Maryland Dog Sledding: Girl Scouts Go Dog Sledding

Group Photo: It's been a wonderful day of dog sledding

Here at Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC, our motto is "no snow, we can still go!" No snow hasn't been much of a problem given the 50 plus inches of snow that we received out of last week's storms here in Maryland.

Hanging out on the picket line

As a result, several lucky Girl Scout troops have been out to participate in our Girl Scout Patch Program in dog sledding, visit us and the sled dogs, learn all about dogsledding, and go dogsledding on snow.

Meeting Acadia

During our scout program, we teach the girls how to harness the dogs, all about the various parts of the dog sled, how to put booties on the dogs, and, in some instances, how to drive a small 1-2 dog team of sled dogs. At the end of the program, the girl scouts take a pop dog sledding "quiz" and earn their dog sledding patch.

Meeting Sobo

Dog Sledding is so much fun!

Learning all about the dog sled

Driving a 2 dog team (left to right Acadia and Sobo in lead)

The scouts' fearless leader, Carol, driving a three dog team (Acadia and Zoe in lead and Sobo in wheel)

Learning what the sled dogs eat and feeding them

Happy Birthday Acadia!

Acadia

Today we celebrate the birthday of our youngest sled dog, Acadia, as she turns one year old today. Acadia was born one year ago today to Northome's Isabel, CGC, RN, SD (Belle) and CAN CH. Sequoia's The Memory Remains, CGC, TT, AM/CAN CD, RN, WPD, SD (Orion) at Kiana Siberians in Sanbornton, New Hampshire (Acadia Pedigree).

Here I come, ready or not!

Acadia on Mt. Desert Island, Maine with Okemo and Eric

Acadia at 4 weeks (photo credit: Corina Alexander)

Time to go out!

Over the past season, as Acadia has matured and begun running with the team, she has showed great potential as a hard pulling, hard driving, lead dog in training. Acadia has a strong desire to please and is quite sensitive (sometimes to the point of being a drama queen). Since turning approximately 8 months old, Acadia has spent countless hours being trained to lead our sled dog team. Usually she is partnered next to veteran lead dog and Alaskan Husky, Zoe or partnered next to experienced but not always focused "silly" Sobo. Although as we have trained Acadia in lead, we also have learned that Sobo really does know his stuff and isn't quite as silly as we originally thought. Since joining the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs, Acadia has appeared at schools, met well over 1000 school children, taught girl scouts and boy scouts about dog sledding, provided rides to many people, and been harnessed by hundreds of pairs of little (and not so little) hands. The dog who was exceedingly timid when we adopted her rapidly came out of her shell. She now embraces all new experiences from delivering Santa via dog team for the local mall to helping teach children about sled dogs, dog sledding and Iditarod.

Acadia skijoring in Canada

Okemo canicrossing and Acadia hiking Mt. Abraham in Vermont

Leading the team with Zoe in Canada

Acadia in lead next to Zoe

I love to dig! (Acadia at 8 weeks)

Acadia in lead next to Sobo

Of course I have something to say about it!

As we approach summer here at Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC, Acadia has been spayed (consistent with our aggressive spay-neuter program), is currently being trained to our fence system so that she can safely run free with the other dogs in the dog yard, and is taking lots of long naps. She is also looking forward to lots of fun at our Canicross Club Hikes scheduled throughout the summer. Stay tuned for additional details on Acadia's upcoming adventures throughout the summer and into the fall. Until then, we wish Acadia a very Happy Birthday!

Acadia celebrating Christmas 2008

Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sled Dogs....Oh My!

Hanging out with sled dog, Okemo.

The Cub Scouts of Pack 719, Den 4 along with several Girl Scouts came out to the Northern Central Rail Trail in White Hall, Maryland this past Saturday to visit the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures team and work on their dog sledding badge. As you can see, a good time was had by all.

Sled puppy, Acadia and Sobo wrestle before the dog sledding program

During the dog sledding program, the scouts learned all about dog sledding including how to harness the dogs, how to put booties on the dogs, the commands used in dog sledding (and how to "gee over" on the trail to avoid trail traffic), what sled dogs eat, and how sled dogs are trained.

After learning all about dog sledding, the scouts were hungry and got to enjoy brownies and hot cocoa.

Brownies and Hot Cocoa. Yum!

After brownies and hot cocoa, the kids learned about the 1925 Great Alaska Serum Run from Nenana, Alaska to Nome, Alaska. For more information on the Serum Run, click here.

"I've got the serum and I'm heading for Nome," thinks this cub scout

And then it was out for the scouts' dryland dog sled ride. Each scout took a short ride with the entire Maryland Sled Dog Adventures team of sled dogs while relaying the medicine to save the children of Nome. During the rides, Zoe and Sobo ran in lead while Okemo and T-Bone ran in wheel. Meanwhile, sled puppy, Acadia, took a nap in the dog truck.

Setting off on his dryland dog sled ride

Riding down the trail

Returning to the trail head, the scouts helped to feed and water the dogs while learning that sled dogs can burn more than 16,000 calories per day. They also learned that breakfast is Okemo's favorite part of the day.

Hungry Okemo receives a hug.

T-Bone receives some pets from this cub scout

Then it was time for the dog sledding patch presentation. As each scout received his or her dog sledding badge, he or she told us what to he or she had learned during the dog sledding program. Best Answer: Bryan learned that you should always wear safety gear (helmet and safety glasses) when dog sledding. We're sure young Bryan has a great career ahead of him at OSHA.

A cub scout receives his dog sledding patch

"Can we keep her?"

Cub Scout Pack 719, Den 4

For more information on Maryland Sled Dog Adventures' patch programs in dog sledding for cub scouts and girl scouts, visit the Tours page of our website. To see additional photos from this scout program and others visit our Gallery. And for even more great photos, visit our Webshots Gallery.

Sled Dogs Meet Girl Scouts; Girl Scouts Meet Sled Dogs

These girl scouts got to feed sled puppy, Acadia.

The first Girl Scout troops of the dog sledding season came out to work on their dog sledding badge with the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures team this past weekend. To earn their dog sledding patch, the girl scouts learned how to harness the dogs, learned about the positions on a dog sled team, the commands used in dog sledding, how put booties on the dogs, learned all about dog sledding equipment, and got to go for a dog sled ride with the entire team.

It was a misty morning when these scouts from Falls Church, Virginia arrived in Maryland to learn about dog sledding

During these programs, we met Brownie Girl Scouts from Mt. Airy, Maryland and Brownie, Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts from Falls Church, Virginia. All of the troops are part of Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital. Maryland Sled Dog Adventures is pleased to be an approved high adventure vendor with Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital. For more information on the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures dog sledding patch program for girl scouts and boy scouts, visit the tours page of our website.

"Had to put me next to Okemo, didn't you?" thinks T-Bone

The scouts learned all about dog sledding equipment

"So many girl scouts, so little time," thinks sled dog, Zoe

"Is red my color?" thinks sled puppy, Acadia.

"So how do I look?" asks this girl scout.

Each girl scout got to go for a dryland dog sled ride.

I'm ready to go...

Dryland dog sled rides are fun!

Meet and greet with the sled dogs.

These Brownie Girl Scouts practiced being "lead dogs."

The sled dogs are coming!

The newest girl scout uniform accessory, an x-back harness!

This Brownie Girl Scout pets lead dog, Zoe.

"She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes..."

"Pet me, I'm pretty," says sled dog, Sobo.

If only the kids were as tired as the dogs...

To see additional photos from these dog sledding programs along with past girl scout and boy scout dog sledding programs visit our Gallery. The girls seemed to enjoy meeting and working with the dogs and the dogs really enjoyed meeting the girls.