MAINE / IDITAROD . . . “The Way Life Should Be”
Maine’s state motto is “Dirigo,” which is a Latin word that means “I lead” or “I direct.” There were definitely so many leaders at the 2026 Iditarod EDU Summer Conference held at the Poland Spring Resort. The week of July 19th quickly also took on the popular saying across Maine – “The Way Life Should Be.” That week, the Iditarod became the way life should be.
If you have never attended an Iditarod EDU conference, put it on your bucket list! The conference began Tuesday, July 21. The excited and laid-back feel began with the Co-Director of Iditarod EDU, Jim Deprez, setting the tone. On that day alone, participants learned about an Iditarod qualifier, the Can-Am Crown, which takes place in Maine. Sarah Brooks, Can-Am Crown VP and Portage checkpoint coordinator, brought her knowledge and extensive collection of artifacts to show the trail, compare the rules to the Iditarod, and weave stories from behind the scenes and the making of a successful checkpoint. Lara Renner and her father, Steve, shared what it took to get Lara to the 2018 Junior Iditarod. And the day wrapped up with Jonathan Hayes and some of his purebred Seppala Siberian Sleddogs, who also graced us with their presence. Hayes is a former US Marine, pastor, musher, teacher, and author. He shared about his “True North” trek across Maine and his retracing in 2025 of the historic 1925 Serum Run. The whole connection to where the conference was being held came into play when Hayes shared his picture book, The True Tails of Togo the Sled Dog! Once Leonhard Seppala and his dog Togo finally got the recognition they deserved and were awarded medals for bravery at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Seppala was challenged to one last race at the Poland Spring Resort in Maine. And as Hayes writes, “sitting fireside in the great hall – Togo lived out the rest of his long life.” There is a StoryWalk of Hayes’s book on the grounds of the Poland Spring Resort that ends with a statue of Togo himself.
Another day of this incredible week was a field trip. Our field trip led us to “Muddy Paw Kennel” in Jefferson, NH. This tour was educational, enriching, and hands-on. If you love dogs and love the outdoors, it does NOT matter if you are an educator; you should make this a stopping point. With over 75 dogs at their facility, Neil and his crew have built a community of love for the active, second-chance, and rescue sled dogs. LOVE abounds in their neck of the woods. Each dog radiates their name and personality to all the visitors. We were able to learn about the expansive care of each dog, harness a team, and experience the dogyard ready for a training run. The elation and howling of the dogs would give anyone the puppy zoomies all over. You could feel the joy and wonder in ALL the dogs wanting to be chosen to run. Free souvenirs from our new four-legged friends did not disappoint, stylish extra “fur-dazzle.”
The line-up of leaders continued with Nick Presut, Can-Am Crown Veterinarian, Kat Langlais, 2026 Can-AM Crown 250 Champion, and Urtha Lenharr, 1991 Iditarod finisher and current owner of the Leonhard Seppala house. These speakers were able to share their expertise and pique everyone’s interest in the Iditarod then and now. An education conference could not be complete without a line-up of teachers talking their trade, especially when it comes to the topic of Iditarod. Classroom ideas were dispersed like a new litter of puppies. Concepts ranged from Iditarod Bingo, the many uses of AI to support research projects based on the Iditarod, sled building, forming an Iditarod Club, designing your own dog team, the endless possibilities of comparing and contrasting, to, of course, readings to use with your students like Sled Dog School. For the first time, a Teacher on the Trail Panel was constructed, with past, present, and future teachers. Attendees were given free rein to ask questions. I certainly hope some of those attendees apply for Teacher on the Trail themselves.
Of course, as an Iditarod EDU workshop attendee, there is always food, fun, and new friendships formed. For me, it was such a humbling experience to be part of such an amazing event in my home state, Maine. Come learn, experience, and be part of an Iditarod conference yourself. The 2027 WINTER conference will be held in Anchorage, AK (March 2-5). Here is the registration link for that: https://event.auctria.com/465c53ef-be1c-4d2a-90be-c3d261b10f4f/. There are so many perks included in the registration.
I am honored to be the 2027 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail. I look forward to mushing into learning together. I will be sharing my sneak peek for the year on August 25.
