Ikidarod turns 2nd graders into sled dog teams

It’s one of the favorite events of the entire second grade at North Shore Community School, when students leave their classrooms for a venture on the trails!

In the 15th annual Ikidarod race, students pull each other around the charter school’s 40 acres in a simulated sled dog race. The annual tradition is always a fun one for the students, teachers, even parents; especially after all the excitement about the Beargrease.

“We’ve been learning about dog sledding for the last month and a half, and this is our final culmination activity where the kids get to run a dog sled race, ” shared Second Grade Teacher, Anne Lampela.

While it looks like a lot of fun and games, the kids are actually learning a thing or two, too.

“It really makes an impression and it stays with them,” shared mom Felicia Schneiderhan. “The teachers do a great job just organizing this and making it fun as they’re learning something active about teamwork and where we are in northern Minnesota.”

It wasn’t just the second graders either, as students from other grades cheered on their schoolmates as they raced. We can only imagine how the first graders are looking forward to next year!