18-Race Volunteer Info. (note parents with children welcome-they're great vets)

Post date: Jan 31, 2018 6:02:51 AM

Dear Race Volunteers,

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for volunteering for tomorrow’s big event, ”Congdon’s Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon”!!!! All morning the students will be preparing for the race and hopefully have their teams ready. In the afternoon, upon finishing our trail math map, we will have a race meeting that will include all volunteers and race teams in the classroom (11:45/11:50). They will suit up and we will head out to do the event in the garden area. Each of you will get a packet with all necessary items and directions.

Here’s an overview of what to expect. The class is divided into teams of 4 or 5 where they will be both part of the dog team and also a musher in the sled. The garden space is where the race is run. Students will, at various checkpoints, be rotating so all have a chance to be a musher. Rotations are as follows Musher>>>Wheel Dog>>>Team Dog>>>(Point/Swing Dog-if a team of 5)>>>Lead Dog. Lead dog will switch to musher and all the rest move forward one position. Similar to the actual race, they will need to stop in at the checkpoints as well do some kind of activity such as take a rest, refuel or do a vet check. I will need parents to help at checkpoints as the teams arrive and make their way through the race fulfilling the necessary requirements at each checkpoint.

Checkpoints are places where adults are needed as race teams travel in the race. There is a simple activity to be done at each checkpoint. All teams must check-in at each checkpoint and get letters written on their red strip. Upon completion of each check point and the race their red strip will spell “Beargrease Teamwork”. If not racing, teams will be cheering the rest of the teams on.

The checkpoints are as follows:

Duluth-Billy's Bar Start >Two Harbors HWY 2 >>> Finland>>>Sawbill>>>Trail Center>>>Skyport (Devil Track Lake-The Landing)>>> Mineral Center>>> Grand Portage Finish.

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In addition to the check-in where you will add letters to the red strip; (that information will be in your packet), the specific tasks will be explained soon and will also be in your packet tomorrow. I have to adjust some things as the route has changed this year and I need to tweak what we were doing.

Bill'y Bar Start: Please wait until teams leave Two Harbors to start the next team)

Two Harbors(pretend water break)”trail crossing” will be said here and mushers will slow their teams and all walk.

Finland-(receive mail to be delivered to Skyport) possible rotation of musher and dogs -only if there is a team of 5.

Background Knowledge: Near Finland is Beaver Bay where the race used to go to. Beaver Bay was the home of John Beargrease who was the mail carrier for the entire North shore(Two Harbors to Grand Marais and even the border)from roughly 1875-1900. He was the key communication component and vital to the development of the North Shore communities.

Sawbill-Mandatory 4 hour REST (teams must skip count (2’s, 5’s, ?10’s) to 400) and VET Check. Mushers and “dogs” will get trail food and the vet will check all dog’s health condition-wrists and heartbeat)- rotate musher and dogs(blinding snowstorm hits-a scarf is tied around musher’s head to not see) rotate musher and dogs

Trail Center(Upbound-scarf is taken off and put in bag to be returned at Sawbill (downbound)

Grand Portage-

Skyport(Devil Track Lake-The Landing)>>> Mineral Center>>> Grand Portage Finish-The Landing(Downbound-deliver mail. The letter is opened and read to the musher and dog team)

Sawbill-(Downbound-return scarf ) rotate musher and dogs

Finland (Downbound-water and snack break)-water squirt and food toss (puppy chow)

Two Harbors(Downbound-Mandatory 4 hour rest (teams must skip count (2’s, 5’s, ?10’s) to 400.

Finish(Billy’s Bar-Duluth)-(Downbound complete teams get celebratory snackbag and cheer the rest of the teams on.)

Whew, that was a lot. I hope I didn’t scare you off now. I know this sounds complicated but don’t worry, everything flows together and makes sense once you hear the race meeting and get the volunteer packet. It is a ton of fun and I can’t thank you enough for being willing to adjust your schedules to allow this event to happen. The kids can’t thank you enough either.

I thank you profusely,

Alaina Pilate