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Photos, Video: Dog-Sledding Demo Highlights Frost Fest Kick-off

Environmental Education Center kicks off its month-long celebration.

By Joe Apice
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December 5, 2010

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Margot Grotland, 5, of Basking Ridge, listens attentively as Kathy Muraria of Jefferson Township tells the children about the sled dogs.

Photos (22)

Photos

This is one of the dog sleds used by the New Jersey Sled Dog Club during its demonstrations scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Lord Stirling Environmental Education Center. The sled was hand built in Minnesota by professional sled builder Clyde Risdon. The sled is made from ashwood which makes it very strong and durable. The demonstration was a main event at the kick off of Frost Fest on Dec. 4-5 at the EEC, which is part of the Somerset County Park Commission. Other scheduled events include live music and a hike in the trails at the EEC.

Credit Joe Apice

Ethan and Maia Hoffman of Parsippany slowly develop a friendship with sled dogs Libby and Lacey. The dogs, who were part of a presentation by the New Jersey Sled Dog Club, were scheduled to give a demonstration on Saturday and Sunday at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge. The dogs used either were Siberian Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes.

Credit Joe Apice

Rori listens to commands from owner Patty Bryce of Newton, from the New Jersey Sled Dog Club. Rori is one of five dogs used in the dog sled demonstration on Saturday at the Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge, to be held again at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5. Kathy Muraria of the Lake Hopatcong section of Jefferson Township held a presentation on dog sledding following the live demonstration. She said she herself has participated in dog sled races in such places as Vermont and New Hampshire, as well as seeing the annual dog sled races in Alaska.

Credit Joe Apice

Catherine Schrein is the Manager of the Environmental Education Center and one of the organizers of the Frost Fest, which will run through December at the EEC, which is part of the Somerset County Parks Commission.

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Chance is an Alaskan Malamute and one of two dogs belonging to Patty Bryce of Newton. Chance is very strong and acts as wheel dog, which brings up the rear of the sled dog team. The dogs were brought to the Environmental Education Center by members of the New Jersey Sled Dog Club.

Credit Joe Apice

Kristin Reiney of Basking Ridge gets an unexpected lick from Mocha, part of a sled dog team, giving a little startle to her four-year-old son, Simon. Reiney was part of the audience at Saturday's New Jersey Sled Dog Club demonstration at the Lord Stirling Environmental Center in Basking Ridge. The demonstration was due to be repeated at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the EEC off Lord Stirling Road. The EEC, part of the Somerset County Park Commission, will hold a month-long Frost Fest with many other scheduled activities, including hikes, music and candle making.

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Videos

Maia and Ethan Hoffman show how friendly and lovable the sled dogs were during a sled dog demonstration at the Lord Stirling Environmental Education Center, presented by the New Jersey Sled Dog Club.

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The Environmental Education Center (EEC) this weekend kicks off Frost Fest, a month-long celebration of winter, with special events set for both Saturday and Sunday.

A highlight is a dog sled demonstration from the New Jersey Sled Dog Club, which was presented on Saturday and will be repeated Sunday at 1 p.m. Other events on Sunday include a morning hike with an EEC naturalist, "Critters in Crisis" and live music.

The Sunday schedule includes:

Noon to 1 p.m.—Hike with a Naturalist

1 to 2 p.m.—Dog sled demonstration: sled and live dogs

2 to 3 p.m.—Critters in crisis: coyote program

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.—Live holiday music with Tom Gazal (accordion)

The Exhibit Hall at the Environmental Education Center has been transformed into a winter environment with five outdoor scenes that replicate area's various ecosystems during the winter months. Each scene includes animals, birds, trees, and other nature-related items. On display is a beaver with an actual tree that was taken down by a beaver on the EEC property.

Everyone who enrolls in a program at the EEC during December will receive a "Frost Fest Passport" (one per household) for use throughout the month. For each of the scheduled programs that a member of a household attends, the passport will be stamped. For every five stamps, the family will receive a Leisure Pursuit card that may be used toward any Somerset County Park Commission program. The EEC is part of the Somerset County Park Commission.

About this column: Stories of what's happening in Basking Ridge, as told through photos. Related Topics: Dog Sled