Lessons and Activities

Educators, Prepare for the Race Now

by Martha Dobson, Iditarod Educational Consultant Every year, the race begins the first Saturday of March with the ceremonial race start in Anchorage, and now is the time to start your preparations for your students. Perhaps you have some tried and true activities and lessons which incorporate the race and the skills the students are …

Book Reviews–Iditarod, Tricia Brown; The Mystery on the Iditarod Trail, Carole Marsh; Dogteam, Gary Paulsen

Get your facts and your fiction here, from young readers to adult, with these three books. Iditarod™ is new, coming out in February, 2014. Carole Marsh adds to her mysteries for children with a mystery set on the Iditarod Trail, and Gary Paulsen’s picture book, Dogteam, isn’t just for the young readers.

Educators! Get Ready for Iditarod 2014!

Now is the time to prep for Iditarod 2014. Read more here for ideas and plans.

The Trail to Alaska, Part II – Dawson Creek

I can’t believe I’m actually standing at mile 0.0 of the infamous Alaska Highway! It’s my black lab friend Ellie and me traveling with Ellie’s human Pam Flowers. Oh this is so exciting, I can hardly keep from jumping and barking! From my last story you know the history of this storied road. It was …

Trail to Alaska, Part III – Summit Lakes

We’re back on the road, looking at Dawson Creek and Mile Zero in the rear view mirror. This portion of the Alaskan Highway is also known as British Columbia Highway 97. Ellie has told me that we’re going to see amazing things today. We’ll be going up and over the Canadian Rockies and there’s bound …

Trail to Alaska, Part V – Watson Lake

Six hundred and five miles from Dawson Creek, we leave British Columbia behind. Ellie and I are quite excited about reaching the Yukon Territory. We’re now traveling on Yukon Highway 1. Watson Lake is the first settlement we come to – it’s known as the “Gateway to the Yukon.” Handler has filled us in on …

Solo Musher Nenana to Nome

It was late at night and he was weak. The last of his hot drink and snacks had been devoured by noon. The rest of his food was stowed deep inside his sled bag. Retrieving it was not an option. His mind was on the safety cabin ahead and the directions locals had offered him …

Bowls to Bellies

You’re eating lunch at school with friends and pretty soon your conversation turns from your peanut butter and jelly sandwich to wondering what sled dogs eat. The answer to that very simple question can be very complicated. But for sure, we don’t eat PB&J, chips, apples or cookies. When we’re training or in competition, we …