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Summer Camp is Not Just For Kids

Teachers Attend Iditarod Summer Camp

by Education Department

07/01/2008

Camp isn't just for kids!  It is for teachers, too!

Each summer, thousands of youngsters head off to summer camp.  The camp experience isn't just for kids, though, not when it comes to helping 'Iditarod' bound teachers connect the race with their curriculum. 

On June 22, educators met at Iditarod Trail Headquarters in Wasilla to begin their week long experience at Iditarod's Summer Camp for Teachers.  Teacher campers, representing both middle school/high school and elementary school, journeyed Susan Whiton and Vern Halter's Dream a Dream Dog Farm where the next three days of sessions were held.  Susan, a veterinarian shared information about dog care and Vern presented several sessions highlighting information about dog mushing and Iditarod.

Staying overnight at the kennel allowed campers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the experience to gain a richer understanding of what it is like to raise sled dogs.  Each day began with a walk in the woods with puppies.  Campers then learned firsthand how to put on harnesses, hook a team to the gangline, put booties on a dog's feet, and what it felt like to ride the 'summer sled', a wheeled cart powered by energetic huskies.

Sessions were held to help teachers enrich their curriculum.  Target® 2009 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail, Cathy Walters, and Target ®2008 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail, Jane Blaile were featured speakers and experts in lesson design.  2006 Teacher on the Trail, Terrie Hanke, assisted in the facilitation of the conference and shared her expertise in the classroom and experiences from the trail.  2000 Teacher on the Trail, Diane Johnson, and Alaskan educators Shannon Keene and Sara Lamont, led sessions and assisted the campers throughout the week. 

Special fieldtrips and speakers helped campers gain a rich knowledge base.  Speakers included: Author and musher, Gary Paulsen, Iditarod mushers, Dee Dee Jonrowe and Sue Allen, Sonny Chambers, a race volunteer, the K-9 Fairies, Arctic explorer and dog musher, Pam Flowers, and Iditarod Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Stuart Nelson, Jr. 

The summer camp concluded at the June 28 Volunteer Picnic and 2009 Iditarod Sign Up, giving the campers the opportunity to meet race volunteers, fans, Iditarod staff, and of course, mushers!

Start planning and join us at next summer's camp to be held June 20 - 28, 2009.  To read more about the camp experiences, visit the following sites:

Target® 2009 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail, Cathy Walters:  http://www.iditarod.com/teachers/tott.html and click Cathy's Messages to view her postings.  Watch for Cathy's lessons and activity ideas for the classroom, soon to be added to the website.

Zuma's Paw Prints:  http://iditarodblogs.com/zuma/ and scroll to find articles about the picnic and the camp experiences.

Summer 2008 Iditarod Summer Camp Blog:  http://2008summerbootcamp.blogspot.com/

 To learn more about Iditarod's events for educators and fans, visit:  http://www.iditarod.com/teachers/conferences.html  and watch for updated information on future events to be posted in August.

 Contact djohnson@iditarod.com for further information or to answer questions you might have.