4-H
PLEDGE |
I Pledge
my Head
to clearer thinking,
my Heart to greater loyalty,
my Hands to larger
service,
and my Health to
better living,
For my club, my community,
my country, and my world.
|
|
| MUSHING
BOOKS |
| Mush:
A Beginner's Manual of Sled Dog Training by Sierra Nevada
Dog Drivers Inc and Bella Levorsen ORDER |
|
| The Speed
Mushing Manual: How to Train Racing Sled Dogs by
Jim Welch (Paperback - Oct 1989) ORDER |
|
Dog Driver:
A Guide for the Serious Musher by Miki Collins and Julie Collins
(Hardcover - April 1991)
ORDER
|
|
MUSHING MAGAZINE
www.mushing.com |
|
|
If you haven't read it ...it's
news to you!
Catch
up on our past headlines
KNIK ALASKA
PIER - COURTESY OF BLM |
KNIK MUSEUM FIELD TRIP &
FUNDRAISER PROJECT - AUG
2006
The 4-H students are working on a fundraiser for the Knik Museum.
Their project will be replacing the museum's sign.
The town of Knik was the highest place on the inlet that you could
take a boat to. Left of the Knik Hall (is one of two building that
stand today that is left of the town of Knik) were is the Museum
is were the Iditarod trail starts, it is still here today.
Knik was a Indian village before a town. The town was developed
before Wasilla was even thought of.
One of the history facts about the gold coming down the Iditarod
trail, is in fact in the museum and how the building and owners
helped all that gold move down the trail. The upstairs level of
the Knik museum displays the Mushers Hall of Fame, where there are
photos and stories of many mushers. One Musher took a dog team all
the way to Chicago to the Worlds Fair, trying to help get the Alaska
Highway built. They have the sled at the museum that he used. The
photo shows the team, sled, and musher, the sled was on very large
wheels.
The students very much enjoyed the field trip.
NEW!!! OUR OWN 4-H FORUM
CLICK
HERE TO POST YOUR MESSAGE
- CHAT WITH OTHER MUSHERS
- ASK QUESTIONS
- EXCHANGE IDEAS
Thank you Aurora Farm's Nursery
- (The McQuown Family)
The Aurora Farm's nursery donated two wonderful leader sled dogs.
We have taken the leaders out running and they are very good. They
like and work with the students very well.Their names are "Lego"
and "Lobo".
"LEGO" |
" Lego" has won the Jr. North
American, Willow Winter Carnival, Jr. ASDRA 2-dog points champion,
Aurora Jr. Championship and the Big Lake Carnival. In 2002 he finished
third in the Jr.World Championship and 2nd in the Jr. North American.
He is now 9 years old and still crazy about running!!!!
"LOBO"
|
"Lobo" also loves to run, he
is 9 years old. In 2003 Jr. ASDRA Points Race -2nd and 2003 won Willow
Winter Carnival. He is a no-nonsense, honest dog and good with the
students.
To learn more about the Aurora Farm's Nursery visit their website:
www.aurorafarm.net
ABOUT 4-H IN ALASKA
The 4-H program is a practical, learn-by-doing educational program
for youth 8 to 19. It is operated through the University of Fairbanks
and Mat-Su Copper river District Cooperative Extension Service in
Palmer, Alaska.
The club has three levels of Curriculum: Beginners, Intermediate,
and Advanced.
Beginners Curriculum:
Safety, basic mushing skills, (how to harness, the positions on the
team, how to hook up a dog, name of lines), all the equipment, start
learning about different dog foods (high-octane dry foods and non
competitive dry foods), from dry food to meats, learn to bait water
and why, very basic animal care (administering food and medications,
foot care, skin care, dental care, basic exam) including knowledge
of some parasites, which included safety for the human, dog breeds;
basic winter camping; very basic record keeping; the history of mushing,
members are required to be handlers and kennel help for the Intermediate,
Advanced and the adult teams for the summer, fall, winter training,
and race season, the members are advanced enough to use the skills
theyhave learned to train and race there teams. Everyone learns the
Golden rule: Always take care of your dogs before you take care of
yourself.
Intermediate Curriculum:
which includes more depth nutrition, including the kinds of fats,
meats, different supplements (like Psyllium, Vit.E, Astazanthin, Zinc,
and Probiotics are just a few); learning to read commercial dog food
labels, study different feeding ideas (for all racing and working
dog teams) make lines, fixing broken sleds, and making new sleds including
dog boxes, members also train for different condition (sprint, mid-distance,
long distance racing), learn how to work a real work team (haul water,
logs, and supplies). Members have to be certified in human CPR and
First Aid, and Canine CPR and First Aid, cold weather and health care,
intermediate record keeping, canine antomomy, diseases, beginners
medical terminology.
Advance Curriculum
Advanced record keeping (computer record keeping), teaching other
students, Canine diseases, how to talk to your Veterinarian, advanced
medical terminology, very basic Anesthesia ( so the student understands
what there canine is going throw under anesthesia, different kinds
of anesthesia, local, injectable and inhalation anesthetics), basic
understanding x-rays and Ultrasounds, basic surgeries (Ovariohysterectomy,
neutering, emergence surgery, and cesarean section), how to care for
Post-surgery canine patient, preventative health care, canine disorders
and different treatment that can be used (Acupressure, massage, acupuncture,
food, drugs, herbs, and surgery treatments) are just few things the
students learn.
In all the levels the members learn about and practice Leadership,
Responsibility, speaking in public, writing, and money management.
Members put on demonstrations at schools and state fairs.
Many field trips - They have an upcoming field trip for visiting CAC
Plastics, to see how sled runners are made, what kind of plastics
are used, what is the best and why.
After completing each Curriculum the member receives a patch that
shows what they have completed and year. They are like the ones used
in equine programs in 4-H.
The club also does other projects like Scuba diving, swine, rabbit
and poultry; sewing , cooking, baking, gardening and what ever the
student would like for there project.
|
|
|
