If you are writing to mushers, please follow the instructions below- EVEN if you have done this project before- to gain optimum success on your project. It is important that you follow the directions. Teachers, please help us out!
2. Fill out the form on the bottom of this page with information that is requested. The best way to do this is to copy and paste it into a new document, answer the questions, and then send the document back. You can also simply send the answers to the questions on the form in an email.
3. Once the education department has received the form and the information requested on it, the addresses for the mushers will be emailed to you. You will need to send the answers to the questions to the education department before any addresses can be mailed to you.
4. Choose the mushers you would like to send letters to.
5. Write your letters. Place the letter(s) to each musher in a separate envelope. Along with your letter(s), include a self-addressed-stamped-envelope if you would like to receive a reply. Remember to make sure the self-addressed-stamped-envelope has the correct postage – if you expect a musher to send a letter from Canada or overseas to you or your school, you’ll need to talk to the post office about the exact postage you’ll need to include on your SASE. Remember, mushers in countries other than your own will need more postage to send you a letter.
6. Once your letter(s), and the SASE are inside of your envelope, address the correspondence to the musher, using the address list that was sent to you.
7. Remember to put correct postage on the envelope! You’ll need more postage if you are sending a letter to another country! Your post office will tell you what your options are as far as how quickly the letter will get to the musher, depending on how much postage you put on the envelope. REMEMBER if the musher is from CANADA you cannot use United States postage on the return envelopes. Mushers must return mail using CANADIAN POSTAGE. You can purchase International Reply Coupons to include in the musher’s letter so a musher from Canada or other countries outside of the United States can exchange the coupon for correct postage. To learn more, consult this link.
8. Take the correspondence to the post office, or drop it in the mail box once you have correct postage. Send the envelopes directly to the musher. If you are sending letters to multiple mushers, you’ll have multiple pieces of correspondence to send! (Do not send the letters to Iditarod Headquarters or to me to mail them for you. Send the mail from your location.)
****** DO NOT send mail to Iditarod Headquarters. Mushers do not get their mail at Headquarters and there is not a budget allowance for postage to purchase envelopes or mail letters for you. Sending pages and pages of letters in one envelope to Headquarters will not reach the destination. Contact me for specific information about this or if you have other questions. Click here.
******Not all of our mushers write back, but many will. Make SURE you include a self addressed envelope WITH ACCURATE postage on the envelope with the letter to increase the success of this project. DO NOT send an envelope filled with pages of letters to Iditarod Headquarters or to me to have them delivered or mailed. We do not have volunteers or postage to do this. Remember, mushers can get hundreds of letters. Following our directions is very important!
*****The information in the chart below is the information we request from you before I send you musher addresses. This information is also in the lesson plan that we request you read even if you have read it before or if you have done this project before because our information is designed to help you be successful. Copy and paste this form into an email or provide the information by simply give this information in your reply email. Following these directions helps the mushers stay happy and find more enjoyment in returning letters to students.
(If you can not copy and paste this chart into an email with your information filled out, simply email the required information without the form.)
PLEASE NOTE: The musher contact information is updated each January following the December musher sign up deadline. If you request a list before January, you will need to contact us again if you wish an updated list.
| To Receive Musher Addresses: Fill out the following Information in a reply email. | Type the information in the answer box. |
| Teacher’s First and Last Name | |
| Teacher’s school email address | |
| School | |
| School Address | |
| City, State, Zip code | |
| School Phone Number | |
| School or District Website | |
| Grade Level | |
| Teaching Area | |
| Summary of Project and reason for the request. Include goal or objectives of doing this project. | |
| I agree to include self addressed stamped for the correct amount of postage envelopes in each envelope sent just in case a musher wishes to send a response letter. | (Type your name to show you agree to follow this and other guidelines) |
| How long have you used Iditarod as a tool in classroom instruction? | |
| What would you like us to know about you or your students? |
