The second speaker in our 2022 Grandfather Presents series is Ginger Zee. Ginger is the chief meteorologist and managing editor of the climate unit at ABC News. You can see her covering the nation’s weather headlines on Good Morning America and across all ABC News broadcasts and digital platforms. She also hosts an ABC News original digital series, Food Forecast, focused on climate and its impact on agriculture. Ginger has covered almost every major weather event and dozens of historic storms during the past 15 years—from Hurricane Katrina to Hurricane Sandy and Michael; from the Australian wildfires to the climate’s impact on Victoria Falls, Africa; and the aftermath of tornadoes all over the United States, most notably those in Moore and El Reno, Oklahoma. She has covered blizzards in Boston and record-breaking heat in Death Valley. She not only shares her passion for meteorology, but more importantly, she presents the compassion and human side of these storms.
Having storm-chased since college, Ginger has a genuine love for the atmosphere and a dedication to getting young people interested in science. She has written a STEM trilogy called Chasing Helicity for middle grades, which follows a storm chasing a young woman named Helicity across the U.S. while learning about science and life.
Ginger is the author of Natural Disaster: I Cover Them. I Am One and A Little Closer to Home: How I Found the Calm After the Storm, which debuted in January 2022. Both books focus on Ginger’s own depression and journey of discovery around mental health issues.
Ginger, who is an Emmy and Murrow Award-winning meteorologist, attended Valparaiso University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology. She served as an adjunct professor at her alma mater from 2008 to 2011. Ginger also holds the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society. In March 2020, Ginger was inducted into the Weather Hall of Fame in Oklahoma. She lives with her husband and two sons in New York.
Ginger agreed to be the face and voice of Grandfather’s new Weather and Climate exhibit in the Wilson Center. Guests can see her narrating a video on the differences between weather and climate and how they affect the mountain in the Paul & Susie O’Connell Exhibit Hall.
More About Grandfather Presents
Our 2022 speaker series at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery includes three big Thursday night events with internationally and nationally known presenters. Presented by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the series also includes three Saturday afternoon presentations focused on nature, adventure or conservation-related topics on a local or regional scale. Read more.
Schedule
5 – 6 p.m.: Entrance Gate opens for event. Proceed about one mile to Wilson Center for Nature Discovery.
5:15 – 5:45 p.m.: VIP event in the sunroom (holders of Pro Series Pass) to meet Ginger Zee.
5:30 – 6 p.m.: Reception for all ticket holders inside Wilson Center for Nature Discovery
6 – 7 p.m.: Presentation in Classroom in the Clouds event space
7 – 8 p.m.: Book Signing & Exhibits Open
Tickets
$50 per person (purchase below starting June 24)
Grandfather Presents Series Pass available for Bridge Club Members. Read more.
Refunds/Cancelations
The majority of Grandfather Mountain events generally sell out and have a waiting list. If you cannot attend the event that you registered for please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration please call 828-733-2013 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.