Dogsled Trip & Writing Workshop
for Parent-Daughter Pairs -- with New Moon magazine
Since 1997, Wintergreen has teamed up with New Moon, the award-winning magazine produced by and for girls ages 8-14 from around the world, to offer an extraordinary experience for parent-daughter pairs. You and your daughter will enjoy dogsledding together each day and then each evening she can apply that inspiration to paper through journaling & creative writing workshops with help & inspiration from professionals (moms & dads can join in as they choose). Trip itinerary is similar to our Deluxe 4-night lodge-to-lodge dogsled vacations but also includes fun seminars and group games. In the past, New Moon staff facilitated 3 short writing seminars throughout the trip but this year we've consolidated that to one longer workshop on the 3rd evening. This trip is a great chance to share quality time with your daughter… and with other adventurous daughters & parents from around the country! As one participant noted: "This was by far the best experience I've ever shared with my daughter. Our relationship took a quantum leap & so did her confidence!" Learn about New Moon at www.newmoon.org - each parent-daughter pair gets to mush their own team of our friendly Eskimo dogs on beautiful wilderness trails
- each pair gets to feed & care for their dogs as much as they’d like (and help with the puppy pen as well!)
- each trip typically includes 4-5 parent-daughter pairs, 2-3 guides and a guest creative writing instructor from New Moon magazine
- includes 3 days of guided dogsledding with visits to sites of scenic, historic and wildlife interest
- includes 2 nights at Wintergreen Lodge and 2 nights at Timber Trail Lodge’s Diamond Willow retreat
- private double-occupancy bedroom provided for each pair – bathrooms are shared
- indoor lunch 1st day; campfire trailside lunches on other days plus snack & beverage breaks
- dinners generally prepared by our professional chef, served family-style
- evening socializing around the fireplace, group games, journaling and northwoods stories with your guides
- a creative writing workshop with a New Moon staff member
- optional chance to try snowshoeing, skiing, ski-jouring and our traditional Finnish sauna
- a special welcoming dinner on your first night and send-off brunch on the final "Musher’s Graduation" morning
- free tickets to view timber wolves in a woodland enclosure at Ely’s International Wolf Center
- rental clothing & boots available as need in both adults and kids sizes
Sample Itinerary (may vary with trip dates)
DAY 1: Arrive in Ely mid to late afternoon by car or airport taxi shuttle. Stop at Wintergreen store for any rental clothing needs, continue to lodge (Wintergreen or Timber Trail's Diamond Willow retreat) for check-in and site tour. Meet your guides, dogs & other parents & daughters. Welcoming dinner at 6 pm followed by trip orientation session and clothing check. “Dear Diary” tips on journaling session. Optional night visit to the kennel (a chance to 'howl' with your dogs at the moon and watch for northern lights!)
DAY 2: Sunrise kennel care (optional) followed by breakfast and "Dogsledding 101" training. The big moment arrives as your guides help you launch your team and accompany you on a dogsled training trip. Lunch in lodge, skills review and rest break. “The Creative Muse” session on how to think like a writer. Afternoon dogsled trip. Return to lodge 4-5 pm. Treat & water your dogs. R&R. Dinner. Writing exercise and shared readings. Free time for games and socializing around the fireplace.
DAY 3: Kennel care & breakfast. Pack up luggage for shuttle to next lodge. Depart on full day of mushing with trailside campfire lunch and rest stops at scenic sites. Wintergreen guides accompany your group on skis, providing tune-up tips on your mushing skills and sharing natural history info along the route. Arrive at next lodge mid-afternoon. Treat & water your dogs. R&R. 6 pm dinner. Creative writing seminar with New Moon magazine staff, including “A Dog’s Eye View” exercise —writing about your day’s experiences from the perspective of your lead dog. Optional fireplace stories and/or 'film fest' to view the National Geographic documentaries on Wintergreen adventures.
DAY 4: Now that everyone "knows the ropes," the guides will plan the day based upon group interests with such choices as easy or challenging trails and a longer or shorter routes. Scenic stops might include the 'ice cave,' the Murphys Falls overlook, the river bluff, the old growth forest and you may opt to include time for skiing/snowshoeing or to try "ski-jouring" (being towed on skis by a sled dog). Arrive at next lodge mid to late afternoon. Dog treats. R&R. Celebration dinner. Shared readings from everyone’s journals. Tips on building your writing skills. Optional campfire gathering and/or Finnish-style sauna followed by the traditional “roll in the snow” or dip through the hole in ice!
DAY 5: Kennel care, "bon voyage" breakfast buffet, "Mushers Graduation" event, kennel visit to bid your dogs adieu, check-out mid to late morning (or earlier if your travel plans require). Visit Ely's International Wolf Center, tickets compliments of Wintergreen (winter hours: 10-4 Sat/Sun and other days when pre-arranged by Wintergreen). | 
"It exceeded my every expectation! I never once felt chilly, instead I was constantly overwhelmed by the beauty of the land all around us and the intimate experience of getting to know our team of dogs and spending time with my daughter as we sledded across the trails, never once worrying about a thing in the experienced hands of our guides, free to appreciate and wonder at the world all around us. As my daughter said, "This is happiness, mom -- just us and the world around us and the dogs. No politics, no worries -- just us and the world." Ann S, NJ
2009 Trip Dates
- pm Thur Jan 15 - am Mon. Jan 19 (MLK Hol.)
- pm Wed. Mar 4 - am Sun Mar 8
$1975 per parent-daughter pair
Want more info? Click these links: Email or call us toll-free 877-753-3386.  
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