For Volunteers

Attention Volunteers

Lance Mackey left a pair of ski poles at the volunteer picnic that were inadvertently picked up by someone. If you know anything about these ski poles, please contact Joanne Potts by phone (907-352-2203) or email.

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The following is information about the various volunteer opportunities supporting the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. There are positions connected directly with the Race and there are also some year-round opportunities. After you have decided how you want to be involved in this event, complete the proper volunteer registration form(s) by following the links at the bottom of the page.

The Iditarod Trail Committee, Inc. is a 501 (3)c organization supported by sponsors, members and volunteers. With the growing support in our volunteer base, the ITC will first fill volunteer positions with those who also support the Race through membership. For more information on becoming a member of the Iditarod Trail Committee, please click here.

Information especially for those NOT living in Alaska

The Iditarod Trail Committee cannot pay for transportation or room and board for volunteers. We will attempt to find you housing in Anchorage, but you should be prepared to pay. It is important that you note on the volunteer form if you are coming to Alaska at Iditarod time whether or not you are selected as a volunteer. Volunteer Coordinators should receive your application within 1-2 weeks after you have submitted it online. Some volunteer positions are filled before December 1 and some positions are not filled until after January 1, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as you know you are interested.

Those wishing to volunteer for various activities in Nome at the end of the Race should fill out the Register for Finish application available through the link at the top and bottom of this page.

Instructions for Completing the Volunteer Registration Forms

Please complete your application(s) as soon as you know you are interested in a volunteer position. If your volunteer form comes in after January 31, you may not be contacted. You are welcome to see what positions, if any, are still available once you arrive in Anchorage.

Register for Start/Re-start

Race Headquarters — Millennium Hotel

In this first section, there are five activities listed in the box. Please number your choices in order of preference, 1-4. You may apply for all, some or only one.

Start & Race Re-Start

If you want to be involved in the race start, check your areas of interest in that box in order of preference, 1-6. Same with the re-start box, except note the addition of re-start sales. If you work re-start sales, you shouldn’t check anything else for the race re-start section. Keep in mind that since the start and re-start are both single day activities, you can work both and you can work race headquarters during the race too. The re-start will be on Willow Lake behind the Willow Community Center, mile 69 of the Parks Highway.

Media Conference

The Media Conference is on Wednesday afternoon, March 4. About 20 volunteers are used for that too, so keep that in mind when checking there.

Banquet

The banquet is on Thursday night, March 5. We use about 20 banquet hostesses and about 10 people to work the sales table. You cannot do both. So, if you want to work the banquet, check one or the other and keep in mind that we will probably get 10 times the number of people checking those areas than we have spaces for so you may not get called.

Race Communications

There are six areas for race communications. The Jr. Iditarod, Start and the Re-start use mostly amateur radio operators (HAM radio). Volunteers in Headquarter (HQ) Comms at the Millennium Hotel and Trail Comms need PC Windows experience and must be at least 18 yrs old. HQ Comms operates 24x7 in 6-hour shifts so 160 Comms shifts are available. Trail Comms are assigned to checkpoints in the villages where conditions may be less than ideal: sleeping on the floor with assignments that vary from 3 to 10 days, without a shower. Teamwork is essential. Trail Comms prerequisites include HQ Comms and Computer Room experience. Comms volunteers are also needed for pre-race website design, pre-race MS Access database design and for race-time baking in Anchorage. For further information on Trail Comms qualifications or for any questions on Race Communications, please email Bernadette E. Anne, Communications Coordinator.

Trail Positions

Other trail positions are limited and most often held by people who have previously volunteered. Read the information on the registration form and if you still think you want a trail position, you’re welcome to check that blank and we’ll talk to you about it. Often, people chosen for these other trail positions are people who have come to food drop and proved themselves hard workers there.

Housing

Teams coming in from out of state and volunteers coming in often are looking for housing. If you have housing or need housing, check the appropriate blank on form.

People Food Drop

This is sorting and packing the food that goes out on the trail for volunteers. Usually done in one day, Sunday, February 22. This is done in a warehouse, so volunteers need to dress warmly.

Straw Drop

This is a one-day event, the Thursday before food drop. Takes as many strong bodies as we can get.

Musher Food Drop

Musher food drop is the biggest of the “drop” events. It requires as many strong bodies as are available. A three day event, Tuesday, February 17, Wednesday, February 18, and Thursday, February 19. 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the volunteers.

Jr. Iditarod

Weekend of February 28 – March 1. Location to be determined. Need people for traffic control, setting up start area, sled holding and checking etc.

Office Help

Always looking for office help, year round, for various office activities. But more help is especially needed during the weeks just prior to the race.

Ballot Counting

It takes about 40 people willing to get up early and be in Wasilla before 7 a.m. on the last Saturday of June so spend about 2 ½ hours counting ballots in the vote for Board of Directors. This just precedes the Annual Membership Meeting and the Volunteer Picnic.

Volunteer Picnic

12 noon until 4 p.m. on the last Saturday of June. Lots of help needed in setting up, taking care of registration, kids games, etc.

Register for Finish

Note on the form the various areas which interest you. You may not be contacted by any one from Nome prior the Race. But the volunteer opportunities will be available when you get there. There will be a sign up sheet on the counter at the Mini-Convention Center where you can sign up, or you can ask the person in charge about working. We do not provide transportation to or from Nome or housing in Nome for volunteers.