Jennifer Pharr Davis
Hiker, Author, Speaker, and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year
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Jennifer Pharr Davis
Featured Keynote Programs
Called Again
Jen recounts stories and reads excerpts from her second trail memoir Called Again, which chronicles her 46-day, 47 mile per day, record-breaking hike on the Appalachian Trail. This is an unbelievable account of overcoming the odds and achieving a spectacular goal. Themes incorporated into this talk include perseverance, teamwork, humility, and the importance of believing in yourself.
Becoming Odyssa
Jen relays stories of lightning strikes, snow storms, and stalkers from her coming-of- age memoir Becoming Odyssa. This entertaining talk highlights the importance of spending time in nature and of disconnecting from the tablets, smart phones, and laptops that we so often depend on.
The Emotional Conservationist
Jen discusses scenes from the trail and encounters with hikers that shaped her into the “emotional conservationist” that she is today. “Emotional conservation” is Jen’s belief that the more people spend time in nature, the more they will come to appreciate it and advocate for it.
“I found things in the woods that I didn’t know I was looking for… and now I’ll never be the same.”
Jen shares vignettes from her first Appalachian Trail hike as a twenty-one year old and talks about how time spent in the woods helped her to ignore the superficial messages of mass media and modern ad campaigns that define women simply by their appearance. Without a mirror, the trail forced Jen to base her self-worth on interactions with others instead of physical appearance or what society told her she should be.
Jen then discusses her record-setting Appalachian Trail hike - how her determination, positive self- talk, and the support of those closest to her allowed her to ignore the naysayers, shatter a glass ceiling, and do something many thought was impossible. An inspiring story of “girl power” if ever there was one!
"Enjoy the journey... You are more than a number."
Jen relates her trail experiences to the demands of school- the pressures of academic achievement, the challenges of college or graduate school applications, the concerns about starting a career, landing that first job, etc. She encourages students to “enjoy the journey” and to recognize that “you are more than a number,” be it a GPA, SAT or GRE score, bar exam, or class rank.