No Snow, No Problem for Second Grade Classes at North Shore Community School

DULUTH, Minn. — 17 years ago the first Ikidarod Race was held at the North Shore Community School, which is an Environmental charter school. Second Grade teacher, Anne Lampiere came up with the idea for the race, which in most years is run on the trails. But, just like so many other events, a few changes were needed this year.

“We just got creative and pretended we were practicing the race in the summer without a sled,” said Lampiere.” “We have six checkpoints out there that the kids are going to be doing different things so we were creative and still have the race going.”

The students love learning about dog sledding and they have been practicing during the month leading up to the race. One of the students explained the rigorous training regimen they followed. Second grader Linda Wright said, “Well we mainly just went outside and acted like dogs. We pulled the musher around the grass.  I was the musher once and I almost fell off.”

It’s a lesson the students love, and one parent who took part in one of the first Ikidarod races returned to the race this year to help. We’re told she had nearly as much fun this year as when she was in second grade and took part in the race.