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About Us
Let me introduce you to ARCTIC PAWS KENNEL and DOG MUSHING SCHOOL FOR KIDS. We currently maintain a professional kennel of proven Alaskan Husky, German Shorthair Pointer and Eurohound Breeds. Arctic Paws is a family run operation and we all participate in training, racing and daily chores. Our primary focus is on the development of our programs for children. Our programs have offered dog handling and racing instruction for children in Alaska since 1996. These programs have been largely funded by Rex's military retirement. This year we brought our programs back to our home state of Michigan.
The Dream
Upon retiring from 22 years of service with the United States Army and Special Forces, Rex Jones founded Arctic Paws Kennel in memory of the displaced children he had met throughout his military career. Rex often says that he left a lot of kids behind in difficult places and he always tried to reach out to the ones he met along the way, offering them hope and a moment of his time. His dream was to establish a school, whose primary goal was to build the kind of confidence kids need to make it through whatever life may throw at them.
Arctic Paws and the Community
At Arctic Paws Kennel we've provided children and their families with the most advanced opportunities to learn dog care and handling and to enjoy healthy statewide competition in a safe environment. Arctic Paws has worked with over 500 youth and their families through their participation in local mushing clubs , through programs for military families at Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson, Alaska, and through organizations like Make a Wish Foundation, Boys and Girls Club, the Federal Head Start Program preschools, public and private elementary schools, church groups, and Boys and Girl Scouts. During the past ten years Arctic Paws Teams have placed at the top in all major junior sled dog races in Alaska including the Anchorage World Championships and the North American.
As Rex Says, "Realistic Training"
The achievements our students make forward the advancement of this great sport and develop the character of our youth. Arctic Paws instruction focuses on purposefulness in youth, developing ideals of teamwork, sportsmanship, strong work ethics, personal responsibility, self-control and confidence. By developing attachments to the real world through intense work relationships with the dogs and other fellow mushers, students at Arctic Paws gain respect for themselves and the realities of life. Here at Arctic Paws we teach our students to evaluate themselves in relationship to their surrounding environment and seek affirmation from within themselves and the positive interactions they create, rather than from test scores, trophies or coaching.
More about Rex Jones and his Mentor Frank Hall
Volunteer
Arctic Paws is committed to the sponsorship and support of junior mushing. Our Junior Musher Sponsorship Program, funded largley by Rex's military retirement, has enabled many children to participate in our sponsored activities. Running dogs gives kids the opportunity to overcome a fear, become responsible for themselves and their dogs, and builds the self-confidence kids need to get through life. If you are interested in volunteering at our kennel or helping out at a future training or event, please contact us. We'd love to hear from you.
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| UPCOMING SEPTEMBER 26th, 2009: We are looking for items to be donated for our silent auction. All proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase and maintenance of equipment for the mushing school. Thank you for your support. |
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