
And the happy news that he is a finalist for a spot in the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame.
"It's a little bit shocking. I feel honored," Freeman said.
Freeman, of Grand Marais, is being recognized for his work with Wilderness Classroom, a nonprofit group he created to allow students, via the Internet, to vicariously take part in expeditions to places both nearby and far away. The Wilderness Classroom Web site offers journal reports and online learning activities geared for second- through eighth-grade students.
"We're trying to use it as a way to inspire students to explore and protect these areas," he said. "It's introduced me to a lot of things all over the world."
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Freeman came up with the idea for Wilderness Classroom when he was planning a six-week, 225-mile snowshoe and ski trek along the Minnesota-Ontario border from Grand Portage to Lake Kabetogama in 2001. His sole companion was an Alaskan malamute named Tundra.
"My mom was really worried I would fall through the ice," he said.
To ease her fears, he decided to bring along a satellite phone. When he learned that a laptop computer could be hooked to the satellite phone, the idea of sharing the adventure with students was born.
Since then, Freeman has shared a canoe journey down the Mississippi River, a 1,100-mile kayak journey around Lake Superior and journeys in Central and South America with students. His audience has grown from a handful of students to about 30,000.
Freeman was returning from the Chicago area on Thursday, where he had been telling students about his most recent expedition, a 1,000-mile bike and paddle journey in Peru. It is part of a multi-year, 3,000-mile trip across South America.
Freeman was nominated for the Energizer hall of fame by his girlfriend, Amy Voytilla, who paddled with him on last year's Lake Superior circumnavigation.
"He tires me out with his work ethic," Voytilla said. "He's really driven to go on expeditions and to educate children about all those places and the importance of wild places."
Despite his drive, Freeman is "fun to travel with," Voytilla said.
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Energizer created the hall of fame last year to share stories of inspiring people who exemplify the never-quit spirit of the battery company's drumming pink bunny mascot, Energizer spokesman Jeff Bachmann said.
Last year's inductees were baseball great Car Ripken Jr., and John O'Leary of St. Louis, Mo., who overcame nearly fatal burns as a child to run his own home rehabilitation business. O'Leary also became a children's hospital chaplain and a Big Brother volunteer.
This year's inductee will be picked by online voting and will receive $10,000, with another $5,000 going to the winner's favorite charity.
STEVE KUCHERA can be reached weekdays at (218) 279-5503 or by e-mail at skuchera@ duluthnews.com.
