Sled Dog Ed

Many Dogs! Many Paws!

Dear Teachers, The race is on!! How many of you have watched the re-start of the 2016 Iditarod Dog Sled Race? Did you see those happy dogs ready to run from Willow to Nome? Many had their booties on, a few with T-shirts, and one team’s lead dogs even donned their goggles! It was amazing …

Additional Time?!?

Halauġikpiñ Qanuġitpich, educators? (Hello, how are you educators?) I learned my first native Inupiaq words! The Inupiaq are just one of the many native cultures found in Alaska. Throughout the race, dogs and their mushers meet many native groups, visitors and volunteers along the Iditarod Trail. Sometimes we have to stay at checkpoints for long …

Checklist for Teachers!

Teacher Friends!! The race is on in just a few days! Over the next couple of days in Anchorage, Alaska, the mushers will be meeting to review rules and regulations, signing their trail mail, obtaining their bib numbers at the Mushers’ Banquet, and putting together the last pieces of preparation for the race. They are …

Lights! Camera! Action!

Hello, Iditarod Teacher Friends! Wow, the kennel is full of action today! There are lights, cameras and TV news reporters hustling around taking pictures of the dogs, talking with our owner, watching as the teams prepare for training runs and following them into the woods. Excitement is mounting as the Iditarod Dog Sled Race nears. …

Time Comparisons Through the Years!

Dear Teachers, The teacher from our local school stopped by to visit me about some interesting Iditarod ideas she had for her classroom. The students had been discussing how through the Iditarod years sleds have been modified, equipment has been enhanced, training of dogs has improved, and the terrain of the Iditarod Trail has changed. …

Taking on Responsibility!

Howdy, Teacher Friends of the Iditarod! The kennel is a bustling with activity as the Iditarod race nears in just about 7 days. There is so much to do to get musher, dogs, and supplies ready for the big race. Everywhere I look at the kennel, there are wonderful volunteers helping us out. There are people …

Junior Fun!

Dear Teaching Companions, The Junior Iditarod is a dog sled race for young mushers ages 14-17 that takes place the Saturday before the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. This year it will be on Saturday, February 27, 2016, starting in Knik Lake. Much information about this race is found on the Junior Iditarod Home Page. I …

Report Card Time!

Greetings, Teachers! The dog yard is hustling with enthusiasm as the new puppies and yearlings scamper around exercising and investigating their territory. I try to remember back when I was that young….wow, so much to learn. Not only did I have to gain strength as a sled dog but learn manners. Young and inquisitive had …

Reading and Writing with the Dogs

Dear Educators, The Iditarod Dog Sled Race is about to begin! Within about two weeks, the streets of Anchorage will be howling with fun. The restart in Willow will be all paws on deck ready to embark on an adventure. Your students should be just as excited as us dogs are for the race, even …

Navigating the Iditarod Website

Hello Educators! I hope you all had a chance to read my article “Introducing Sled Dog Ed U. Cation”. After writing my introduction, I meandered on back to the dog yard to take a rest but thoughts ran through my mind that many of you may be wondering how this sled dog knows so much …