The Iditarod Alphabet 2017
N is for Nome

Nome is home to the finish line of the Iditarod.  The town is located on the Seward Peninsula  Nome was once a booming gold mining town of over 30,000 gold seekers, but the current population is down to only about 3,600 people.  Now, each March between 50-70 mushers reach the “Burled Arch” on Front Street and complete the “Last Great Race on Earth”. 

N is for Nome

Tomorrow Iditarod 45 will officially start from Fairbanks, AK.  72 mushers and their teams of up to 16 dogs will start at 11AM Alaska time.  (What time is that where you live & how many dogs could start the race?)  The mushers will take the same route that was followed in 2015, and they will visit sixteen checkpoints before reaching Nome. 

Hundreds of volunteers are ready for the race to begin.  Communication volunteers and many of the veterinarians are already out on the trail awaiting the first musher to reach their checkpoint.  This a race that truly runs on the support of volunteers.  Over the last few weeks I’ve had the privilege to meet so many of them, including Dr. Debbie, a veterinarian from Utah, and Jim Davis, two-time Iditarod finisher and one of just a few race judges for the 2017 race. 

A fun activity to do with students is to ask them which volunteer job they would want to have in the race.  Some of my students’ favorites are dropped dog volunteer and dog handler… because it’s all about the DOGS!  You could also encourage your students to go volunteer at a local animal shelter; this allows them to get volunteer experience starting at a young age! 

If you have not already gotten your Classroom Insider Subscription, do so TODAY!  It is the BEST way to keep track of your favorite mushers throughout the race.