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
Connecting with Idaho classrooms
Students at local schools are looking forward to attending the official race starts again and kids have been busy decorating musher bags and art for the race.
In addition, the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge is hosting the 2024 Iditarod Summer Conference in McCall. Dates for the two- to three-day gathering will be announced later. Attendees will be able to earn continuing education unit credits at the event. Sign up for the Iditarod Newsletter, https://iditarod.com/edu/iditarod-edu-newsletter for conference details and registration.
Educators! bring sled dog racing into the classroom
Using Sled Dog Races for STEM
Engage your students! View the presentation from Heidi Sloan, 2018 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail.
Harnessing the power of the iditarod
Get the stories, design, engineering, speed calculations and more from your classroom, all from the Iditarod trail!
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