On January 27, to wrap up a novel study of Jack London’s The Call of the Wild, the Grade 4-8 students at Codesa Colony participated in their very own dog sledding adventure. As the story revolves around dog sledding adventures during the Yukon Gold Rush, teacher Linda Madill thought it would be an exciting opportunity to bring the novel to life for her students.
“As it turned out, a company offering dog sledding experiences is located just 75 km north of Rycroft. Whirlwind Acres Sled and Show Dogs operates out of Brownvale and caters to groups of all sizes, which was perfect for our group,” says Madill. Upon arrival, the students met the dogs that would be pulling them, and participated in a half-hour educational conversation about the team and the care they require.
Madill says the dogs were very friendly and welcomed the students with wagging tails, loving all the attention they received through hugs and petting. “Some students helped harness the dogs, while others were asked to keep them calm by showering them with affection during the preparation process. All the students did a wonderful job.” She adds that the dogs’ excitement increased during the harnessing stage as they knew they were getting ready to run.
Mushers Dawn and Dikota prepared two teams of six to eight dogs each, and everyone had the opportunity to be pulled twice around a 2 km trail. S’mores and hot chocolate were included in the experience, and the students brought their own hot dogs to enjoy while warming up by the fire.
12 students and 6 adults from Codesa Colony, along with Colony Principal, Rob Twelvetree, participated in the unforgettable adventure.