Running Wild: Barack Obama and Bear Grylls to explore Alaska

Together, the two climb a bat-infested cave, descend hundreds of feet into a secluded cavern and ultimately wrestle a six-foot crocodile.

Grylls has managed a treasure trove of celebrities from all corners of pop culture, including Kate Winslet, Drew Brees, Kate Hudson, Zac Efron, Michelle Rodriguez and Channing Tatum.

“Alaskans are on the front lines of one of the greatest challenges we face this century”, Obama said in a White House video. The week-long trip will aim at drawing attention to the risky effects climate change is having on Alaska, like rising seas, the melting of polar ice and glaciers and raging wildfires.

“President Obama will become the first U.S. president to receive a crash course in survival techniques from Bear Grylls“.

Along with Grylls, Obama’s “Running Wild” journey will be produced by Delbert Shoopman and Dave Pearce of Bear Grylls Ventures, and Chris Grant, Viki Cacciatore and Liz Schulze of Electus.

NBC’s “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” features celebrities on a one-on-one adventure with the ex-soldier, trying to test their survival skills in extreme locations, CNN reports.

In the President’s weekly address, he outlined the impetus behind his current sojourn to Alaska, which is a moment to raise awareness and field concerns about climate change in the massively vibrant and naturally diverse state.

Earnest called it “an admittedly unorthodox but legitimately interesting way for the president to reach an audience that obviously cares about conservation”.