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Under the Watchful Eye

Date: February 25, 2010

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After visiting Iditarod Elementary today, Terrie and I swung over to the Iditarod Headquarters to see what was going on at the vet trailer.  We pulled in at just the right time. A musher was there getting the required EKG’s done on his team. I thought this might be a good opportunity to explain a little more about an EKG.

What is an EKG?
The letters EKG stand for electrocardiogram. An EKG is a non-invasive, completely painless test, which evaluates the health of a dog’s heart. It measures the heart rate and heart’s electrical activity to tell the veterinarian if the dog has an irregular or dangerous heartbeat that can’t be detected with a stethoscope.

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How is the test done?
The dog lies on a table and clips with wires coming from them are attached to the dog in several locations. The musher or handler stays at the dog’s head to keep the dog calm. The wires are attached to a special recording machine.  During the EKG, electrical signals from the dog’s heart are sent through the wires to the EKG machine. The EKG machine records a reading of the dog’s heart rate and electrical activity on paper. This only takes about 2-3 minutes.

Does it hurt?
No, an EKG is painless. After the EKG is completed, the clips are removed and there are no marks on the dog. 

Does every dog in the Iditarod get an EKG?
Yes, every dog is required to get an EKG before racing in the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. 

Can a dog be disqualified from participating based on an EKG?
Yes. The chief veterinarian has the authority to deny entry of any dog to the race if the dog has an abnormality which may put the dog at risk for injury or death.

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Are EKG’s done on humans?
Yes.  EKG’s are performed on humans for the same reasons they are performed on dogs.

Keep in mind that an EKG is only one part of the overall vet care these world class athletes (the dogs) receive.  The dogs get a blood test, worming, complete physical and each dog is micro chipped.  During the race each musher is required to carry a vet book in which is recorded any observations that may require special attention. The veterinarian and the musher must both sign the vet book before the musher leaves the checkpoint.

For more information, see the official Iditarod rules at: http://www.iditarod.com/pdfs/2010/rules.pdf

Posted by herb in Messages

Back on the Trail at Big Lake

Date: February 24, 2010

Hello from Wasilla, Alaska.  I thought this day would never get here.  I’ve had several trail reroutes along that way, including a stay for a week in the hospital back in January. But, I’m back on the trail again, and hoping to share my experiences with you in a way that will rejuvenate and motivate all who read my posts whether you are a teacher or just a fan of the Iditarod. 

I don’t know if you’ve been paying much attention to the national weather, but the east coast has been getting hammered with snow since December.  What a fantastic winter!!! I loved every minute of it.  Three months of excellent dog sledding.  Bring it on!!!

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Today I visited Big Lake Elementary.  What a nice school and a very well behaved group of students.  We sang a few songs, but the main focus of my presentation was trails.  It was titled “Life is a Trail.” Along with talking about the Iditarod Trail, I talked about how life can be looked at as a journey in which we are following a trail. This direction our trail goes is in part determined by our goals, our life experiences, and our ancestry and heritage. Therefore, our trail actually starts before we are born. I used a picture of my Great, Great, Grandfather to talk about my ancestry and how the part of the country where I live and the life style I lead has been influenced by my ancestors.  We should look at our heritage as a source of pride and not as a limiting factor in our growth.  Knowledge of our heritage gives us an understanding of how and why we are where we are.  This kind of understanding can help us figure out where we need to put our energy. It gives us a “sense of place,” respect for our elders, and a concern for preserving items of historical significance so that future generations can also share the guiding influence these things provide.

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Below, I have included some suggestions for student activities.  I have also included  a link to my “Life Trail Map” as an example.  The trail map activities can be created on the computer using the tools at the bottom of a Word document.  I got most of my pictures from Clip Art.  If you do not have a computer lab, or for younger students, a “Life Trail Map” can be created by drawing a line diagonally across a paper and using pictures, photographs, or drawings. 

 

Life Trail Map

     1. Make a heritage trail map of your ancestry.

     2. Make a trail map of things you’ve done.(Reflection)

     3. Make a trail map of places you would like to go or things you would like to do or see.  (Goal Setting)

Posted by herb in Messages

Books to the Trail

Date: January 2, 2010

Recently, our school, through our local Usborne books representative, Alyssa Truman, held a Reach for the Stars reading program.  The program served many purposes; 1) it motivated the students to read by providing incentives, 2) it provided free books to students who read a certain number of pages, and 3) it provided a total of $750 to the Books to the Trail program in Alaska!!!  It was a win, win situation.  The kids at Southern Fulton Elementary School won, Usborne books won, and the students in Alaska won. What a great opportunity for everyone involved. 

Mrs. Trail (Principal), Lucy (The Husky), Target Iditarod 2010 TOTT (That's me), Alyssa Truman of Usborne Books

Mrs. Trail (Principal), Lucy (The Husky), Target Iditarod 2010 TOTT (That's me), Alyssa Truman of Usborne Books

 This may sound like a great accomplishment to some, but it was pretty much a no brainer for the kids at Southern Fulton.  You see, Southern Fulton Elementary was the winner of a National Title I Distinguished School Award last year.  Not only that, but they have achieved AYP 6 years in a row. What I’m saying is that the students at Southern Fulton know how important reading is to learning.     

 Reading is one of the most important things we can learn to do in our lifetime.  Reading opens many doors. Books are windows to places we may never go.  Reading allows us to travel to places and vicariously experience things without ever leaving our living rooms.  And, most importantly, it allows us to be our own teacher.  We spend such a short time of our life in school, but we spend a lifetime learning. Hence, the most important job a teacher performs is to teach a student how to teach themselves.  Reading is one of the most important tools in the tool box for achieving this practice.

 So, do you want to get involved?  Do you want to help with Books to the Trail?  Another great lesson the students learn from this program is helping others.  It’s a great feeling to help someone else.  If you want to get involved, go to http://www.bookstothetrails.webs.com/ become part of putting books in the hands of the students in Alaska and your students. You’ll be glad you did.     

 ***If reading opens doors, and books are windows, that makes the library the Lowe’s Building Center of life.

Posted by herb in Messages

Breaking Trail

Date: December 26, 2009

We recently received a blessing of 14 inches of snow.  Needles to say, I have spent as much time out with the dogs as humanly possible.  I have managed to get some sleep, at least enough so that I have been able to give the illusion of functioning in a normal manner.  December has been a great month in Pennsylvania for taking the dog sled out. Since receiving our first snow on December 4, there were only 2 training runs where I was not able to take the sled. 

If the weather cooperates, one of my adventures over Christmas break will be to take the C&O Canal along the Potomac River, from Cumberland to Hancock, Maryland, a trek of 60 miles through some of Maryland and West Virginia’s most beautiful Appalachian Mountain Country.  Sometime, I would like to do the entire 184 mile towpath from Cumberland to Washington D.C. The entire length of the C&O Canal is smorgasbord of history.  For example, the canal winds its way past the Antietam Battlefield where in 1862 occurred one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.  At Harpers Ferry, John Brown seized the Federal Arsenal in 1859 in an attempt to arm slaves with weapons. In 1787, James Rumsey operated the first steamboat in America at Shepherdstown, West Virginia. On January 5, 1862, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson laid siege to the town of Hancock, Maryland.  Little Orleans, Maryland was the site of one of the first labor disputes in American when construction workers, on May 17, 1838, rioted because of non-payment of wages. These are just a few of the historic sites along the C&O canal towpath.  Take a look at the site below for a virtual tour.  And, by the way, take a look at the movie of my team as we wind our way through the hills of Breezewood, Pennsylvania breaking trail. 

Merry Christmas, and have a safe New Year!!!

 

C&O Canal Virtual Tour – http://canal.mcmullans.org/Virtual_Tour.htm

 

Breaking Trail Video – Breaking Trail

Posted by herb in Messages

The First Snow of the Season

Date: December 6, 2009

Saturday brought our first snow that stuck to the ground.  What a welcome site, a magical experience to be out in that first snow.  With the smell of pumpkin pie still in the air from Thanksgiving, and the anticipation of Christmas right around the corner, this snow seemed to signify the beginning of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” if I may borrow the line from the famous song.  Now, I know many people dread the winter season for many reasons.  But, there are those, including myself, who look forward to cold weather, snow, skiing, ice skating, sledding, firewood cutting, days off school, and, oh yeah, taking the dog sled out. 

 Not only was Saturday the first snow of the year, it was our Alaskan Husky, Willow’s first snow of her life. For those of you who don’t know, I brought Willow back from Alaska this past summer at the end of the Summer Teacher Conference. So, she is a true Alaskan Husky, born and bred.  She enjoyed the snow immensely.  First, I allowed her to have some play time before we got down to work (pulling the sled.)  We live back in, off the road, so our dogs are lucky to be able to get some supervised, free running time. She was a natural at running full bore down some of our hills, slipping onto her belly and sliding as her back end tried to pass her front end. 

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How was that Dad?

And of course she went and teased her Uncle Bo by trying to do a paw stand.  That didn’t work out very well. 

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She even went on a hunt and pounced on imaginary mice under the snow.

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I know you're under there!

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Gotcha!!!

 

 And finally, she pranced like a reindeer getting ready to pull Santa’s sleigh.

On Dasher! On Dancer! On Willow! ...

On Dasher! On Dancer! On Willow! ...

Willow has been practicing pulling with the other dogs for about a month now.  She has taken to it naturally.  I believe, she is the most enthusiastic and motivated dog out of my four dogs. A natural athlete, a future Iditarod champion in the ruff, or is that rough?  Oh well, I was never two good at spelling anyway.  Take a look at the Pennsylvania winter landscape below.  Enjoy!!! Don’t be influenced by that cranky old weatherman on TV. Get out in the weather and enjoy it!!!    

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Posted by herb in Messages

Herb’s Lessons

Date: November 14, 2009

This section of the website will be added to periodically, so check back for new lessons and updates.

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Iditarod Sled Dog Race; Grades 2-8; Geography, Social Studies, and Science; This lesson introduces how climate relates to lifestyle and culture.

Lesson 2: The Alaskan Husky; Grades 4-8; Technology, Science; This lesson uses computer skills such as cutting, pasting, and saving a Word document as a vehicle to learn the unique characteristics of the Alaskan Husky. 

Lesson 3: Making Electricity from the Sun; Grades 4-12; Science, Technology, Geography, Environmental Education; In this hands on lesson students see how the angle of a solar panel in relationship to the sun’s rays directly effects voltage output.  The Internet is used to research the average hours of sunlight per day for locations across the globe.    

Lesson 4: Wilderness Survival; Grades 4-8; Social Studies, Environmental Education; Students actually build a debris shelter(or model) as they study the hierarchy of survival priorities.  Read Iditarod stories of survival from the book More Iditarod Classics.

Lesson 5:The Reason for the Seasons; Grades 2 -6;  Science, Environmental Education; Students learn about the tilt of the earth and the angle of incidents of the sun’s rays and explain the causes of seasonal change.

Lesson 6: Are We There Yet; Grades 5-12; Technology, Geography; Find out how far it is from your house to Alaska and how long it will take to get there driving, walking, or using public transportation.

Lesson 7: Why is Iditarod a Ghost Town ; Grades 4-12; Environmental Education, Social Studies; Students determine the best place to locate a village by evaluating several locations for available water resources, type of soil, signs of wildlife, and ease of travel.

Lesson 8: The Cold Hard Facts; Grades 4 and above; Technology, Science, Math;In this lesson students use an Excel spreadsheet to record temperature data from their local area and a location in Alaska.  They also use the graphing capability of Excel to create a graph that compares the 2 locations.

Posted by herb in Secondary Tagged , , , ,

Saving Toner, Money and Trees

Date: November 9, 2009

Our school is in the process of starting a recycling program.  I’m sure there are many schools out there that have been recycling for several years, but living in a rural area presents some unique challenges when it comes to recycling.  Many of the trash haulers still do not provide a means to recycle.  People in our area who wish to recycle have to haul their own recyclables to a central location where there is a roll off container.  Many companies will not even supply a container or wish to be involved in recycling because it ends up costing them money due to the distance they have to travel.  It is actually costing our school district more to change haulers so that we can start a recycling program!!!  But, in the long run, our students will be better off by becoming educated about the process, by becoming part of doing something to help our planet, and by reducing their carbon footprint.

Not only is recycling a great idea, but what about reducing the amount of printing done at the school so that less paper is used?  If you want some motivation to reduce, get a hold of your school district’s paper budget.  Sit down first though before you look at it. And, if you want to create a visual for others to see the need to cut back on paper use, borrow the gym and create a pile of boxes big enough to hold the number of reams of paper your school uses in a year.  If you want another shock, figure out how many trees it would take to make that amount of paper.  Not a pretty site.

So, I’ve come up with a number of ways to use less paper and to save money on printing.

1. Have students do assignments in the computer lab and save them to a folder on a drive so that you can down load them to a flash drive.  It is a lot easier to carry a flash drive home in your pocket than a bag full of papers.

2.  Use one of the free test makers on the internet rather than printing your tests out.  http://www.teach-nology.com/downloads/test/

3.  Make worksheets on the computer and save them to a drive that is accessable to your students.  If you go to Tools in the tool bar, and then come down to Protect Document in the drop down menu, you can lock your document so the questions can’t be changed.  You can also provide fields for the students to type their answers.

4.  Only print one copy on your computer printer.  Use a potocopier to make multiple copies.  Copier costs are much less than printer costs.

5.  Some printers are capable of printing duplex. Suggest to your purchasing department that they buy printers of this type.

6. Print to a laser printer instead of an inkjet printer.

7. Make sure students are not printing things they shouldn’t be printing.

8. To save toner, change your printer default to draft mode.

9. Always do a Print Preview before printing to verify that you are only printing pages that you need.

10. For color printers, only print color if needed.

Each one of the above suggestions by itself is no great savings, but if we all follow them, and make them a habit, together we can make a difference.  Live lightly!!!

Posted by herb in Environmental Ed, Messages

Introduction to the Iditarod Sled Dog Race

Date: August 23, 2009

Introduction to the Iditarod Sled Dog Race
Developed by: Herb Brambley
Discipline / Subject: Geography/Social Studies/Science
Topic: Iditarod Sled Dog Race
Grade Level: 1 and above
Resources / References / Materials Teacher Needs:Movie – Nanook of the NorthMovie – Alone in the Wilderness

Book – Enchantment of America:Alaska

Book – Balto by Natalie Standiford

Globe

Flashlight

Internet site with animation of earth’s orbit:

http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/energy/earth_sun_relations_seasons.html

Lesson Summary: This lesson introduces Alaska and the Iditarod to the students.  It is also a lesson on why we experience the change in seasons.
Standard’s Addressed: (Local, State, or National)1. NSES 6.4 Earth and Space Science2. PA S&T 3.4D Explain and illustrate the cause of seasonal change.

3. USNGS 6 How Culture and Experience Influence People’s Perceptions of Places and Regions

4. NCSS 3 People Places and Environments
Learning Objectives:1. Students will describe the movement of the earth in relationship to the sun.2. Students will explain how the tilt of the earth relates to the change in seasons.

3. Students will identify differences between our culture and that of people from the artic regions.

 Method of assessment for learning

  1. Students will draw the tilt of the earth and its relationship to the sun in each of the 4 seasons.
  2. Students will demonstrate the movement and tilt of the earth in relationship to the sun.
  3. Students will list differences between their culture and Nanook’s culture.
Procedural Activities

  1. Using the globe and solar system model, describe the orbit of the earth around the sun.
  2. Use the flashlight and globe to show how the tilt of the earth causes parts of the earth to receive less sunlight certain times of the year.
  3. Show students the Internet site with the animation of earth’s orbit.
  4. Since we receive heat and light energy from the sun, parts of the earth get less heat and light during some months and are therefore colder.
  5. Relate lifestyle and culture to climate.
  6. Show students the movie Nanook of the North.
  7. Have students list differences and similarities in culture they observed.
Materials Students Need:Worksheet page with picture of the sun and earth’s orbit.
Technology Utilized to Enhance Learning:Computer with internet access to show animation of earth’s orbit.
Other Information:Preview Nanook before showing it to your class. Some material may not be suitable for children.
Modifications for Special Learners/ Enrichment Opportunities:This is a great hands-on lesson for learning the orbit and tilt of the earth.Students who understand the concept of earth’s tilt may describe in their journals the affect there would be on the seasons if earth had no tilt.

Posted by herb in Lessons, Science, Social Studies Tagged ,

“A Trail to Every Classroom”

Date: August 12, 2009

SAMSUNG DIGITAL CAMERA I recently attended the National Park Service Teacher Conference called A Trail to Every Classroom. The 2009 cohort included 49 participants from Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. In addition to teachers from the above mentioned states which the Appalachian Trail traverses, there was staff from three other trails; Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, the proposed Mississippi River Trail, and yes, you guessed it, the Iditarod National Historic Trail.

So, what is this Trail to Every Classroom? TEC is a workshop administered by the National Park Service which helps teachers develop a curriculum for their school using the Appalachian Trail as a recreational, environmental and educational resource. The Trail to Every Classroom curriculum has several functions, 1) to get students outside, experiencing the environment, 2) to get them actively involved in their community performing a needed service, and 3) to teach students the unique history of their community so that they know why and how their community originated. These goals are accomplished by using two teachings methods; Service Learning and Placed Based Education.

Who benefits from TEC? Everyone! That’s the great thing about using these methods to teach students. The students aren’t learning in a vacuum. They are actively participating in their learning as active members of their community. Students also benefit by using all of the content areas during their involvement. The very nature of TEC lends itself easily to a multidisciplinary approach. As an example of this, during the TEC summer workshop, teachers could attend a technology session where they learned to use a GPS as a teaching tool in their classroom. They also had the opportunity to attend a science oriented environmental quality monitoring session where they were learning about the effects of air pollution on vegetation and soil, doing a macroinvertebrate study in water and in the soil.


And what was I doing there? Other than playing a lot of music every night and eating the fantastic meals prepared by the kitchen staff at the National Conservation Training Center, where the conference was held, I did a presentation on the Iditarod Race and I worked on developing a TEC program for Alaska with 3 wonderful people; 2 from the United States Forest Service and 1 from Alaska Geographic. As many of you already know, especially those that attended the winter conference, I love to play my guitar and I use a lot of music in my classroom. At the conference, I met someone from Vermont who had a mandolin and an accordion, and another person from Missouri who played the harmonica, and it wasn’t long before we had a 3 man band. You should have been there!!!

Posted by herb in Messages, Trail to Every Classroom

The National Guard Can Provide a Unique Drug Education Program at Your School

Date: August 11, 2009

As mentioned in my previous blog posting, I want to write specifically about the programs provided by the National Guard in the area of drug, alcohol, and substance abuse. There are several programs available through the National Guard designed to suit your specific needs in the areas of leadership training and drug education. Even if your school currently has a drug education program, I believe it would be advantageous to research available programs through the National Guard. Perhaps your school has been doing the same drug education presentation to your students for several years and your students are becoming a little bored with the repetition. Maybe the teachers are too. Check out the National Guard Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) program. It will provide a fresh approach to drug education for your school.

During the teacher’s conference this past summer, I had the privilege of experiencing first hand several of the activities that are used in their lessons. To say the least, I was extremely impressed with the activities and how the lessons are tied in to drug education and leadership training. Before one of the lessons, we were told that we could learn a lot from a rubber chicken. Well, I was very skeptical. But, as it turns out, rubber chickens are very, very intelligent. Rubber chickens can teach you the importance of communication. Really!!! If you want to learn how, check out your local National Guard DDR program.

Another lesson which was done on a low ropes course required our group to work together as a team to complete the course from one end to the other. It was virtually impossible for one person to complete the course alone. In order to maintain balance on the cable we were walking on, an overhead rope had to be swung to you so that you could hold on. As you progressed to the next section, another overhead rope was swung to you by the person in front of you. In this way, you were able to make your way along the entire course. Almost like swinging through the trees with Tarzan, Jane and Cheetah.


Our final activities were on the high ropes. When I say high, I mean about 40 feet high. Talk about a different perspective on things. High ropes require trust. Trust in yourself, trust in the people on the ground, and trust in your partner on the ropes. They also require confidence and the ability to overcome obstacles. Not just physical obstacles, but emotional and mental as well. I don’t believe there is any way to prepare yourself for the mental challenge of a high ropes course. The feelings and challenges that are created on the high ropes are completely different from anything else most people experience in life. It is a unique feeling that almost overwhelms you as you work with your partner to exchange places as you walk a telephone pole 40 feet above the ground. There is nothing like a high ropes course when you want to build confidence, problem solving skills, and the ability to overcome new challenges one might face in any aspect of their life. In Pennsylvania where I live, the high ropes are done at Fort Indiantown Gap as a residence program.

Don’t let me scare you away from these programs with my stories of the high ropes. The National Guard has a variety of programs available.

Posted by herb in Messages, Stay on Track: Drug Education

Summer Teacher’s Camp – Don’t let another summer go by without attending this conference!!!

Date: July 13, 2009

This year’s Summer Teacher’s Camp was another gem among many. Starting off with 4 days and 3 nights at Vern Halter’s “Dream A Dream Dog Farm,” we got right in to the mushing and dog care aspect of the teacher conference. With Vern at the wheel (literally), we bounced over hill and dale, and Vern guided us through the twist and turns of developing a run/rest schedule for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

We met authors such as Pam Flowers and Rod Perry. Pam Flowers was the first and only woman to traverse the arctic alone by dog sled. What an eye popping story! Pam’s books are available at http://www.pamflowers.com. Rod Perry recently completed a book about the history of the Iditarod Trail called Trail Breakers, available at http://rodperry.com. Rod is an experienced back-country musher who has been charged by grizzly bears no less than 3 times, and has indulged in milk from a mother moose at least 2 times, once in a life or death situation to ward off starvation. Rod was a champion wrestler in college so he must have used some fancy wrestling hold to complete that task.

The Iditarod sign up on Saturday was a great opportunity to meet and talk with world famous mushers like Lance Mackey and Dee Dee Jonrowe. We had the privilege of visiting the beautiful home of artists Jon and Jona Van Zyle. One of the conference days was an open day to visit a site of our choosing as we completed a fun challenge project. Our final experience was an introduction to the National Guard’s Drug and Alcohol Reduction program, which is available for your school through your state’s National Guard. I will write more on this later.

This conference, my friends, is not your average teacher’s conference. It provides once in a life time experiences and refreshes the soul to prepare you for a fresh start next school year. It is a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas with teachers from across the country. If you haven’t attended this conference, start making plans to include the Iditarod Summer Teacher’s Camp in your schedule for next year. I will be looking forward to seeing you there.

Top 10 ways to plan for this conference next summer.
1. Open a vacation account at your local credit union.
2. Spend some of that moldy money you have socked away in your secret Swiss Bank account.
3. Save all your pocket change in a 5 gallon water cooler jug.
4. Put 20 dollars in a bank account every week for the next year.
5. Stop at laundry mats and check the washer, dryers and coin returns in soda machines for change.
6. Play the lottery.
7. Don’t go on that stupid family vacation that everyone hates.
8. Don’t waste your time and money going to the beach and renting that condo.
9. Run the family station wagon with the bald tires and muffler dragging the ground for one more year. (Be like Uncle Buck. He’s cool. You can be cool also!)
10. Just do it!!!!!!! You’ll be glad you did.
11. And one more thing, when making reservations, remember United breaks guitars!!! http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=united+breaks+guitars&search_type=&aq=f

Posted by herb in Messages, Teacher Training: Workshops

Meet Herb Brambley: Target® 2010 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™

Date: June 22, 2009

Teacher on the trail Finalist Herb Brambley, Target® 2010 Iditarod Teacher on the TrailTM.

Visit the Teacher on the Trail Blog

Herb, along with his wife Jamie, who is a librarian, live in a log home they built and now share with 3 huskies, 5 cats, and a mule.  Herb is a K-6 environmental education and technology teacher at Southern Fulton Elementary School in Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania.  He is also a part time grant writer for the district and has been instrumental in helping the school secure more than $115,000 for the environmental program and the nature trail.  Herb says he has the best teaching job anywhere and also the biggest classroom, since his classroom is the 140 acre school property of woods and fields, which also includes a pond, wetlands, and several streams.

Before becoming a teacher, Herb had a variety of occupations.  He was a farmer, blacksmith, farrier, sawyer, machinist and tool and die maker.  Having these experiences has enriched Herb’s classroom by giving him the necessary background from which to draw upon in order to make real life situations a part of the curriculum in his classroom.  What better way is there to give meaning to learning other than to use the lessons to solve problems students may face once they are in the real world?  Herb was also a Youth Conservation Corp Crew Leader for the United States Forest Service at the Teton Basin Ranger District in Driggs, Idaho.  That was one of the most rewarding and fun jobs he says he ever had.  Imagine getting paid to experience the Tetons and all the adventures they provide and, at the same time, teach students how to care for a fantastic resource so that it is there for future generations.  Speaking of future generations, the next generation has recently been added to Herb’s family by way of a grandson Zeke, and a granddaughter Ella.

Herb also volunteers his time to several community organizations.   He has been treasurer for the local soccer club for 20 years, and because of his extensive experience playing and coaching soccer, he also is a clinician at soccer clinics for coaches.  After receiving the necessary training, Herb became a Trail Stewardship Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Equine Council.    His skill and experience in building and maintaining trail has also led to a volunteer position with the Mid State Trail Association as a trail maintainer.

One project Herb’s school will be participating in this year is the “Books to the Trail” program.  Schools involved in this program hold a fundraiser to help schools in need receive books.

When Herb isn’t coaching soccer you can find him working with his Huskies.  He recently acquired a dog sled and spent a major portion of his spare time last winter viewing the blue ridge mountains of Central Pennsylvania from the back of a dog sled.

If you ask Herb, there’s no better way to travel than dog sled and it sure beats the noise and toxic exhaust of a four-wheeler or snowmobile.

If you ask us, there will be no better way to spend the 2009 – 2010 school year than being on the Iditarod Trail with the Target® Iditarod 2010 Teacher on the TrailTM Herb Brambley.

Posted by Diane in 2010 Herb's Lessons, Messages

With Great Appreciation: Thanks Cathy!

Date: May 25, 2009
Cathy Walters, 2009 Teacher on the Trail

Cathy began her Iditarod adventure as Target®2009 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ in April of 2008.   The journey is not a journey of one year, but a journey that lasts a lifetime.

As Cathy begins her journey as a Teacher on the Trail alumni member, join us in thanking her for sharing her lessons, activities, songs, and her journey with us.  Enjoy a scrapbook of Cathy’s journey.

Send Cathy and email by clicking here!
Thanks Cathy!

Posted by Diane in Announcements, Messages

Lesson From the Trail: Team Work

Date: April 12, 2009

I am certain I’m not the first person who has surmised that the Iditarod Sled Dog Race is a metaphor for life.  It is a long journey-even much longer than it appears-and one that requires almost obsessive discipline, focus, and perseverance.  It teaches the participants things about themselves they may never have known if they had never started that journey.  What happens when they are lost or stranded?  How will they react in life and death situations?  How will they react when confronted with the choice of stopping to help another competitor at an almost certain cost to their own aspirations?  How can they foresee the daily-and decidedly unglamorous-tasks associated with keeping, training, and providing for a kennel full of dogs, day after day, morning after cold morning?  And finally, after meeting all of the challenges and logistical nightmares involved in bringing a team to Anchorage for the race, how does one face the heartbreak of not finishing, of losing a dog, or of finishing far below the expectations of friends, family, sponsors, and-most importantly-oneself?   How does a musher measure success when failure is, for most, what seems to be the order of the day?  Why would anybody do this voluntarily? Dee Dee snacks her dogs.

Three years ago, when I started my journey to be Teacher on the Trail, I could not foresee the trials, the work, the uncertainty, and the heartbreak.  I wanted to quit more than once. After my first attempt-I was chosen as a finalist, but not the 2008 Teacher on the Trail-I was ready to call it quits.  But my “team”-friends, colleagues, family, and even members of the Iditarod Education Committee-challenged me to keep going. With no guarantee of success, I had to take a deep breath and consider if this was the right decision for me, and was it the right decision for this great group of folks that made up that team.

But with their support, I decided to give it a go, not knowing at the time how vital this team would become in my life.  I put together that second application packet-notebooks full of essays, lesson plans, biographic information, etc-sharpened my computer skills, and waited for the word.

And so I was selected as the 2009 Teacher on the Trail in April; I coasted along on smooth trail until September of  ‘08.  Then the worst weather conditions blew in-I was diagnosed with cancer.  What was I to do?  It didn’t seem possible that I would be able to fulfill my duties as Teacher on the Trail.  I decided to resign.  My husband Bob said, “No, you need to follow through with this.”  I called my principal Claudia Sherry to say I wouldn’t be going to Alaska, and she said, “Yes, you are.”  Diane Johnson, head of the Iditarod Education Committee, said, “No, you may not resign.”  She assured me it was my position, and they would work with me, come what may.  My doctors said, “Well, maybe, but it will be close.” 2009 Teacher on the Trail, Cathy Walters, and Iditarod Education Director, Diane Johnson at the start of the Junior Iditarod.

And close it was.  After months of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments, I was cleared to go on Friday, February 20th, five days before I flew out to Anchorage.  Two weeks before my red and white blood cell counts were much too low to even consider the journey, but there it was.  I had made it!  But it would not have been possible without the wonderful support and encouragement I had from my doctors, my family, my good friends, my colleagues at Carolina Day School, my church, and all of the dozens and dozens of teachers, mushers, and administrators associated with the Iditarod.  This was my team, and they pulled me through. Blue eyes dressed in pink!

I am teaching at CDS once again; I walk regularly, and I’ve even run a little.  I get fatigued easily, and I am still experiencing some swelling and discomfort.  But I am alive, and I have never been more thankful.  I have discovered much about myself; I am humbled by the outpouring of hope, faith, and love from literally hundreds and hundreds of people.  Now I have to pass it on.  I want to be a part of other teams, for those whose sleds have taken an unexpected turn, or whose team is worn out.  I want to be light and warmth for those who find themselves stranded out there on the dark and cold trail.  I hope to cheer them across the finish line, just as others have cheered for me.  Life is teamwork.  That’s what I learned from the Iditarod, and that’s what I hope to pass on.

Watch the slide show!

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Messages

Thank you, Target!

Date: March 26, 2009

Bullseye makes it to the finish line of Target® has always had a commitment to providing educational support for America’s schools and teachers.  They have been active in an early childhood reading program, Reach Out and Read, that puts books in the hands of pediatricians to distribute to their young patients.  They have also helped military families stay connected through a program entitled, United Through Reading. In fact, since 1946, Target® has given 5% of its income through community grants and programs that support education, the arts, social services, and volunteerism nationally and locally.  And now they are in partnership with the Iditarod, sponsoring the Teacher on the Trail™ program.  This partnership has provided opportunities for classrooms across the country and world to connect to “The Last Great Race on Earth®.”  It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the 2009 Target® Teacher on the Trail™, and a joy to share lessons that use the Iditarod as a theme of instruction across curricula.  Thank you Target®for this teaching adventure of a lifetime!

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Messages

“Riding with the King”

Date: March 25, 2009

After a month of travel and excitement, I am now home in North Carolina, safe and sound.  But I couldn’t leave Alaska without one final adventure.

Mt. Redoubt before the eruption. I was scheduled to fly to Anchorage late Sunday night from Nome after the Wells Fargo Awards Banquet.  Due to the large number of folks who needed to be transported to the airport to make that flight, my driver needed to drop me off and then go back for a second load.  I walked into one door of the terminal just as Jeff King walked through the other.  We looked at each other and quickly assessed the situation.   If we hurried, we might be able make the flight that was just boarding.  Of course, the clerk recognized Jeff immediately and granted his request to make the flight.  Though I was an unknown, they graciously accommodated me as well.  Unfortunately, I had checked my bags earlier in the day for the later flight, so they were not going with me.  But I took the chance, hoping that eventually I would be able to claim my bags.

Jeff King and Salem at the start of the 2007 race. It turned out to be a serendipitous meeting, because that was the last flight to make it out of Nome that night and for the next two days.  While we were in the air Sunday night, Mt. Redoubt erupted, sending an ash cloud nine miles into the sky.  The flight I had originally been scheduled to take was forced to turn around to avoid the ash cloud.  The volcano erupted five more times in the next 24 hours, but the prevailing winds were blowing north/northwest; most of the ash blew away from Anchorage and into the interior of Alaska.  My bags were eventually sent to Fairbanks and then forwarded on to Asheville.

I was happy and relieved to make it to Anchorage Sunday night so I could make my flight to Charlotte on Tuesday.  But that early flight also gave me a special gift – the opportunity to chat with Jeff King for the two-hour flight from Nome to Anchorage!

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Messages

The Sportsmanship Award

Date: March 24, 2009

Aaron Burmeister at the White Mountain checkpoint. Aaron Burmeister was traveling to Kaltag.  The wind was blowing in his face on the mighty Yukon River, making the temperature colder than the recorded negative 30 degrees.  Aaron had braced himself in his sled, putting a snowshoe on either side of his sled seat, so he wouldn’t fall off the sled if he fell asleep.  It is very hard to stay awake between 2 and 3 a.m. even on the trail.

In the blinding snow he wasn’t sure what that bent over figure was in the night.  Could it be a bear?  It seemed to be panting, out of breath.

Aaron was brought quickly back to wakefulness when he realized that this figure was a fellow musher separated from his team.  The big panting bear turned out to be John Baker trying to chase down his team.  Aaron pulled the exhausted John onto his sled and set off into the night hoping to locate John’s team further down the trail.  John slept while Aaron ran along side the sled searching the night for John’s dogs.

John Baker leaving White Mountain in 3rd place. It was over an hour before he spotted the glowing eyes of dogs in his headlamp.  He woke John.  Trying to keep his dogs from taking off without him, John quietly crept up to the team.  He lunged for his sled and grabbed it-success!

John Baker regained his team and went on to place third in this year’s Iditarod.  Aaron’s sacrifice of his own time and effort enabled John to be one of the prizewinners, a position for which Aaron himself was in contention.  For his selfless assistance to a fellow musher in need, Aaron Burmeister was this year’s recipient of the Fred Meyer Sportsmanship Award for heroism on the trail.

On this level, the Iditarod is about more than winning; it is about character.  It harkens back to the original serum run, the race against time to save lives.  For Aaron Burmeister, it wasn’t much of a decision; when someone is in distress and his dogs are in danger, you stop racing and you start caring.  And thus the Last Great Race continues to give educators everywhere on the globe real stories of compassion, character, and sacrifice to share with our students.

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Messages

The Wells Fargo Awards Banquet

Date: March 23, 2009

March 23, 2009

The Wells Fargo Awards Banquet was held last night at the Nome Recreation Center.  Hundreds of race fans packed the arena for this event that recognized the achievements of the teams that finished Iditarod XXXVII.  The following is the list of special awards that were presented.

PenAir Spirit of Alaska Award – Aaron Burmeister received a $500 credit for travel or freight and a beautiful framed mask depicting the spirit of the “team,” for being the first musher into McGrath.

GCI Dorothy G Page Halfway Award – For being the first musher to arrive in Iditarod, Lance Mackey received $2,500 in gold nuggets and a beautiful trophy.

Millennium Hotel Anchorage First to the Yukon Award - Lance Mackey received a nine-course meal for being the first team to Anvik.  Tonight Mackey received an additional $3,500 in one dollar bills as the “after dinner mint” for his efforts.

Rookie of the Year – Chad Lindner was the first rookie to pass under the burled arch in Nome.  He received $1,500 and a trophy for his efforts.

Nome Kennel Club Fastest Time Safety to Nome – Ramey Smyth completed the trek from Safety to Nome in 2 hours and 27 minutes, receiving $500 for his efforts.

Horizon Lines Most Improved Musher Award – The most improved award was given to Dallas Seavey for going from 41st place in 2007 to sixth in 2009.

Fred Meyer Sportsmanship Award – This award includes $1,000 in Fred Meyer Gift Cards and was awarded to Aaron Burmeister for helping a musher find his team.

Chevron Most Inspirational Musher Award – Trent Herbst received this award for the work he has done in the classroom teaching his fourth grade students all about “The Last Great Race on Earth.” The honor included a trophy and $1,000 worth of Chevron gas.

Golden Stethoscope Award – This award was given to Dr. Denny Albert, the veterinarian deemed most helpful on the trail by the Iditarod Official Finishers Club.

Golden Clipboard Award – Nikolai was given this award for being the checkpoint along the Iditarod Trail that most exemplifies community teamwork.

Alaska Airlines Leonard Seppala Humanitarian Award – Lance Mackey received a trophy and two round trip tickets to anywhere on the Alaska Airlines system.  This award is given to a team in the top 20 who has best demonstrated outstanding dog care as voted by a team of veterinarians.

City of Nome Lolly Medley Golden Harness Award – This award honors an outstanding lead dog, chosen by the mushers. This year’s recipient was Kuling a 9-year-old member of Jessie Royer’s team.  Kuling has completed seven Iditarods and led this year’s team to an 8th place finish.  She has been Jessie’s lead dog for all seven of her Iditarods.

Northern Air Cargo Herbie Nayokpuk Memorial Award – Sonny Lindner received a free freight allotment on Northern Air Cargo, $1,049 cash, and a trophy.

Wells Fargo Red Lantern Award – Timothy Hunt was the final of the 52 official finishers to cross under the burled arch in Nome.  He completed the 1,049 miles in 15 days, 14 hours, 6 minutes, and 22 seconds.

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Messages

Howdy!

Date: March 22, 2009

Bill Samuels, Cathy Walters, and Gayle Tate. I’ve run into the nicest folks along the trail and many of them have been veterinarians.  Many of these men and women make it a habit of going home and sharing their trail adventures in their local schools.  Gayle Tate of Woodbury, Tennessee, and Bill Sampson of Bernardsville, North Carolina, are two of these super nice guys. Yesterday, in between the long hours of volunteer work they were doing for the Iditarod here in Nome, Gayle asked me to send a message out to one of the schools he regularly visits. So here is a big “HELLO!” from Nome to Ann Bartholamew and her sixth grade class at Short Mountain Grammar School.  “Happy Trails!”  from Mr. Tate and Cathy Walters, 2009 TargetTM Teacher on the Trail.

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Messages

Meet the Mushers

Date: March 21, 2009

Saturday, March 21st

Dee Dee Jonrowe and Jessie Royer.

Today was Meet the Mushers at Iditarod Headquarters in the Nome Mini Convention Center.  Hundreds of people, young and old, were there to meet and greet, and get the autographs of the mushers who finished Iditarod XXXVII.  The top three finishers, Lance Mackey, Sebastian Schnuelle, and John Baker literally took the stage to chat with fans that came by their tables.  The rest of the finishers sat behind three long rows of tables on the floor of the center, armed with their Sharpies.  Folks had such a wide variety of items to be autographed.  They brought posters, race guides, trading cards, scraps of paper, maps, calendars, t-shirts, hats, coats, bib numbers, bandanas, and newspapers to be signed.  It was a grand three-hour event.

Enjoy the slide show!

Posted by Cathy (2009) in Messages