Rookie Mushers

03/14/2010

Far From Home: Marshall and McDonald Take on the Iditarod

by Sally Simon, Finalist for Target® Iditarod 2011  Teacher on the Trail™, New York
One has an infectious smile, the other wears a kilt.  Both received a lot of attention at this year’s Iditarod.  Newton Marshall, from Jamaica, and Wattie…

Filed under 2010 Race Season, Language Arts, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers, Social Studies, Target Teacher on the Trail

03/14/2010

The Challenge of a Lifetime

By Blynne Froke, Finalist for Target® Iditarod 2011 Teacher on the Trail™, California
Over the next few days we will watch mushers cross the finish line in Nome triumphantly securing their places on a very elite list.  Some of them…

Filed under News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers, Target Teacher on the Trail

03/11/2010

Rookie Musher Update: Pat Moon

Click on the image for a larger view.
Back from the Iditarod Trail, out of the hospital after his crash and scratch from the 2010 Iditarod, Pat Moon and one of his lead dogs wandered around the hotel visiting with…

Filed under 2010 Race Season, Rookie Mushers

02/22/2010

Meet the Rookie: John Stewart

By Sanka W. Dog
John Stewart, 23 years of age from Scotland, will be running to Nome as a rookie in Iditarod XXXVIII. Having grown up in Scotland, very near to where the king of dog team drivers, Scotty Allan…

Filed under News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

02/10/2010

Meet the Rookie: Dan Kaduce

Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
Dan Kaduce of Chatanika, Alaska moved to Alaska in 1990 for a job and fun. It looks like he found it. Five years later he got hooked on mushing. He said that he has learned…

Filed under News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

02/10/2010

Iditarod Volunteer and Future Rookie: Nancy Yoshida

Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN

Nancy and Nigel
We all have dreams.  Sometimes we are able to pursue our dreams.  Sometimes life has other plans for us.  Nancy Yoshida volunteered at the race for 2 years.  Nancy got involved with…

Filed under People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers, Volunteers of the Iditarod

02/02/2010

Meet a 2011 Rookie: Follow the Dream

Meet a Angie Taggart, a teacher in Ketchikan, Alaska.  Angie has completed her qualifying races and intends to sign up for the 2011 Iditarod.  Get to know Angie now.  Follow her dream for the next year as she sets her…

Filed under News and Information, Rookie Mushers

01/28/2010

Meet the 2010 Mushers: Get Ready for the Race!

As the countdown to the 2010 Iditarod begins, most students have begun to think about which mushers to cheer on during the race.   Classroom procedure for ‘picking mushers’ differs according to needs of each classroom or school.  Some building projects…

Filed under Bulletin Board Displays, News and Information, Rookie Mushers, Teacher Tips and Tools

01/27/2010

Meet the Rookie: Quinn Iten

Joy Davis- Educational Journalist-IN

Photo by Jeff Schultz
Following in his father’s footsteps, Quinn Iten of Kotzebue, Alaska will be racing in the 2010 Iditarod. Quinn said that his father, Ed Iten, an Iditarod veteran has taught him everything that…

Filed under News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

01/21/2010

Meet the Rookie: Jane Faulkner

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
Sometimes things just have a way of happening. Jane Faulkner moved to Soldotna, Alaska in 1990 and began mushing in 2000. In 2001, Jane started training a team with her mentor, Ed Borden, for…

Filed under News and Information, Rookie Mushers

01/21/2010

Meet the Rookie: Wattie McDonald

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
Although he is a long way from his geographic home, Wattie McDonald is at home with the dogs. In his homeland of Scotland, Wattie has a small kennel of Siberian huskies. He has had…

Filed under News and Information, Rookie Mushers

01/18/2010

Meet the Rookie: Colleen Robertia

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
From zookeeper to musher Colleen Robertia has had quite a journey.  She has completed the 2168 mile Appalachian Trail.  Now she is ready to help her team go the 1049 miles from Anchorage to…

Filed under News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

01/18/2010

Meet the Rookie: Kristy Berington

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
Kristy Berington started mushing at a young age with a homemade sled, a Great Pyrenees and a Border collie.  Her first mentor was Lisa Chaplin.  Kristy loves the outdoors and dogs.  So racing is…

Filed under News and Information, Rookie Mushers

12/29/2009

Meet the Rookie: Emil Churchin

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
Emil Churchin, originally from Ohio, moved to Alaska in 1996. He said that he became an Alaskan when he sold 2 mountain bikes to buy a one-way plane ticket from San Francisco to Anchorage.…

Filed under News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

12/27/2009

Meet the Rookie: Chris Adkins

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
Following in his father’s footsteps, Chris Adkins of Sand Coulee, Montana, has been mushing since he was 4 years old.  His dad, Terry Adkins, is a veteran to the Iditarod and has been Chris’…

Filed under News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

12/23/2009

Meet the Rookie: Scott White

By Blynne Froke, Educational Journalist, California
Rookie Scott White from Woodinville, WA is deep into his training right now and feeling pretty good about his team. “They’re running faster and stronger than ever before.” Like most mushers, Scott leads a…

Filed under News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

12/22/2009

Meet the Rookie: Justin Savidis

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, Indiana
Adventuresome is an adjective that describes Justin Savidis. Justin moved to Willow, Alaska in 2004 with his wife, Rebecca. Whether it is climbing mountains, whitewater kayaking, or running dogs he finds life is better…

Filed under News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

12/17/2009

Meet the Rookie: Peter Kaiser

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
Peter Kaiser of Bethel, Alaska has been running dogs ever since he was big enough to stand on the runners of a sled. Pete has learned about dogs and racing from his dad and…

Filed under People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

12/12/2009

Meet the Rookie: Kathleen Frederick

Kathleen Frederick is one of the 2010 Iditarod rookie race contestants that Gardener Strong Elementary is following this year in support of ACH (Arkansas Children’s Hospital). Paula Medlin, our Iditarod specialist, had the great pleasure of meeting her while attending…

Filed under Rookie Mushers

12/04/2009

Rookie Report: Hank DeBruin

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
It’s a long way to Alaska for Hank DeBruin of Haliburton, Ontario, Canada, a rugged wilderness area bordering Algonquin Park.  Sixteen years ago, Hank and his wife, Tanya, got their first husky.  He said…

Filed under News and Information, People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

12/01/2009

Rookie Report: Mike Williams, Jr

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
Carrying on a family tradition, Michael Williams, Jr. will be racing in the 2010 Iditarod.  Mike, Jr. is a Yupik Eskimo who lives in Akiak, Alaska.  “In one of my first memories of running…

Filed under People, Places, or Dogs, Rookie Mushers

11/18/2009

Meet the Rookie: Tamara Rose

By Educational Journalist, Joy Davis, IN
Tamara Rose of Fairbanks, Alaska, is inspired by the adventure of it all to run in the Iditarod.  She wants to experience the solitude and trust developed as a result of being in the…

Filed under Rookie Mushers

10/26/2009

Rookie Report: Newton Marshall: Dog Sledding Jamaica Style

Dog Sledding Jamaica Style
By Sally R. Simon, Iditarod Educational Journalist
When one thinks of Jamaica, palms trees and crystal clear waters probably come to mind.   The last thing one would envision is a big grinned native being pulled by…

Filed under Rookie Mushers

10/06/2009

Rookie Report: Kim Darst

Kim Darst:  Determination!
by Valerie Orner, Educational Journalist, New York
Heading into the 2010 Iditarod, Rookie Musher Kim Darst is feeling many of the same feelings she had last year.  Kim was a rookie musher in the 2009 Iditarod and…

Filed under Rookie Mushers

09/18/2009

Rookie Report: Michelle Phillips

Rookie Report- Michelle Phillips
By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist
Iditarod Rookie Project, September, 2009
Michelle Phillips is no rookie when it comes to racing sled dogs.  She has run the challenging Yukon Quest 4 times. In 2008 she finished in…

Filed under Rookie Mushers