These videos serve as a historical record of the Pole to Pole 2000 project and its message: that individual actions—taken together—can shape a more responsible and hopeful future.
This playlist documents Pole to Pole 2000, a human-powered expedition that took place during the year 2000 and culminated at the South Pole on December 31, 2000, shortly before the beginning of the new millennium.
Organized by the Millennium Leadership Institute in British Columbia, Canada, the expedition brought together eight young people from multiple countries to undertake a journey from the North Magnetic Pole to the South Pole, relying primarily on human power through skiing, cycling, and foot travel.
Beyond exploration, the project emphasized youth leadership, environmental responsibility, and global cooperation. Along the route, the team visited schools and universities—including Brown University and Harvard University—where students were invited to write promises of action outlining how they planned to contribute to a better world.
As the expedition gained international attention, the United Nations became involved, contributing additional youth pledges collected through its global initiatives. In total, over 60 million promises of action were symbolically carried to Antarctica and presented at the South Pole as a gesture marking the transition into the twenty-first century.
The four-part documentary series captures the challenges of extreme polar travel, the dynamics of an international youth team, and the broader purpose of linking exploration with education and humanitarian outreach.
Human-powered travel from the North Magnetic Pole to the South Pole
Extreme polar conditions and endurance challenges
International youth leadership and teamwork
Educational outreach at universities and schools
United Nations participation and millennium-era pledges
Pole to Pole 2000 took place at a moment of global reflection surrounding the year 2000, when many initiatives sought to emphasize responsibility, cooperation, and long-term thinking for the coming millennium.