Author: Leslie Goodwin

Through the years many of our guests, neighbors, and friends have expressed the desire to ‘live the life’ with sled dogs.  Here’s a chance to have that experience without committing to a full-season job…try it out! 4-16 week Volunteer Opportunities available. Skills/ attitudes preferred:  Enjoy working with animals, especially sled dogs Hardworking – you like to work outside and prefer to be physically busy; upper body strength is a must as you’ll be using it, you can lift and carry 50 lbs Your glass is half-full – good attitude, a generally happy person who enjoys new challenges and likes people; we are a tour kennel… not as busy in summer, but you’ll still have guests to talk to Mechanically inclined: Driving atv’s & full-sized pickup, knowledge and use of power tools, lawnmower Couples are encouraged to apply. What you can expect: An introduction to sled dog/ kennel life and training Comfortable cabin with water/shower and an outhouse ...and stipend to cover food Work independently and with others to complete kennel chores and kennel building projects. 5-day work week with time off to do other things - we realize it’s an intense job living and working with animals in a tour kennel…getting out to hike a nearby trail or soak in the hot springs, enjoy the land of the midnight sun is soul-cleansing.  Program Dates: Summer 2021: 4 week (minimum) begins May 1.  You can commit to one 4-week stay or the whole summer (May thru August).  Be sure you consider your commitment carefully as the position is multi-faceted.  It takes a lot of energy and training on our part to offer this experience. Summer is a more relaxed time in the kennel as far as schedules and tourism…it is a good time to be around the dogs in their ‘off-season’

COVID19 Statement:  There are many unknowns at this time regarding travel and tourism in Alaska as well as the world.  We are keeping ourselves informed of health and travel advisories and mandates set by the federal government and the state of Alaska and will respond as the situation evolves.  For information on Alaska mandates please refer to this website: www.dhss.alaska.gov Please see this link for our state’s plan for re-opening Alaska:  https://akgov.us/a9df8 From this plan please note these important responsibilities: Stay six feet or more away from non-family members. Wash your hands frequently. Wipe down surfaces frequently. Wear a face covering when in a public setting in close contact with others. Stay home if you are sick and get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms. Be mindful and respectful to those Alaskans that are most vulnerable to this virus. Those being our seniors and those with existing health issues. With respect to these guidelines, Paws tours will operate as follows:  Tours will be conducted outdoors only for summer (until we receive further information regarding virus spread/ transmission from the experts). Those tours operated out of Aurora Pointe Activity Center will follow their rules for using the restroom inside the activity center.  Guidelines will be posted.  We will, and will expect our guests to, respect 6 foot social-distancing with non-family members.  Our carts rides will be conducted so that only family members are riding together in our carts (with exception of the guide) until it is deemed safe to do otherwise.  We will not require face coverings for these outside activities, but you may do so if it is more comfortable for you.  And please, if you are sick, STAY HOME. Please note restrictions in place which affect interstate and intrastate travel: 14-day quarantine for interstate and international travel to

Making Memories Part 1 : Nenana to Manley – 82 miles, familiar trails, Nenana to Tolovana Roadhouse and new friends… “Gather moments, not things.” Funny, I ran across this quote while spending some ‘down time’ on the internet- reading about someone else’s moment.  Is good to stop now and then and remove yourself from your normal life and think about what you are doing with your life –  Am I still ‘doing what I love and loving what I do’?   Sounds way more cliché today than when I chose the saying as my advertising slogan many years ago, but I still can’t find any better expression. For nearly 20 years the dogsled tour business has given me a quality of life that is hard to explain in short version.  When asked by the prospective dog tour business entrepreneur about this life, I make sure to include that there are easier ways to make a living.  You had better love what you’re doing because you’re not going to find yourself with EXTRA – extra money, extra time and extra resources.  And though you want it to be more about your special bond with your dogs, there is an important balance you must strike between sharing with people and your furry companions. On my priority list has been keeping this lifestyle and business interesting to me, so that I look forward to going to work everyday.   I do love meeting new people and sharing my life of adventure. My life in Alaska began 23 years ago as a teacher in a small village; educating and being educated (sharing life experience) keeps me happy. And, there is never a dull moment with the sleddogs.   Understanding them, protecting them and helping them thrive as a coordinated group of canine athletes is an exciting challenge.   It’s hard not