Nature's Kennel Sled Dog Racing & Adventures - Touring

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Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

Nature's Kennel

PO Box 5
McMillan, MI 49853
Tel: 1-906-748-0513
Email: info@natureskennel.com

Who We Are

Who We Are

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: 43

Hometown: McMillan, MI

Notable Races:

Iditarod

UP 200

Iditarod

UP 200

Iditarod

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, keeping track of Nate, and making sure the sled dog world keeps turning!

Age: 38

Hometown: McMillan, MI

Notable Races:

La Grande Odysssee

Orange Award

UP 200

Humanitarian Award

UP 200

John Beargrease 150

Nate Stielstra

What breed of dog would you be and why: A dog of any breed who loves to dig holes in people's yards.

Degree/Professional Certifications: Professionally certified as a puppy holder.

Favorite thing about being in the outdoors: Digging in the dirt, making mud holes, and playing with monster trucks and construction trucks.

Ask me about this on your tour: I woud prefer to talk about monster trucks than sled dogs, but I do have a few favorite dogs in the kennel. I especially like TC, Tuuli, Peeta, Gallea, Ayn and Rhu. I can also tell you all about this year's guides and which ones are my favorites.

Most amazing place I’ve ever been: I have been to Maine, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and Canada but my favorite place is where ever my dad is going.

Snapshot: Nate pretty much breaks every rule in the toddler safety books: mixing meat with your bare hands, starting the fourwheeler before you can reach the shifter, riding the four wheeler while training a team of 10 puppies and sitting on mom's lap, and driving the tractor with dad. Nate loves being around the kennel and helping out all the guides.

Age: 2

Hometown: McMillan, MI

Jessica Wallstrom

What breed of dog would you be and why: A medium size mixed breed of who knows what, they make the best pets and he/she would be a rescue!

Degree/Certifications: Agricultural Business, Minor Dairy Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), CPR, LNT Master Trainer, Whitewater Rescue Technician (RQ3), PADI

Favorite thing about being in the outdoors: Sharing how to drive a sled or paddle a river I feel that each person takes home more than they came with. If while doing that we also get to have fun and make friends even better.

Ask me about this on your tour: Rafting the Grand Canyon, Costa Rica, NOLS

Most amazing place I’ve ever been: Rafting the Grand Canyon for 21 days. It was amazing. Makes you feel very small in a grand way!

Snapshot: Jess graduated in 2008 and was not yet ready for her “real job.” Having been a raft guide for 10 years she brings lots of fun stories and a personal interest towards every client. Jess has also found a passion working for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) the past 2 years. She has always lived in warm sunny California but is excited to head out to Michigan for the cold winter ahead. When not on the river or in the snow you can find Jess planning her next adventure or writing in her blog about the last one.

Age: 27

Hometown: Kernville, CA

Dave Delcourt

What dog breed would you be and why? I'd be a mutt because they are the best dogs I've ever known and you get the best of multiple worlds.

Degree/Certs: B.S. Geographic Information Systems, WAFA, CPR, Chainsaw - Game of Logging, completed 2 LNT Trainer Courses

Favorite thing about being in the outdoors: Hiking when it's snowing and it clings to everything.

Ask me about this on your tour: Climbing Mt. Adams, my SCA position doing work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Most amazing place I have ever been: Mt. Adams in Washington

Snapshot: For 22 years I was the classic couch potato. I've spent countless hours in front of a computer, tv, and playing video games. After graduating in 2010, finding myself without a job, and away from my closest friends, I took to hiking the mountains around Lake George, NY. I fell in love with hiking and explored as much as I could while working jobs doing maintenance, grounds keeping, janitorial work, and giving out free items at a local race track. After those jobs I landed a position with the SCA doing a national trails inventory for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Since then I haven't looked back and I've had a second position with the SCA doing trail work and I've had the pleasure of hiking in Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, and the Grand Tetons, just to name a few places. I feel like I'm still getting my outdoor roots in the ground but as for now I feel solid about where I am. I love to share my experiences and hear about others!

Age: 25

Hometown: Queensbury, NY USA

Josh White

What dog breed would you be and why: Golden Retriever. I had one growing up and he was a really great dog. He loved going on all of my outdoor adventures with me, and always seemed excited. If I had to pick a breed to be that would be it.

Degree/Certifications: B.A. in Linguistics from University of California, Santa Cruz. Wilderness First Responder, CPR.

Favorite thing about being outdoors: The simplification of life. When I'm in "civilization" I find it easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of day to day life, to be overwhelmed by information overload, technology, and the masses of people. Getting outside makes all that stress melt away and lets me focus on things that are actually important.

Ask me about this on your tour: Kayaking in Santa Cruz and hiking the Lost Coast.

Most amazing place I've been: Lost Coast of California. A stretch of thirty miles of coastline so rugged that road couldn't be built there. The longest stretch of coastline in California without towns or roads.

Snapshot: After graduating from UC Santa Cruz in 2010, I spent a few years working at a "real job." I managed to get outdoors sometimes, but not nearly as often as I would have liked, and in the spring of 2012 decided to give up my steady job so that I could live a simpler life and spend more time outdoors. I've spent my entire life living in different parts of California, but I'm excited for the change of scenery Michigan is going to offer. When I have free time I like to spend it kayaking, hiking, camping, or some combination of the three.

Age: 25

Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA USA

Lizzy Whittemore

What dog breed would you be and why: I would be an Australian Cattle Dog. I’m pretty much average size, but I’m a hard worker and have an independent soul. Having been a college softball player for three years, I would always be up for some fetch!

Degree/Certifications: BA in Biology from Willamette University, Basic First Aid/CPR certified, Chainsaw certified (NECHAMA)

Favorite thing about being in the outdoors: The peace and quiet. I’m not a big fan of city sounds and being outdoors offers a great place to clear my mind or an opportunity to hang out with a group of friends with no distractions. I also really enjoy wildlife photography.

Ask me about this on your tour: Circumnavigating the globe on Semester at Sea, biking across the United States to raise money and awareness for affordable housing, or working for ten different non-profits in five states during my time in AmeriCorps NCCC.

Most amazing place you have ever been: The Amazon. Falling asleep to rainforest sounds while lying in a hammock was one of the most relaxing, surreal moments in my life.

Snapshot: Lizzy is part of a military family, which led to her wandering adventures. She has lived in twelve different states and has visited 42 of the 50 states (surprisingly, this will be her first time to Michigan!) Her international travels have included living in Germany and visiting over a dozen different countries on five different continents. After graduating with a biology degree in 2010, Lizzy biked across the United States while also building houses for Habitat for Humanity. She continued her journey by joining AmeriCorps NCCC, a national service program for young adults. Lizzy has a passion for animals and hopes to obtain a career in animal welfare. She is excited to share her stories and her love for dogs with the Nature’s Kennel clients.

Age: 25

Hometown: Beaverton, OR USA

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