Nature's Kennel Sled Dog Adventures
Nature’s Kennel is a top wilderness dog sledding adventure company. It is owned and operated by Ed and Tasha Stielstra, and is home to 150+ Alaska Husky sled dogs. Nature’s Kennel provides premier dog sled rides and “drive your own” team adventures ranging from 1/2 day to overnight trips. The success of our tours is directly related to the high quality and dedication of our winter guides. Guiding staff must be safe, fun, energetic, resourceful, and have a willingness to love a lot of dogs. In no other job can you wake up every morning to 150 wagging tails and smiling faces! Join us for an incredible season of snow and sled dogs in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
1) Winter Guide Responsibilities:
• Leading half-day, full day, and overnight adventure tours with 1-12 guests
• Planning and preparation for dog sledding tours
• Completing tour trip reports, cleanup and repair of equipment
• Providing guests with orientation/instruction sled driving and safety
• Maintaining the safety of all clients and dogs on tours
• Completing maintenance and repair of gear, winter camp, kennel, buildings, etc. as needed throughout the fall, winter and spring.
• Assisting with snow removal and trail grooming with tractor and snowmobile.
• Completing daily care, cleanup, and monitoring of dogs to Nature’s Kennel highest standards.
• Participating in pre-season setup and trail clearing and post season cleanup
• Committing to know the dogs before tour season. Being comfortable and having a strong bond with your team makes working with them easier throughout the season and is expected before guiding tours.
• Creating a fun experience for guests.
• Training/running dogs with a four wheeler (fall/spring) and sleds (winter).
• Working outdoors in rain or shine 8-16 hours a day outside, 6 days a week.
2)Additional Manger Responsibilities:
• Running the morning meeting–starting on time, establishing the daily safety contact, making sure each employee attends.
• Making sure the weekly house chores are getting done.
• Making sure dog checks are getting done and taking note of any dog problems that seem to be reoccurring and passing that information onto kennel owner.
• Scheduling the weekly/daily tasks and day off schedule for guide crew.
• Making the schedule for snowblowing and trail grooming and making sure it gets done first thing in the morning and as needed through out the day.
• Weekly inventory of dog food, meat, propane usage, gas/diesel.
• Inventory of tour food, camp supplies, and list of what needs to be re-supplied and purchased.
• Making sure all guest’s waivers are signed.
• Collecting tour payments and documenting cash in/out or credit card payments.
• Inventory and upkeep of guide gear boxes, checking out gear at beginning/end of season.
• Overseeing camp set up and tear down at beginning and end of season.
• Making sure all sleds are kept in working order and repaired immediately.
• Making sure guides compete and record weekly dog checks, dog injury reports and daily run records.
• Completing monthly de-worming and annual vaccinations for kennel.
• Making sure kennel yard work is being kept up–holes filled in, mowing done around kennel yard.
• Keeping open communication with kennel owner and following all training and protocols.
Winter Guide and Manager Qualifications
• Love and respect for both dogs and the winter wilderness environment.
• CPR/First Aid required for all positions. Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder preferred for manager.
• Self motivating, can-do, positive attitude, resourceful and energetic.
• Able to work well in a team and possess solid interpersonal skills
• Ability to lead and entertain a group of guests.
• Ability to adapt to changing conditions due to weather, guests, dogs and trails.
• Experience leading wilderness trips a plus but not required.
• Can lift and carry 40-70lbs, pull 40-150lbs (with cart or sled) without assistance.
• Ability to operate tractor, snowmobile, chainsaw and other “tools” a plus, but not required. Onsite training will be done after hire.
Contract Dates:
Guides: October 15, 2016 through May 1, 2017 with possibility for summer employment in Alaska.
Manager: August 15, 2016 through May 1, 2017 with possibility for summer employment in Alaska.
Compensation:
Guides: Room and Board included with a $200/month stipend + paid per dog sled tour which is approximately $600-$1200/month December through March.
Manager: Room and Board included with a $300/month stipend Aug/Sept/Oct/Nov, $500 month stipend Dec/Jan/Feb/March/April + paid per dog sled tour. Seasonal bonus based on competence and performance.
Housing:
Nature’s Kennel is off-grid. Housing is bunk style with 2-4 people per building and shared common area. Meals are family style or on your own in main building which has power and running water. You must be comfortable with communal living and are expected to share in house duties and upkeep.
Job Closing Date: August 1, 2016 or until filled.
If you are interested in this position please go to the help wanted section of our website, http://www.natureskennel.com/#!help-wanted/c10s9 to complete an application. You may mail or email the completed application, your resume, and three references to [email protected], Tasha Stielstra PO Box 5, McMillan, MI 49853.
Phone: 906-748-0513
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.natureskennel.com
Facebook: natureskennel
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