Welcome!We hope that this will be an incredible experience for you and that you will meet all of the goals that you have, making this an experience that expands your horizons!
Read the articles, leave comments, and plan for your journey!
Post your own articles, too!
We will soon post an updated conference schedule, as there will be a few slight changes from the current schedule on the website. (No worries, I said slight! Just little details!) So, keep an eye on the blog for updates.
Check this blog often and remember to read the comments that are left.
Also, feel free to post an introduction so that we all get to know you better! You can post your introduction in a comment to this article or you can create your own posting.
Who will be attending our conference? This list will be updated as we draw closer to the conference and others finalize their plans.... so check back again!
Our 'Campers' (and there will be more of you!)
Paula from Arkansas
Ellen from New Jersey
Janet from New Jersey
Cindy from Ohio
Jill from Washington
Dawn from Montana
Katie from Florida
Nikki from Florida
Jeanne from Minnesota
Ann from Minnesota
Anitra from Utah
Herb from Pennsylvania
Betsy from Michigan
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Diane Johnson
Iditarod Education Department
* Publish a post to introduce yourself to the group. Where are you from? What do you teach? What are your conference goals? Are you renting a car or willing to share car pool responsibilities? When are you arriving? How long are you staying? What do you want to do, see, or accomplish? What other plans do you have? What do you want us to know?
** If you have trouble posting send me what you want posted and I'll do it for you! djohnson@iditarod.com
12 comments:
Hello all! I'm Ellen and I'm a special edication teacher from East Windsor, NJ. I'm currently with 5th graders in an inclusion setting and, since we're being honest here, I am ready for June! AHHHH!
I have used the Iditarod as a teaching tool for eleven years, so this trip is like the Super Bowl, Academy Awards and the Grammys all rolled into one. I am very excited!Upon reflection I see that I am really a "city girl", having been born and raised in NY, and have virtually NO outdoor activity experience. My family and friends are all "yucking it up" at the thought of me, in boots, w/o make-up and earrings, cleaning poop for a week, but I'll show them (though I refuse to eat reindeer hot dogs...gotta draw the line somewhere)!
In my FANTASY I wanted the "whole camping experience" but then reality set in. I'm staying at the Grand View Inn and want co-campers to share a car rental with. Diane said she would help us with that. I'm also planning on staying after camp until Wednesday, July 2, so I'd love to hear some ideas of great things to do after camp. I'd love to see a moose, get to Denali and tour the park and see some glaciers, so share ideas...please!
Actually, share ideas about everything because all I have ready for this trip is my ipod and camera. Oh yeah...I bought bug spary too. See, not an outdoors type of woman :)
Hiya everyone!!!!
I am Katie and I live in Fort Myers, FL. I am from Indiana-moved here for 3 years to teach 2nd grade and decided to move back up to Indiana in a few short weeks! I totally can't wait until this summer-we are counting down the days-I think I even know the hours! hahaha! The funny thing about friends is that they all think the craziest of you when you say your going to Alaska for a conference about the Iditarod-everyone keeps asking "You're going to race in the Iditarod?!?!" It is quite hilarious! :) They have no clue about when the race is or what it takes to run it!
I have loved Alaska since I visited in 2004. I started with the Iditarod obsession shortly there after! I can't wait to get to this amazing state again! I do a short unit on the Iditarod when it goes on. My kids adopt mushers and we learn about the race and key aspects of what it takes to compete/complete a race. My kids love it! I have always wanted to do more with it so I am taking this opportunity to hopefully create a larger unit or more integrated curriculum using the Iditarod values.
I am totally with you Ellen-no reindeer hot dogs for me too!!
Okay, so I am flying in on the
21st and get in around the 5/6 o'clock evening hours. I am planning on renting a car until I return to the airport at 900 pm on Tuesday the 2nd of July. I would love to talk car-sharing etc.
I so far have 2 excursions booked. One is a 9-hour Atv trip that goes to Knik Glacier. I booked that at Alaska Backcountry adventure tours. I am also doing a Full Day bike ride to Glacier Lake. That is with Alaska Backcountry Bike Tours. I really loved Denali National Park and Talkeetna when I was there. I am looking into some more hiking/outdoorsy kind of things to do. Anyone else doing anything yet?
I am not sure where I am staying yet since I found a few more places around Wasilla that were cheaper then the Grand View. I know I will be staying in Anchorage the night of the 21st but after that not so sure. Like I said I really loved Talkeetna so I may stay up there one night!
Well, it is just about time to hit the hay. I can't wait to hear from everyone. Hurry and write soon!!!
Hi all!
My name is Janet and I am a middle school special education teacher at Readington Middle School in Hunterdon County, NJ. I have been teaching the Iditarod in my classes for eight years and I never tire of it.
I am married with canine (an English Setter named Tuki) and love the great outdoors. Neither rain, nor snow, nor dark of night will keep me or my husband Pat from heading outside with Tuki for an extended walk around our development.
This journey to Alaska and to this conference has been a dream of mine for many years. I can't wait to meet all of you!
Take care and I will see you all soon.
Lots of tail wags :)
Janet
Hello! I'll be coming from Helena, Montana. I have taught all elementary grades and middle school. Some as a resource teacher and others as a regular education teacher. I became interested in the Iditarod when I followed it this year via Iditarod Insider. Shortly thereafter, my husband and I took a trip to the Tetons where we went on a dog sledding tour. While I have never used this theme in the classroom, I am very excited to use it with my students. I have hotel accommodations in Wasilla after we depart the kennel. I would be interested in sharing a room with someone while we are there. I will not be renting a car and will be coming into Anchorage on the 21st at 8:30 p.m.
hey there, I'm jill and a second grade teacher and literacy coach in Bellingham, Washington. My family lived in the interior of AK on the Iditarod trail when I was very young (Farewell). I began teaching the Iditarod curriculum in the early 90's when I had the opportunity to meet Shelley Gill (Iditarod author). I am beyond excited and look forward to meeting you all. I'm flying into Anchorage early on the 21st (I'm going to check out the public market and downtown area) and then will be in Wasilla the next day (by train!). I would also like to share a room at the hotel when we return from Willow (I have reserved a room there as well). I will be leaving right after the class is over, but hope to do a little adventuring on the side. Have a great end of the year! ~jill
Hello everyone!
This is Jane Blaile, the Teacher on the Trail for the 2008 race. I'm so excited to be able to be with you all in Alaska in June. I can't get enough of Alaska and hope that this return trip is just one of many to come. I love your enthusiasm and interest. Can't wait to meet you all, hear your ideas and share in the boot camp experience.
Wag more, bark less,
Jane
Hello fellow Iditarod fans!
This is Cathy Walters, the 2009 Teacher on the Trail. I've already started counting down the days until I get to meet each one of you in Alaska. We are going to make such wonderful memories together!
Until then, happy trails!
Cathy
My name is Herb. I live the Appalachian Mountains of central Pennsylvania with my wife Jamie, 5 cats, 3 Huskies, and 1 mule. I teach environmental education, technology, and RTI at Southern Fulton Elementary School where I also coach Jr. High soccer. I’m pretty laid back and I’m willing to go with the flow, unless the flow is going up hill. I want to have fun, learn about Huskies and dog sled racing, pick up some ideas so that I can better use the Iditarod as a vehicle for learning. Speaking of vehicles, I am also looking for a ride to Wasilla and am willing to share the expense of renting a car. I’ll be arriving in Anchorage on Friday.
My name is Herb. I live the Appalachian Mountains of central Pennsylvania with my wife Jamie, 5 cats, 3 Huskies, and 1 mule. I teach environmental education, technology, and RTI at Southern Fulton Elementary School where I also coach Jr. High soccer. I’m pretty laid back and I’m willing to go with the flow, unless the flow is going up hill. I want to have fun, learn about Huskies and dog sled racing, pick up some ideas so that I can better use the Iditarod as a vehicle for learning. Speaking of vehicles, I am also looking for a ride to Wasilla and am willing to share the expense of renting a car. I’ll be arriving in Anchorage on Friday.
Hello, My name is Paula and I am from Southern ARkansas, 7 miles from the Louisiana line. I have taught school for 23 years. Seventeen of those have been in the 6th grade, the last three have been in Alternative Education. I am married with kids of all ages. My students and I have followed the Iditarod online for several years. I just love it and have gotten more involved every year. I have wanted to visit Alaska for a very long time and just never could seem to do it. I also have relatives in Anchorage. The more I thought about coming to your state the more I could see it becoming a reality! No one can believe I am really going to Alaska to attend the Iditarod Boot Camp. They say the what? Then I get to explain what it is and they say oh I 've heard of that. I will be flying out of Dallas on June 18th. Anyone else flying out of Dallas about that time?
Can't wait...........!
BETSY SAID....
(reposted/updated by Diane)
Hi! I'm Betsy and I'm from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am currently teaching third grade and have included the Iditarod in my teaching the past three years. It is one of the coolest units I've ever done. The kids get addicted to the excitement of it and so have I! I can't believe how much my interest has grown--this will be a dream come true for me. I am flying in the 19th and leaving on July 3. The 19th and 20th I was thinking of staying at a hostel I found online. Here is a link to it. http://www.arcticadventurehostel.com/
Does anyone know anything about it?
During the camp, I am planing on spending some nights at the kennel because it is so affordable. Is anyone else? I would like to share expenses for a hotel after the nights at the kennel with someone, either at the Grand View or another place.
I am also trying to nail down my plans from the 28th throught July 3. I am a pretty easy going, adventurous person who has traveled a fair amount, so I can roll with things if it means seeing something special or doing something I can't do back here in Michigan. I would prefer to do something with some of you as I don't want to travel alone and we will all know each other by then.
So, today was the 5th grade picnic at my school and I was bitten up, grossed out by ants, hurt by a big twig that I walked right into and bled from. I was basically on a mini meltdown about going to the wildreness, "I can't do it, I'm a city girl, I hate salmon, blah, blah, blah". My teacher friends tried to get me back "in check", and they did. BUT THEN...later in the afternoon...some of my kids came running to get me to see a man walking a malamute!! This is in the middle of a park in East Windsor, NJ!!! My kids all ran to tell him that their teacher is going to AK and share all about the Iditarod, etc. Now how's THAT for a "God Wink" ( a sign, so to speak) to forget the bugs, mud, salmon and reindeer hot dogs and "start packin' woman"!!!
We ended the day by watching the race video and, of course, when the video starts I start to cry, all the kids come to hug me, I cried more...well, you get the picture. What a VERY good day...See you soon ladies and a gent!!!
Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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