Author: Jane Holmes (95 posts)


Fantasy Iditarod Dog Draft – Football’s Got Nothing on These 4-legged Athletes

Fall brings images of football and many folks are drafting their fantasy football teams.  But kids would much rather have a fantasy Iditarod team – 16 team members, 8 positions, 64 paws on the ground!!  Use this updated Fantasy Dog Draft Lesson from Jen Reiter, 2014 Teacher on the Trail now – or wait until …

2024 Trail Mail Design Contest – New Guidelines

Attention 5th – 12th Grade Artists,  Teachers, & Parents:  We have a special art contest just for you & your students! It’s time again for our student art contest to create the 2024 Iditarod Trail Mail envelope design.  The official design will be selected by official Iditarod artist Jon Van Zyle and artist Jona Van …

Manley Hot Springs and the Flight to Tanana by 2003 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™️ Cassandra Wilson Brady

Due to warm weather, 2003 was the first year the Iditarod Race started in Fairbanks, Alaska. My  memorable checkpoint was Manley Hot Springs. My pilot dropped me off and I went exploring,  talking to mushers and vets. I met Raymie, Barbara Redington and their young son, Ryan. They  gave me a lift to the Manley …

Unalakleet Felt Like Home – 2014 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail, Jen Reiter Reflects on Unalakleet

“Which checkpoint was your favorite?” is a question I have been asked over and over and over since I served as the 2014 Iditarod Teacher on the TrailTM. And like every good teacher, I try never to name a favorite. I’ve never had a favorite student, I’ve never named a favorite checkpoint. Each checkpoint I …

2001 Teacher on the Trail™️ – Diane Nye Reflects on Grayling

Why did I choose Grayling of all the experiences I had during the race in 2001?  I had several memorable experiences there.  The first was the weather.  The race in 2001 was the warmest it had ever been (but there have been several warmer races since).  However, at Grayling on the Yukon River it was …

2008 Teacher on the Trail™️ – Jane Holmes

I had an absolutely fabulous experience when I was the 2008 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail and was able to visit 19 of the 22 checkpoints on the race route that year.  And if you asked me to pick my favorite – I couldn’t.  I could tell you about a unique, interesting, awe-inspiring experience I …

2023 Iditarod EDU Summer Seminar in the UP Michigan

2023 Iditarod EDU Summer Seminar Newberry, MI, located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan June 25 – 27, 2023 Registration (only $100) is open for the 2023 Iditarod  EDU Summer Seminar in upstate Michigan! We are thrilled to again be offering a Lower 48 professional development experience like no other!  With kennel visits, Iditarod educator …

Iditarod National Historic Trail Junior Trailblazer Booklet

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is run along the Iditarod National Historic Trail.  The Bureau of Land Management and other entities that own the land which the trail runs through all work in conjunction with the Iditarod Trail Committee to run the race each year.  It is Alaska’s only winter National Trail and was …

Meet Kate Newmyer – the 2024 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™️

The Iditarod Education Department is pleased to announce that Kate Newmyer is our 2024 Iditarod Teacher on the TrailTM.  Kate accepted this job after a through and rigorous application and selection process.  Based on her written application, she was selected as one of 3 finalists that were invited to Alaska prior to this year’s race …

Meet Kate Newmyer – the 2024 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™️

The Iditarod Education Department is pleased to announce that Kate Newmyer is our 2024 Iditarod Teacher on the TrailTM.  Kate accepted this job after a through and rigorous application and selection process.  Based on her written application, she was selected as one of 3 finalists that were invited to Alaska prior to this year’s race …