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Jim Deprez 2021 Teacher on the Trail
Spencer Pape has been volunteering with Iditarod for 13 years now. As the lead member of the Iditarod Trail breaker team, he has the first eyes on the trail every year. He and the 5 other trail breakers head out on the trail weeks before the race comes through to make sure there is a …
I stopped by Reflection Lake today on my way into Anchorage, which gave me time to think about and reflect on my first week in this great state. There has simply been so much that has happened in the last week, it feels like one amazing whirlwind. I have met some incredible people, heard …
I love this word to describe this year’s Junior Iditarod. It has multiple meanings, all of which can be applied to what happened today. Close can be referred to in terms of time. This year, the champion was Emily Robinson. Emily is only 14 years old and hails from Nenana, AK. She is …
As I mentioned yesterday, this year’s Junior Iditarod is set up in a “stage race” format for the first time. The mushers went out and back, for a total of about 60 miles, before spending the night at the Cantwell School. There was much excitement at the starting line for these amazing, young mushers. …
Today, was simply an amazing day of firsts. This year, the Junior Iditarod will be packing up and moving north to race in Cantwell, along the great Denali Highway. This is not the first time the race has been moved here, however this is the first time it will be run as a “stage race”. …
Today started off with a very unique opportunity; it kind of brought things full circle for me in a way. I was able to connect with 3rd grade students from the school I attended when I was in 3rd grade. The “icing on the cake” is that my 3rd grade teacher is still there. …
Today I spent the entire day presenting about the Iditarod to the incredible staff and students at Larson Elementary. This was a wonderful experience for me personally, as it was the first time I have been able to present to new students in person. Zoom had been my platform for every presentation prior, so …
With preparations for traveling to Alaska for over a month, I began to feel the same way that the mushers must feel before bag drops are due. I was a bit overwhelmed, not sure if I was packing two much, or two little (sorry, with it being 2-22-22, I had to do that). I …
This project is just that! As the name alludes to, this STEM project is modeled after the March Madness college basketball tournament. This lesson is one of my students’ favorites each and every year and it is the perfect activity for the last week of class before spring break, as a wrap-up to our …
I have had the pleasure of getting to know veterinarian Wayne Randolph during this past year, as he is a fellow alumnus of the College of Wooster in Ohio, like myself. A full time veterinarian in New Jersey, Dr. Randolph has earned many accolades during his career. These include the 1987 Metropolitan New Jersey …