Home  |  Bookmark Us  |  Tell a Friend Friday, July 30th, 2010
Nature's Kennel Sled Dog Racing & Adventures
Nature's Kennel
PO Box 5
McMillan, MI  49853
Tel: 1-906-748-0513
Email: info@natureskennel.com
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BARK
  
Who We Are
"The excitement of Alaska, without the airfare" --Susan Ager, tour guest and columnist for the Detroit Free Press
Take the trip of a lifetime! Join us for our seventh season of unforgettable winter adventures! Owners Ed and Tasha Stielstra invite you to share a bit of sled dog magic!
Yes, we are now taking reservations for winter tours, 2010-2011!! 
Nature's Kennel will be open for SUMMER TOURS!!  Come to hold puppies, learn about racing, and visit the sled dogs this summer!  We will be open June 19th through Labor Day from 11 am-4 pm.  CLOSED Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Cost is $15 per family.
Ed Stielstra

Ed has been racing now for over 18 years. He graduated from Michigan State University and started Nature's Kennel in Ludington, Michigan. After getting married in 1998, he and Tasha moved their kennel to Duluth, Minnesota where they held "real careers" for four years. They returned to Michigan in 2002 to operate Nature's Kennel Sled Dog Racing and Adventures on a full-time basis.

Age: 40

Hometown: McMillan, MI

Notable Races:

    Iditarod 2009, 32nd place, 12 days, 6 hours, 35 minutes

    Iditarod 2008, 29th place, 10 days 17 hours 28 mintues

    UP 200 2008, 1st place, (Ed set a new course record!)

    Iditarod 2006, 46th place, 11 days 18 hours 2 minutes

    Iditarod 2005, 43rd place, 12 days 2 hours 40 mintues

    Iditarod 2004, 60th place, 12 days 11 hours 48 mintues

    UP 200 2006, 14th place, (Yearling Team (so Tasha could have the adults!))

Tasha Stielstra

Instead of teaching elementary students, Tasha now teaches sled dogs! Ed finally talked Tasha into racing about 5 years ago. She has since completed La Grande Odyssée in France and has won Marquette's UP 200. Tasha now takes care of all our "business" and spends most of her time training the young dogs, running with the puppies, and making sure the sled dog world keeps turning! With the newborn, Nate, now joining the kennel, Tasha has her hands full!

Age: 35

Hometown: McMillan, MI

Notable Races:

    La Grande Odysssee 2006, 5th place, Orange Award

    UP 200 2007, 7th place

    UP 200 2006, 1st place, Humanitarian Award

    UP 200 2005, 2nd place, (by the infamous "26 seconds")

    John Beargrease 150 2008, 5th place, (Persuaded by Ed to race since he was home with a back injury!)

Maliko Ubl

About Maliko: Maliko is half Japanese, half American, hence the nickname that has sprung up at Nature's Kennel: the Asian Invasion. Maliko has lived in Alaska, Thailand, Texas, and now Michigan (talk about diversity...wow). When we think of Maliko the phrase "Dynamite comes in small packages" springs to mind. She is full of energy and fun, and absolutely loves dogs. She went to college in Texas and can imitate a Texas accent shockingly well (give her a run for her money if you'd like).
Past Dog Experience: Caribou Creek Sled Dog School - Handler; ARFHouse - Kennel Hand, Adoption Coordinator and Counselor; Tailwagger's Country Inn - Asst Manager; Trickster D Kennels - Dog Trainer, Adoption Coordinator and Counselor;and Foster Mama.
What dog would Maliko be? a Pit/Husky/Heeler Mix.  
The most beautiful place Maliko has been: There are three: Hatcher Pass, AK, the Andaman Sea in Thailand, and Bhutan
The hardest thing she's ever done: Moving halfway across the world from her parents at the age of 17 to go to college.
Certifications or endorsements: Certified Pet Care Technican


Age: 24

Hometown: Eagle River, AK USA

Ryne Olson

Ryne finished her sophomore year at the University of Puget Sound in the spring of 2009 and decided to take a leave of absence, in search of something more adventurous. After 'googling' dog sled jobs, she came across a help wanted ad for Nature's Kennel and applied. What an exciting adventure it's been! This past winter, in addition to being a guide, Ryne qualified for the 2011 Iditarod. In addition to competing in the 2011 Iditarod, Ryne is excited to guide guests through the beautiful woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 


Age: 21

Hometown: Durango, CO USA

Notable Races:

    Race to the Sky 2010, 5th place

    UP 200 2010, 22nd place

    Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race 2010, 2nd place, (4-Dog Sport Class)

Tim VanderMeulen

About Tim: Tim Started out with training Black Labs for both wetland and upland hunting.  Then transitioned into skijoring with dogs, which led to dog sledding with dogs. Tim came to know Ed and Tasha when he and his wife were looking to buy another dog for skijoring.  They were recommended by another musher as a kennel who has good dogs to buy.  That was 6 years ago and now Tim has eight dogs from Nature's Kennel.  Tim races both his own team, and has been known to step and mush Ed and Tasha's dogs for various races.  In addition to running dogs for NK, Tim is also a technical advisor and installer for much of the electrical infrastructure that you will find around Natures Kennel.  Tim helps out with Boyne tours and with a few kennel tours each winter, just to remind himslef that he'd rather be working full time for Ed and Tasha than with high schoolers in Traverse City. 

The most beautiful place that Tim has been:  Is his home in the Grand Traverse Region.  He has been a lot of places out west and out east but it is hard to beat the state of Michigan and this region in beauty. 
The hardest thing Tim has ever done: Is to do my job everyday.  My teaching job is by far the hardest thing that I do all year; of all the jobs that I have had it makes me the most tired.

Certifications and Endorsements:  Tim has a Bachelor Degree from Western Michigan University in History, with a teaching endorsement in History and Social Studies.  He has a Masters Degree from Grand Valley State University in Educational Leadership.  He is also a certified Electrical Occupations instructor for Career and Technical Education and a Master Electrician and an Electrical Contractor in the State of Michigan.
Races which Tim has completed:  Tahquamenon Country Sled dog race, Midnight Run, Mid-Distance John Beargrease.  These races have been completed with both my own dogs and with teams of Natures Kennel dogs.

Age: 38

Hometown: Lake Ann, MI USA

Mallory Sturmer

About Mallory: Mallory graduated from Lawrence University in 2006 with a degree in biology and will be applying to nursing school in the fall.  Her past jobs have included working as a veterinary technician at both large animals and small animal facilities, and has been a full time nanny (Yeah for Nate and Tasha!!)
Mallory is an avid runner who has completed half marathons and is training for her first full marathon which she will run in October.  She has the best running buddy she could ask for, her own Alaskan Huskey, Teton.  Mallory has been running sled dogs recreationally for many years and still learns something new from these amazing animals every day.  She is very excited to be part of such a great group people and to be able to share her love of the dogs with others.
Past Dog Experience: Running sled dogs recreationally for the past 6 years.  Completed the Apostle Islands Dog Sled Race 2005, 2008
What kind of dog would Mallory be? I would like to be a prematurely retired sled dog like my dog Teton, so I could live the good life be spoiled rotten. 
The most beautiful place she has been: Cinque Terre, Italy
Certifications or Endorsements: BA in biology from Lawrence University. Certified Nursing Assistant 

Age: 26

Hometown: St. Paul, MN USA

Amy Halverson

This is Amy's first experience with sled dogs.  She is working at summer camp with kids this summer so I'm sure she'll be ready to take on the wild puppies when she arrives this fall!   
Past dog experience: I have no past dog or dog sledding experience, but have always loved learnig new things!
If Amy were a dog, what type would she be: I would love to be a husky because they have beautiful wolf-like dogs with crazy eyes and high energy!
The most beautiful place Amy has been: The Big Muddy Valley in Saskatchewan or in Kaikoura, New Zealand.
The hardest thing Amy has ever done: Both physically and emotionally was during some schooling in New Zealand I lived in a tent for 3 months while we backpacked, sea kayaked, sailed and spent some time with the Maori culture.  We carried around all our belongings and food, did Wilderness First Aid courses, leadership training and traveled an average or 7km a day.  I loved every minute of it though...
Certifications or Endorsements: Red Cross First Aid/CPR, Leave No Trace Behind Trainer


Age: 25

Hometown: Big Beaver, Saskatchewan Canada

Johnson Kristin

About Kristin:  Kristin has been mushing for 2 years outside of Jackson Hole, WY. Her first experience with sled dogs was in the back country of Denali National Park, AK six years ago. She has been addicted and broke ever since! She has never raced but hope to with my best friend Makwa the Mutt in the future!
The Most Beautiful Place Kristin has been: Is a tie between Destruction Bay, YT and Baths National Park on the British Virgin Island of Virgin Gorda! Breathtaking!
 
 
 
 
 
Certfications/Endorsements: First Aid/CPR/AED certifications

 

Age: 32

Hometown: Green Bay, WI USA

 
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