Educate & INspire
History & ISDC Memories
ITIDAROD EDUCATION
Idaho Sled Dog Challenge
Education Program
In Partnership with The Iditarod, University of Idaho, and Idaho STEM Program
NEW! October 2023 | MORE INFO COMING SOON!
Iditarod Fall Educators Conference
McCall, Idaho
CEUs Available
iSTEM Summer Institutes
June 12-16 & June 20-23, 2023
If you are registered for the iSTEM Summer Institutes, don’t miss these keynote speakers:
Jane Holmes: Director Iditarod Education Department & 2008 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ Teacher
- June 20 – North Idaho College
- June 22 – College of Eastern Idaho
- June 23 – College of Southern Idaho
Erin Montgomery: 2015 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ Teacher
- June 12 – Lewis-Clark State College
- June 14 – College of Western Idaho
- June 15 – Idaho State University
education ideas
TRACK A TEAM
Print a map of the racecourse and small sled dog team markers. Follow GPS trackers and move musher markers along the trail each morning or afternoon.
CARE PACKAGES & LETTER WRITING
Send a care package to a checkpoint for a musher.
CALCULATING RACE DISTANCES
Math Project: calculate mush team distances by the day, how long it takes to reach that distance, subtract rest times, and calculate average dog team speed per mile.
ON THE PLAYGROUND
Play dog team on the playground. Get a rope and have “dog” team members hold the rope with one hand with a musher at one end giving commands.
ADOPT A TEAM
Adopt a Mush Team: make posters, send letters, and follow them through the race.
DOG’S JOURNAL
Write a dog’s journal of the trail
SIMON SAYS
Play Simon Says like a dog team. Simon (musher) says:
Gee – Right
Haw – Left
Come Gee or Haw – 180 turn in either direction
Hike – Go forward
Easy – Slow down
Whoa – Stop
Sample Student report
Created after the 2019 race, attached is a sample research report created by ISDC enthusiast (and new musher) Xander Whiteman..
View the 2022 Race Gallery
photos credit Melissa Shelby Photography