[Trdma-l] Fwd: Hosting a dogmushing course for Alaska Pacific University

[Scott Chesney]

Forwarded to the list. Reply to Vicki.


>Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:33:16 -0900
>Subject: Hosting a dogmushing course for Alaska Pacific University
>From: Vickie Talbot <vtalbot at mtaonline.net>
>To: <mushing at gci.net>
>Cc: <adma at sleddog.org>, <sec at mcdma.org>
>
>Hello fellow mushers
>
>My name is Vickie Talbot (formerly of Trapper Creek) and Dr. Sue Whiton
>suggested I contact the association for information.  I have been conducting
>a beginning two week long dog mushing course for Alaska Pacific University
>for the past two Januarys.  Our next class is scheduled for January 2009 and
>we are hoping to lengthen the course to 4 weeks 4 credits.
>
>Our problem has been finding a kennel with enough dogs that can host the
>class (limit of ten students).   I have been in contact with Mitch Seavey
>about the possibility of borrowing older retired dogs for the class and he
>was very amenable to the idea.  Of course we still need a place to stage the
>course -- at least part of it.  Alaska Pacific has a satellite campus on
>Farm Loop Rd in Palmer, and we are expecting to hold the first two weeks
>there where students can learn the basics of dog driving as well as kennel
>management, dog care, and safety with dogs in the back country.  The problem
>with holding the course entirely at the satellite campus is the lack of snow
>that is often the conditions for that area as well as the size of the
>campus.  It is an old farmstead (about 100 acres), but that still doesn't
>give the students practice being out on a real trail.  At the end of the
>course, we will take the students on a 5 day mushing trip.    Our stay at
>the campus will more than likely require that the students will be handling
>very small teams (2-3) but in order to take an extended trip with dogs they
>will need to get experience with larger teams (5-6 dogs) - hence the need
>for a place with "snow" and good trail access.
>
>My hope is to find a place where students can hone their dog driving skills
>for a week before setting out on the 5 day trek.  There is compensation but
>I will need to discuss with my advisor just what can be paid for.
>
>The reason I am writing you, is in the hope that you can give me some names
>of kennels that may be interested, or, I could come to one of the
>associations meetings and present my case.
>Thanks for your time.
>Hoping to hear from you.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Vickie
>
>P.s. If you wish to give my email address to a kennel that may be
>interested, please feel free to do so.

--Scott
President, Two Rivers Dog Mushers Association
http://www.loco-lobo.com
http://www.trdma.org

The best long distance runners eat raw meat, run naked and sleep in the snow.
         --From an Alaska Airlines ad  
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