Alaskan author Shelley Gill has written 20 bestselling books and her aim is always to inspire with adventure, educate about the environment and leave her readers with a sense of wonder. One of the first women to race in the Iditarod, Gill visits schools around the world. Using a powerpoint presentation she takes students to the far corners of the earth, from Alaska to Baja to Antarctica, and using her adventures leaves them excited about reading and writing and life’s possibilities. Gill is a humpback whale researcher in Prince William Sound, has wrangled ponies in the Alaska Range and sailed to the bottom of the world. She would love to visit your school.   shelleygill.com

Pam Flowers:  Arctic Explore, Author, Musher

Bring arctic explorer, adventurer, Iditarod Musher, and author Pam Flowers  to your school.

“Pam is the author of four books, has written many magazine articles, produced an educational newsletter, spoken at the Smithsonian and the St. Louis Science Center, and lectured to over 650,000 students at over 1,100 public and private schools.”  Pam has two narrated PowerPoint presentations focusing on Pam’s expeditions.

Visit Pam’s website and learn more!

Libby Riddles:  First Woman to Win the Iditarod and Author

Libby is the author of several books and spends her summers sharing Iditarod and mushing with passengers as an on board lecturer in Juneau for Princess.

Learn more about Libby Riddles.

Bring Iditarod to Your School! ‘Iditarod’ guest speakers will be visiting communities near you!  Read about these opportunities.  Make your plans.  Your students will be inspired and encouraged to do their best in school and in meeting their own goals.

After the visit, send us an update! We’d enjoy hearing about the presentation!

YOU can bring Iditarod to your classroom!

Over the next few months and the next school year, several Iditarod Mushers will be traveling in Alaska and the lower 48, sharing presentations for schools and communities. A sled dog generally accompanies the musher for the presentations designed to share information about Iditarod, dog mushing, and what it takes to achieve goals and dreams. The presentations are designed for students but are appropriate for audiences of all ages and are great for audiences of all ages. Don’t miss the opportunity to book a presentation in your area. Read about our presenters! Click on the musher’s information below to learn about the kind of presentation and fees associated with the presentation.

Don’t hesitate, make the contacts now and bring a presentation to your community.

Ken Anderson

As a child growing up in suburban Saint Paul, Minnesota, Ken Anderson first learned about the Iditarod in the fifth grade when his father bought him a picture book about The Last Great Race.  The Iditarod immediately grabbed his fascination and he vowed he would someday run the famed race.  As he grew older he followed his heart north to Alaska where he apprenticed under Iditarod greats Susan Butcher and Jeff King.  He met his eventual wife, Gwen while working at a dog kennel and within a few years they were winning dog races of their own.  Ken realized his dream in 1999 when he finished his first Iditarod.  He has since become a serious contender, finishing the race eight times, always in the top-twenty, including a career-high fourth place in 2008.  In the same year he and his wife became the first and only husband and wife to finish both the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest.

From his boyhood dreams, to working with the greats, to starting his own kennel while living in a tiny 12 foot X 12 foot log cabin with no electricity and no running water, to running the race, Ken’s slideshow presentation carries a strong message of setting one’s goals high and striving to accomplish them.

His presentation also includes a visit from one of his lead dogs as well as lots of clothing, trophies, and equipment on hand for participants to see.  His show makes a perfect compliment to an exciting school program that will be sure to make learning that much more enjoyable for the students.

He will be speaking in the Minnesota and Pennsylvania areas in the early Fall of 2009.  For more information he may be reached at
ken@windycreekkennel.com

Dewey Halverson:

 ”The real Iditarod Experience – through the eyes and stories of Duane “Dewey” Halverson, nine-time veteran Iditarod Alaska Sled Dog Race Musher” is a presentation you don’t want to miss! Discover information about the history of the trail, background on the Iditarod Sled Dog race, tales of heroics between fellow mushers and a checkpoint by checkpoint introduction to the 1,200 mile journey. Dewey will be on tour during the 2008 – 2009 school year in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, and other parts of the United States. Visit Dewey’s website and book a presentation by Clicking Here!

Hugh Neff:

Hugh Neff, originally from Chicago has lived in Alaska for the last 12 years. Starting with nothing, he has worked his way through the sport and in 2009 finished a career best 2nd in the Yukon Quest and 15th in the Iditarod. He has competed in both 1,000 mile races in the same year a record 5 times. He and his team have participated in 9 Yukon Quests and 6 Iditarods in the last 10 years generally finishing in the top of the field. At home with his 50 canine friends, you can often find up to 15 dogs in the house with him each night. In addition to a musher, Hugh is also a writer. His childrens book, ‘Annie: My life on the trail so far’ is available on his website and at his talks.

Hugh and one of his team mates, this year Wild Bill (a 2 year old Quest and Iditarod finisher) travel to the lower-48 in October and May each year to talk to school children. Hugh would like to share some of his stories and talk to kids not only about his dogs, dog mushing, racing, and Alaska but also about becoming involved in their community, spiritual enhancement, positive energy, and pursuing one’s dreams. The presentation includes a short video showing the dogs in action, stories, discussions, an equipment demonstration and a question and answer period. The tour schedule is based on interest. We try to include as many areas as possible. Join us for the Journey of a lifetime – a journey across Alaska with man’s best friend leading the way.

With the spring 2009 schedule full, they are now taking reservations for the October tour. More information about Hugh and his dogs, the presentation and our contact info is available at our website.

Learn more about Hugh and his presentations by clicking HERE!

Laura Daugereau:

Are you interested in having Laura Daugereau, the first woman to represent Washington State in the history of the Iditarod, a dog sledder for 14 years, come speak to your students, group, or event? Laura, born in Tennessee, lives in Port Gamble, Washington, but will travel to other states. Most of her presentations are in the spring due to racing schedule. Funds raised by her inspirational and informational presentation help support her kennel. To learn more about Laura, the Night Runner Kennel, and her presentation, visit her website by Clicking Here!

Kelley Griffin:

Kelley is a two time Iditarod finisher and six time Yukon Quest finisher! This year, Kelly became the first, and so far, only woman to complete both races in the same year. Kelley was born in Minnesota and now lives in Wasilla, Alaska. Kelley will present at schools in Alaska and will travel to other states as funded. Her presentation is inspirational and her dog, Sitka, generally travels with her. Learn more about the incredible K-9 athletes and what it takes to compete and meet goals. Contact Kelley to learn about the booking fees and presentation by sending her an email by Clicking Here!

Eric Rogers

 Eric O. Rogers, Ph. D.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single sleddog.

What makes Iditarod so special?  What makes normal people travel thousands of miles to spend their vacations working in primitive conditions at sub-zero temperatures with a bunch of smelly, sleep deprived mushers and their dogs.  Why would a successful person cash in their retirement and mortgage their home just to run this race one time?  Let a former beach boy from southern California who was tundra struck at an early age tell you all about it.

Iditarod has some very impressive statistics:  1150 miles, over 3000 feet in elevation, sub-zero temperatures, and hurricane force winds.  But Iditarod isn’t about the numbers; it is about a musher and their dog team sharing a common goal.  It is about overcoming the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that line the trail from Anchorage to Nome.   It is about building a team to do things you never thought you could.  It is about being part of that team, part of the history, part of the greatness that is sharing your life with a dog team in Alaska.  It is magic!

Eric came up through the ranks.  From a fan in the early 1980’s, to an Anchorage volunteer in 1992, to a trail volunteer in 1995, to the oldest rookie (age 58) in the 2006 Iditarod, to his fourth Iditarod (third finish) in 2009, Eric Rogers has seen it all.  You can read about his adventures on his website (www.rnorthbounddogs.com) and on his blog (www.rnorthbounddogs.blogspot.com), but it is much more fun to hear them in person.

Eric comes with a dog (or two) and a powerpoint presentation that can be tailored if you have specific interests.  His talk is “G” rated, kid friendly, and has been adapted for all ages from preschool to senior citizens.  His goal is to entertain, educate, and inspire his audience.  To learn about the Iditarod from Eric’s unique perspective contact him at (eorogers@gci.net).Iditarod Musher, Eric Rogers will present programs in Alaska and outside of Alaska. He is also seeking a sponsor to help cover costs of travel expenses associated with presentations outside of Alaska and hopes to be on tour in many different areas and states. If you know of an organization interested in sponsoring his tour or if you are interested in having him speak at your school, contact Eric by sending him an email. Click Here!

MushHusky Assembly Tour for 2008-2009. The Ruzicka Family:

On tour in the lower 48! Bringing Iditarod and mushing to the communities and classrooms!

Click Here to visit their website!
The price for one assembly is $595 or $750 for two a.m. or two p.m. programs. The school assemblies are held Sept. /Oct and then March/April/May.
The 2008/2009 tour will be visiting Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and
Kansas. “We also will include one week for Texas (1st week in December) and another two weeks for Virginia and North Carolina (April/May). We have never been in Pennsylvania and hope to include a week or two on our tour for that state.

We do let the schools define our tour. So, we will spend more time in a state depending on the amount of schools that want us to visit that year in that state.”

“Finney” Andrea Auf der Heyde

Finney, Iditarod’s FIRST Teacher on the Trail(1999) will be on tour in Indiana during the school year with an incredible and inspirational program for students. Finney, accompanied by her sled dog, Annui, have many adventures to share with audiences of all ages. Seeing a sled, winter gear, and other items helps bring the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Alaska to within the walls of the school Don’t miss this opportunity. Click here to contact Finney!

Tasha Stielstra and Nature’s Kennel! Pulling to Succeed

“Nature’s Kennel, owned by Ed and Tasha Stielstra, is located near McMillan in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Nature’s Kennel is home to nearly 100 outstanding Alaskan Huskies. Tasha has combined her 4 years of classroom teaching experience with 10 years of mushing to create the very unique and effective “Pulling Together” program for schools” www.natureskennel.com

“Pulling Together” offers:

Full or half day programs

Hands-on, minds-on activities

Age appropriate, interactive slide show

Mushing equipment for students to handle

Free teacher/classroom activity packet

Small or large group presentations

Contact Tasha: Nature’s Kennel Sled Dog Racing & Adventures

www.natureskennel.com

PDF Document: Odyssey Presentation: 2009

Bill Borden

Bill Borden, of Kennesaw, is the first Georgia resident to complete the Iditarod.  He finished the Last Great Race in 2002 in 14 days, 4 hours, 10 minutes, and 14 seconds.  That is not a bad time when you consider all of the mishaps encountered along the Iditarod Trail by Bill and his team.  Bill takes his “Cool Dreams” presentation to schools all over the Southeast.  The talk can be tailored to most any age group from pre-school up to college age, as well as for church, Scout or business groups.  Bill tells of his many trials and tests of Faith as he ventured forth to complete a lifelong dream of racing the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.  The power of prayer plays a big part in Bill’s story but he tells it with humor and personal detail that keeps all audiences enthralled.  A typical Cool Dreams speech includes a PowerPoint slide show of Alaska’s beauty, a demonstration of musher gear, seeing the actual sled Bill drove to Nome, meeting a sled dog and a Q&A session afterwards. The overriding theme of the presentation is that through proper planning, perseverance and Faith, anything is possible.

For a presentation in the Atlanta area Bill asks that a $300 donation be made to Cool Dreams, Inc. which is a 501(c) 3 Non-Profit organization, or a $500 donation for two speeches at the same school on the same day.  A larger contribution is requested for destinations further outside the metro Atlanta area which require more drive time and more time away from Bill’s ‘day’ job.  The Cool Dreams experience can be sponsored by a parent, grandparent or a company and their information can be prominently displayed at the start and finish of the PowerPoint show. Please call to ask how Cool Dreams can inspire your group.  1-877-SLED-DOG.

See www.cooldreams.net or   www.877SLEDDOG.com for more information.   Or email bill @ cooldreams.net

Karen Land

Karen Land, a writer and three-time participant in the 1,150-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race across Alaska, is on the road year-round with her sled dog, Borage, giving dog mushing presentations in libraries and schools across the country.

Since 1999, Karen and Borage have given over 800 talks. For more information and reviews of their presentations, go to their website at www.mymusher.com. E-mail Karen directly at mymusher@yahoo.com.

In 1999, Karen took a job caring for 100-some Alaskan Huskies at the Montana kennel of 21-time Iditarod musher, Terry Adkins, DVM. In 2001, Karen finished the 450-mile Wyoming International Stage Stop Race, the 250-mile Can Am Crown in Maine, and Montana’s 350-mile Race to the Sky Sled Dog Race.

In March 2002, Karen made her first appearance in the Iditarod and finished the race in just under 14 days. She went on to compete in 2003 and 2004. Completing the 1,150-mile Iditarod is among the most difficult feats in all of sports. More people have reached the summit of Mount Everest than have made it to the Iditarod finish line behind a dog team.

Join Borage and Karen on an icy adventure in the comfort of your library or school!

Finalist, 2010 Target^® Teacher on the Trail

The trail to Nome is filled with unknowns.  At every step along this thousand-mile journey, a musher has to make decisions.  Some call this risk assessment.  What obstacles might be encountered, and how to best prepare for them are the decisions constantly floating around inside the head of every musher on the Iditarod Trail.  Do I stop at this checkpoint?  Do I have to drop a dog?  Does my leader need a break?  Can my team make it to Nome? Isn’t that the way it is in life?  Buckling up, wearing sunscreen, or locking our doors at night are some simple decisions made daily by responsible adults.  As teachers we want to help our students in their decision-making skills as well.  Our goal as educators is to provide whatever tools necessary to help our students make the right choices, choices that might even one day save their life.

Most teachers want to protect their students from negative influences that occur on a daily basis. Children are continually exposed to messages about the supposed acceptability of drug use through television, the Internet, movies and radio. There is no other time in a person’s life when peer pressure is greater than during adolescence. During the 2009 Winter Iditarod Educator’s Conference, the Alaska National Guard presented their “Stay on Track” Drug Demand Reduction Program.  Now, here is a teacher tool with some real meat behind it.

Stay on Track is a free research-based program targeted at middle school students.  It is an innovative, fun, and comprehensive approach to preventing substance abuse. The units are broken up into health education, decision-making, improving communication, and media influence.  Each of these units has activities that help your students with trust building, communication, and risk assessment. Chief Warrant Officer Scott Frickson and his Guard team had us participate in many of the activities included in the curriculum.  We played a trust game where we had to hold hands, and wait for a hand squeeze before we got to grab a chicken (no way to do this game justice, so just go with me here). We had to use analytical skills and determine in a pile of string which one string we could pull that would be attached to the rest of the strings to test our problem solving skills.  Then there was the game where we stood on a dot and had to nonverbally communicate with another person in the circle that we wanted to switch spots with them, without letting the person stuck in the middle get our spot.  All of these activities came with reflection at the end with the decisions we made and why we made them.  The great part about this free program is that your local National Guard, no matter where you live, can come in to teach the program, or you can teach it yourself.

It is no wonder the National Guard is such an important collaborator with Iditarod Education Department. The Army National Guard is an elite group of warriors who dedicate a portion of their time to serving their nation. Each state has its own Guard, as required by the Constitution; in fact, it is the only branch of the military whose existence is actually required by the Constitution. According to SSgt Jen Theulen, the Alaska National Guard does the most rescues of any National Guard.  This is due to the high volume of high-risk sports in this state.  They rescue pilots, snow machiners, climbers, hunters, photographers, hikers, rock climbers, and occasionally boaters.  Now their goal is to help students evaluate the risk assessment with using tobacco, drugs, or alcohol.

The Iditarod Education Department’s goal is to provide teachers with standards based lessons that will hook kids on to the Iditarod and become lifelong fans.  When our students are excited about what they are learning, and have the skills necessary to make good decisions both in and out of the classroom, then you can see why the National Guard’s partnership is such a powerful tool.  Together we can help our kids make it to Nome!

If you would like to find out about the Drug Demand Reduction program for the National Guard Unit in your city or state, please visit http://www.alaskadrugeducation.com.  Even though this is the Alaska site, they will put you in contact with your state’s unit.

My class annually follows the Iditarod. We put up a map and bulletin board in the hallway at our school so that all of the students in our small school can follow along. Each student chooses one musher to follow. We track the mushers each day and log on to the Insider each day for video clips and updates. I integrate the Iditarod curriculum throughout all of my subjectsfor the two-three weeks that the race is on and beyond. I use Iditarod curriculum that I purchased and the educational ideas from this website. We end with a letter-writing project and have a celebration to cap it all off.

I have used Iditarod as a tool in the classroom for ten years.

Last year, as a class we contacted Laura Daugereau, and she agreed to come to our school after the race. She gave a fabulous talk to the children! They were thrilled to have this first hand account of someone who accomplished something so great as to run the Iditarod. We made a quilt to honor her for being the first woman from Washington State to run and complete the Iditarod. I have included two pictures. Hope you enjoy them.

R.R. Wright

Washington

During the third week in June, I had a delightful experience of teaching middle ’schoolers’ through a program at our Ivy Tech College called “College for Kids”. The director decided to call my program, “Alaskan Adventures”, which was apt since I did teach about the animals, land, natives and the Iditarod. Students paid a fee for attending, but since the classes are for students who would never have this opportunity, our community provided the financial support. Most of the students chose the classes they wanted to participate in, and if the classes were filled they had the option to choose other classes that weren’t at the maximum of 15 students. Thus, sometimes you were NOT the student’s first choice and a poor attitude could be a problem.

Something else I learned was that the students liked “projects” and hands on activities, so I needed to arrive every day loaded with things to do. I knew my challenge was to “hook” these kids on what I am passionate about, and to engage them none stop for 90 minutes!

Even though I was a bit apprehensive at first, I looked forward to immersing my class in AK and the Iditarod. I have CD’s of my AK pictures and each CD is a Power Point focusing on something different, i.e. animals, trail, Anchorage, natives, kennel, training dogs, etc. So I planned what I would show and discuss each day, before we began the activities. I provided most of the materials for my activities and coordinated the Power Points with the activities. They began by creating their own AK tee shirt using stencils I had of sled dogs. I was thrilled to see how they used the fabric paint creating their own individual designs. I had scraps of fur from AK animals in a huge bag, and they had a super time trying to figure out the animal that belonged to the fur and then they each created a collage with the scraps. They made neat bracelets creating their own designs after looking at some of my jewelry treasures I shared with them. The girls used elastic string f or their bracelets and the boys used much thicker raw hide. They built sleds out of craft sticks, and made booties out of felt and cleverly designed the front of the bootie. They had a ball helping each other into my gear, trying to walk around in it, and they each even crawled into my sleeping bag! I was going to have them look at all my things in my sled bag for a few minutes, then close the bag and see how many objects they could remember, alas….we simply ran out of time. (I was always the last class to finish up every day!) The kids were more interested in taking pictures of each other in my gear, and then on the day Annui, my Alaskan sled dog, came with me, they wanted pictures of themselves putting her gear on. It all was great fun!!

I truly had a wonderful experience with the older kids and I know I had a bit of an impact on one of my students. I knew from the first day that he hadn’t been exposed to much beyond our community, he was very quiet and tried to look disengaged. Boy, he immediately was MY challenge and I was determined to have him loving it all by Friday. I knocked myself out for all of them, but my eye was on him!

On Friday, I took in Annui, who is an amazingly well trained and behaved sled dog (I worked hard with her, too.) and before taking her into the college, I had her running free in a huge area out front. All of a sudden a car pulled up and a voice in the back seat began yelling, “Finney, Finney!” I walked from the open area to the car to see none other than my “challenge” in the back seat and an identical twin in the front. The grandmother leaned forward so she could speak to me and told me that my “challenge” (she didn’t know that) was so excited about what he had been learning and that now he wanted to go to AK to live, work, and run dogs!!!! She also thanked me for taking the time to teach the class. Before I knew it, I was thanking HER for sending her grandson to my class and telling her how much I adored teaching the class.

In education we never know how or when we will touch someone’s life, but that is really what inspires us to teach something we are passionate about. I was given the gift of a “challenge” for one week and I absolutely embraced him. Another magical moment in my life, all because of my adventures in Alaska and being a teacher on the Iditarod Trail! It just seems to NEVER end and how lucky I am!

“Finney”—Andrea Aufder Heyde

Finney was the first Iditarod Teacher on the Trail and a driving force behind the establishment of that program.

*** Attention Teachers in Indiana! Finney is available for school programs. Contact Iditarod’s Education Department for further detail

by Education Department

The Mountain Mushers Hero Sled Dogs Educational/Therapy Team has visited schools and libraries across the United States since 1992. Harry, Lela, and **Team** bring sled dog literature to life. They help promote topics such as the Iditarod, Denali Park Sled Dogs, animal care, and teamwork. They have begun working with children and adults with Autism, along with making visits to Senior Homes and hospitals. Harry and Lela have helped with I Kid A Rod projects and inspire audience of all ages with their presentation.

Lela, a retired teacher, has published her first children’s book Pixie: Sled Dog of Snow Park (readability levels Pre-K – 2.) Proceeds from book sales help the Schlitz’ share their HERO SLED DOGS nationwide visiting schools, libraries, senior homes, and other events.

Harry, Lela, and **Team** will be in the Boston, MA. Area during July and August of 2008. To learn more about The Mountain Mushers Hero Sled Dogs Educational/Therapy Team, visit their website: www.mtmushers.com

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by Judi Roach

The month of March is almost gone. As a finalist for Teacher on the Trail 2009, this past March has been full of excitement and adventure unlike any that I have experienced before.

As we -March On… I would like to encourage teachers to continue to grow in their teaching of the Iditarod. Each year can be a new, slightly different adventure than the previous year. There are hundreds of different ways to teach Iditarod. Don‘t be afraid to try something new, adding to what has worked well with your students. Please don‘t think that you have to plan a huge, multi-faceted unit that involves an enormous amount of time and reproduction of materials on your part. Use the Iditarod Educational website to seek out materials and references. My 4^th graders love writing letters to their mushers. We used the suggested guidelines and lesson plan off of the website for the past two years. Just last week, one of my students received a letter back from their musher. Miss Alexis was thrilled to receive not only a return letter, but a picture of her musher in the starting chute at the restart as well! All students must learn to write letters. What a great venue for learning that skill! Another valuable resource is Shelley Gill‘s resource book on Alaska. This contains simple lessons on geography, science, math, etc. Incorporating those mini lessons helps build background knowledge and does not require a lot of time or planning. I used a math/map lesson during my leveled math class when teaching estimation. The kids had a great time drawing maps to scale and estimating. Finally, seek out the -People Resources that are available to you. As part of our school wide Iditarod unit, Curt Door, a kennel owner and former sprint dog musher, brought his dog Olive to our school. After his presentation, students harnessed and bootied dogs. Bruce Brosnin, a photographer who traveled to Alaska numerous times over the years, gave a presentation on Alaska. Bruce did a great job of teaching students about facts and non-facts of Alaska‘s geography, weather, Native Americans and culture. His passion for Alaska, especially for fishing, was very evident. Bruce shared a colored, art rubbing he created of one of the salmon he caught. It was very cool! Seek out People Resources; you will be amazed at how much you and your students will learn from parents and other community members who have firsthand knowledge of Alaska and the Iditarod.

April is around the corner and standardized tests are lurking, I will be incorporating some poetry fun to break up the monotony as April is National Poetry Month. In March, we wrote limericks. A musher or dog limerick could provide some humorous writings along with acrostic poems, free verse, diamante poems, and shape poems; what a repertoire! Why not use all of the images and background knowledge the students have acquired during Iditarod to create an illustrated classroom book of Iditarod poetry? Creativity Abounds, Mr. Silverstein won‘t have anything on us!

The adventure of the Last Great Race will continue to serve as an exciting learning tool for years to come. As I -March On, I will always treasure the wonderful people and experiences gained through my Iditarod learning and teaching adventures, Happy Spring!

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by Iditarod Education Department

12/17/2007

Nine-time veteran Iditarod Alaska Sled Dog Race Musher, Dewey Halverson, is on tour in the lower 48, bringing his experiences with raising and training sled dogs and running Iditarod to schools and communities. As a4^th grade student, Dewey read a book that inspired him to begin setting his goals to live in Alaska and run dogs. From dreams came reality.

Hearing about raising sled dogs helps students realize the importance of good nutrition and exercise in both the human and canine lives. Looking at the musher’s required gear provides the students with an opportunity to reflect on the kinds of climate and trail conditions that mushers face. Viewing the musher’s sled provides the opportunity for students to imagine themselves, standing on the runners and traveling the trail. Dewey’s stories help the students to realize that the skills necessary to be successful dog musher and survive in the wilderness of Alaska are the same kinds of skills anyone needs to be successful at achieving goals. Dewey’s presentation helps students recognize that no matter what the goals may be, through hard work and showing best effort, the goals can be achieved.

You’ve visited our website, www.iditarod.com. You’ve read about mushers and followed the race. You’ve viewed our Iditarod Insider video. You want to bring your students to the trail to experience the race first hand, but you just can’t take that fieldtrip! You can bring a part of Iditarod to your school.

To learn how, visit Dewey Halverson’s website.

Nine-time veteran Iditarod Alaska Sled Dog Race Musher, Dewey Halverson, is on tour in the lower 48, bringing his experiences with raising and training sled dogs and running Iditarod to schools and communities. As a4^th grade student, Dewey read a book that inspired him to begin setting his goals to live in Alaska and run dogs. From dreams came reality.

Hearing about raising sled dogs helps students realize the importance of good nutrition and exercise in both the human and canine lives. Looking at the musher’s required gear provides the students with an opportunity to reflect on the kinds of climate and trail conditions that mushers face. Viewing the musher’s sled provides the opportunity for students to imagine themselves, standing on the runners and traveling the trail. Dewey’s stories help the students to realize that the skills necessary to be successful dog musher and survive in the wilderness of Alaska are the same kinds of skills anyone needs to be successful at achieving goals. Dewey’s presentation helps students recognize that no matter what the goals may be, through hard work and showing best effort, the goals can be achieved.

You’ve visited our website, www.iditarod.com. You’ve read about mushers and followed the race. You’ve viewed our Iditarod Insider video. You want to bring your students to the trail to experience the race first hand, but you just can’t take that fieldtrip! You can bring a part of Iditarod to your school.

To learn how, click and visit Dewey Halverson’s website.

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