Excitement Builds for Race, as Fresh Learning Opportunities Prepped at Trail Checkpoints

With just a little over a week until the race starts, this morning's tally is 112 teams representing 22 states! It is typical for some schools and other groups to wait until right before the race starts, but I would certainly encourage them to signup as soon as possible, so that you and your students can get your team rosters in place and get familiar with the online tools during the current "training period" up until the race begins.

Meanwhile, I have continued to be busy exploring Alaska, researching cool stuff to include in the special content for students to learn about as they reach each Checkpoint location along the trail. For example, I had no idea that just 10 miles south of Takotna lies one of the remnants from the federal government's White Alice Communications System. In fact, you can even see the airstrip on the integrated Google map. Built during the Cold War, this system used radar to keep a watch on possible foreign activity in American territory. While this is an interesting historical point, I have also used this fact as a "springboard" for students to learn about what "radar" is and also to explore the nature of waves and the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum.

Another recent addition to the checkpoint content is centered in Galena. One of our private academy contact teachers, Tanya Korta, lives there and enjoys volunteering during the Iditarod races. I think that the students who reach the Galena checkpoint will really like seeing and hearing about what happens there when racers come through. Also, Tanya's story really highlights the importance of actively participating in community events and contributing volunteer service. I have also added a few related links at this checkpoint to help prompt students to think about how they might want to commit some of their time to enriching their own local communities.

In providing this checkpoint content, I have tried to include not only narratives and explanations, but also images that help highlight each topic concept along the route. From natural resources to native, Russian, and American history to transportation, I think students of all ages and learning levels will pick up some interesting tidbits they otherwise may not discover in other types of Iditarod-themed activities. I hope parents and teachers enjoy and learn from them, too!