“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
As the 2019 Iditarod Summer Camp for Educators is about to begin, my role as the Teacher on the Trail™ is coming to an end. My experience on the trail and teaching with the Iditarod has been amazing and extraordinary! I’m often asked to share my favorite moment from trail and I can definitively say that it is nearly impossible and incredibly challenging to do so. Additionally, being able to successfully summarize everything that I’ve done, in a few words, is tough!
I am very thankful for being given the opportunity to be the Teacher on the Trail™. I am honored to have met the many people- volunteers, Alaskans, teachers, and mushers- who have all been tremendously welcoming, kind, generous, and supportive. I am amazed at the level of care and love that the dogs are given by the mushers and volunteers. I am awestruck when I think about the beautiful and expansive Alaskan frontier. I am captivated by the perseverance, goal-setting, dedication, and level of commitment that everyone associated with the Iditarod exhibits. Although I am occasionally speechless and can’t fully articulate the things I’ve experienced as Teacher on the Trail™, I will forever have stories that I can share, knowledge that I can pass on, and memories that I can cherish.
Kelly Villar is officially the 2020 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™. She is going to do an unbelievable job creating lessons and inspiring students and teachers with The Last Great Race®. Make sure to follow her journey on the Iditarod EDU page throughout the year!
Enjoy some photos from my experience as the 2019 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™:
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