As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.  Well, maybe not an end, but at least relocated for new opportunities.  Midweek of summer camp, teachers and camp staff said good-bye to Vern Halter and his tremendous Dream A Dream athletes and relocated in Wasilla near Iditarod Headquarters.  

VanZyle Siberians – personality plus!

Wednesday was designated as Native Culture day and personal exploration of Anchorage. The Native Heritage Center on the outskirts of Anchorage opened at 9:00 and the teacher/campers were the first through the door.  They were anxious to learn more about the indigenous people of Alaska.  The center offers multiple programs throughout the day – Story Telling, Dance, Native Games as well as exhibits depicting early life of the five major cultures.  That’s just inside!  Stepping through the doors facing Lake Tiulana, one finds oneself walking through traditional homes representing major cultural groups of Alaska.  Native youth are on hand to talk about how their ancestors lived with the land.  Iditarod Champion, John Baker, the first and only Inupiaq Eskimo to win an Iditarod, sponsors a sled dog experience at the center complete with puppies and a cart ride.

Later in the day campers explored downtown Anchorage.  Anchorage celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.  There are special events as well as normal summer events to keep anyone one busy for hours on end.  It wouldn’t be downtown Anchorage if one didn’t indulge in a reindeer sausage grilled by one of the corner vendors, listen to musical performances on the lawn next to the sod roofed visitor center on 4th Avenue and take advantage of the Aurora Experience shown hourly at the Performing Arts Center on 6th Avenue.  The teachers did all of that and then some.

Back in Wasilla for sessions at Iditarod Headquarters on Thursday morning, the campers heard presentations from Iditarod Staff – Willie Karidis and Joanne Potts, as well as Barb Redington and Debbie Moderow.  Willie Karidis joined the Iditarod staff as Chief Operating Officer last fall.  He’s in charge of day to day operations.  Prior to joining the Iditarod staff, Willie was employed at Denali Park as its Education Director.  Willie shared his day to day responsibilities with the campers.  His stories about behind the scenes work that keeps the Last Great Race going was not only fascinating but eye opening as well.  Serving as Assistant to the Race Director, Joanne Potts has been with Iditarod for- ever.  She’s a walking history of the race.  When it comes to Iditarod, if Joanne doesn’t know about it, it didn’t happen.  Ask Joanne what she likes about working with Iditarod; it’s the people – volunteers and mushers.  Her fondest memories include watching children of mushers grow into mushers themselves as they participate in the Junior Iditarod and then assume the challenge of the Last Great Race and run to Nome.

Barb and Raymie Redington

Barb (Ryan) Redington has been involved in the Iditarod in one way or another since she ran the Junior Iditarod in 1978.  Today she serves on the Junior Iditarod Board of Directors and volunteers tirelessly in planning, preparing for and producing the junior race.  Barb is married to Raymie Redington, son of race founder, Joe Redington.  Raymie has entered 12 Iditarod races, including the very first one, and has finished ten.  Their sons, Ray Jr and Ryan, have both come up through the ranks of the Junior Iditarod and have entered Iditarod a total of thirty times.  This year Ray Jr. and Ryan will be joined by their younger brother Robert for Iditarod.  One could certainly say that Barb has lived and experienced at lot of Iditarod with her immediate family members.

2016 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ with Author Debbie Moderow

Author and Iditarod musher, Debbie Moderow shared her mushing and writing experiences during the final morning session.  She’s been working on her book, “Fast into the Night,” since finishing Iditarod in 2005.  “It might have been easier to run another Iditarod,” says Debbie about writing her story with dogs.  After a particularly low time in her life, a friend brought her Salt, a seven year old retired from racing sled dog.  She says, “Salt read my moods and I did my best to understand his desires.”  Salty Dog Kennel was born and soon her two children were running sled dogs with their eye on participating in the Junior Iditarod.  Vern Halter lent them enough dogs to put their Junior Iditarod teams together.  The Moderow children, Andy and Hannah, have both completed the Junior Iditarod four times.  In 2001, Andy accepted the challenge of Iditarod.  Standing under the burled arch in Nome, he said, “Mom. you’ve got to do this.”  His words were challenge, encouragement , and invitation for Debbie to attempt the race in 2003 and finish the race in 2005.  Mushing has been a family affair that’s included Junior Iditarod, Iditarod, and the Serum Run.  “Fast in the Night” will be off the press early in 2016.

Jon and Jona VanZyle host the teachers

Jon VanZyle has finished Iditarod twice.  For many years the artistic musher has maintained a kennel of AKC registered Siberian Huskies.  Early in his racing career, Jon approached the Iditarod Trail Committee with a fundraising idea – produce a yearly Iditarod poster.  The idea proved to be a great success.  After completing his second Iditarod, Jon was given the title of “Official Iditarod Artist.”  Since that time, Jon’s annually created official prints and posters allow Iditarod enthusiasts to bring the race into their home, wherever home might be.  Jona VanZyle is also an accomplished artist and dog musher and may very well be the only musher to ever receive a speeding ticket while mushing a team of dogs.  The VanZyles have welcomed the teachers into their studio and kennel many times over the past years.  It’s an amazing experience to select artwork or a book illustrated by Jon and have him personalize it.  Jon and Jona are also generous supporters of the Junior Iditarod.  Their hospitality was truly enjoyed again this visit.

VanZyle’s dog yard, perhaps the most aesthetic in the world!

Friday, the final day of formal sessions for the campers, is an opportunity to hear from an author, a veterinarian, the 2015 teacher on the trail, the 2016 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ and then take some time for thoughtful reflection on the week and what new ideas will be incorporated as learning activities in their classrooms.  

Katie Mangelsdorf has written “Champion of Alaska Huskies – Joe Redington Sr. Father of the Iditarod.”  If you want to get into the nitty-gritty of Joe Redington Sr. and his reasons for birthing the Iditarod, Katie’s book is a must read.  There’s enough adventure and action in this book to capture the minds and hearts of adults and younger readers.  While speaking to the teacher group, Katie shared many stories of Joe that demonstrated his spirit, ability to persevere and his creativity.  He was a master of making the impossible possible.  He was a dreamer and doer who drew people into his visions and dreams.  That’s how Iditarod was born.  

2015 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ Erin Montgomery and pups named by Cindy Abbott

To round out Friday morning, past and present Iditarod Teacher on the Trail alumni shared experiences and visions for the future.  Erin Montgomery spoke of her experiences as the 2015 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ and shared a few of her best practices lesson for middle school social studies.  Next up was 2016 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™, Laura Wright.  Laura, a 4th grade teacher from Austin, Texas shared some of her best Iditarod based lessons and also shared her plans for lessons, messages, and postings for the coming year.           

Chief Veterinarian, Stu Nelson, spent an hour with the teachers, taking them down the trail, explaining dog care on the trail and elaborating on why and how sled dogs can be such incredible athletes.  Sled dogs want to run, they need to run, they love to run and they are equipped to run.  Northern breed adaptations, circulatory systems, metabolism and physical response to exercise all work together for the sled dog to be a most incredible athlete.  Before taking over the top vet spot for Iditarod in 1996, Nelson served as a volunteer trail veterinarian for nine years.  He’s always been interested in animals as athletes and has virtually dedicated his entire career to the sled dog, especially those competing in the Iditarod.  Each year he organizes and oversees a cadre of vet techs and 40 to 45 trail veterinarians who volunteer from all over the world.

Bright and early on Saturday morning, the teachers headed to Iditarod Headquarters for a picnic that honors all volunteers and marks the beginning of musher signup for Iditarod XLIV.