Will Steger, a polar explorer and environmental activist, is bringing the longest summer to Chicago.

The Longest Summer Tour kicks off in the city today to raise awareness about global warming, with forums at 1:30 p.m. at the University of Chicago's Swift Lecture Hall and at 4:30 p.m. at the Norris University Center on Northwestern University's Evanston campus.

Steger is headlining the tour with his eyewitness accounts of traveling through the polar regions for more than 30 years. He will participate in both forums.

Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn is set to speak at the University of Chicago forum along with Steve Wiesenthal, an associate vice president at the university and university architect.

At Northwestern, Melissa Hulting, climate change coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will be speak with Tobias Thorleifsson, an avid Norwegian polar explorer.

The tour, presented by the Will Steger Foundation, brings together students, faculty members, policy makers, environmental advocates and curious citizens to talk about climate change.

Running until Oct. 22, the 10-day tour will travel across the upper Midwest, making stops at 11 college campuses in seven cities in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota.

Each venue will feature a panel with climate experts, faculty members, local policy makers and two student representatives. The discussion will focus on the effect of climate deterioration at global, national and local levels.

The tour aims to educate people first and foremost, said Abby Fenton, education program manager for the Will Steger Foundation.

"The second piece is really an inspiration and an empowerment message," Fenton said.

She said the tour hopes to draw attention to initiatives led by student leaders who already are working on climate change solutions. It wants to help support their efforts while connecting them with statewide, established networks, she said.

Fenton launched the Will Steger Foundation's emerging leaders program to promote awareness of climate change among young adults ages 17 to 28.

The forums are free, but attendees need to register and are encouraged to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before events are set to begin.