Teacher hits Iditarod Sled Dog Trail

March 4, 2005

For six years, Lynn Gordon has been teaching second-grade elementary school students all about the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race as part of her curriculum at Woburn Street School in Wilmington, Mass.

In a couple of days, Gordon will be right in the middle of the "Last Great Race," teaching in real time lessons via the Internet to students across the nation and around the world.

Gordon will be "up close and personal," following the process of the field of 79 mushers and their canine athletes through North America's largest mountain range (the Alaska Range), on the mighty Yukon River and then along the frozen Norton Sound to the finish line on the Front Street in Nome.

Gordon will travel with the Iditarod Air Force and touch down at various checkpoints along the race route. She will be equipped with a laptop computer, Internet modem, and digital camera, taking photos and conducting interviews with racers along the route and reporting to students around the world via the Internet.

Gordon will also create and post lesson plans on the race Web site so that teachers at various grade levels can incorporate the Iditarod race lessons into their classroom activities.

Race organizers estimated more than 5,000 students will follow her progress online at the official race Web site, www.iditarod.com.

"This is the next stage in my teaching career and in my life, for the matter is so exciting. It's a dream come true" Gordon said.

The Iditarod Teacher on the Trail program is now in its seventh year and is a part of Wells Fargo's $225,000 annual sponsorship of the Iditarod. The financial services company has been a presenting sponsor of the race since 1988.

"Wells Fargo realizes how important the Iditarod is to Alaska in terms of its culture, history, and education" said Richard Strutz, Wells Fargo Alaska regional president.