Team Players

Arboretum Presents Perennial Favorite Winter Event Featuring Dogsledding

LISLE, IL (December 19, 2008) – Here come the huskies!  

In what has become a cherished, annual event, The Morton Arboretum once againpresents “Husky Heroes,” the delightful weekend of dogsledding demonstrations, presentations, and displays of dogs available for adoption, January 24-25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The “stars” of the show are incredibly beautiful and powerful Siberian huskies.

“Everyone loves to see these adorable dogs run, and do they love to run! They were born and bred to it. You don’t often get a chance to see this anywhere in the Chicago area,” says Marilyn Baysek, Arboretum Manager of Special Events.

The heartwarming event, which frequently draws several thousand visitors, features the “Dogsled Spectacular.” Teams of three to six dogs pull sleds while “mushers” control the teams. The demonstrations occur several times each hour in the area near the Hedge Garden. If there is no snow, wheels substitute for sled blades, and the event will occur. In addition, the Arboretum presents a demonstration of skijoring – in which dogs pull a person on cross country skis. It all happens 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., both days.

In “Husky Legacy,” visitors watch a free presentation about the huskies’ history stemming from their life-saving efforts in Alaska, where they delivered medicine to outlying areas in the 1920s. Presentations are at noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.; complimentary tickets are available at the Visitor Center. Space is limited; first come, first served.

Visitors can also “Meet the Huskies.” This meet ’n greet is more like pet ’n play. Adopt A Husky, which reports that it has rescued more than 1,200 Siberian huskies since 1998, allows guests to spend time with dogs available for adoption–to pet them, marvel at their thick white or grey fur, and to see the stark blue eyes common to many huskies. These warm and friendly creatures need a loving home with suitable space. Interested persons can apply to adopt a husky.

Anyone attending the “Husky Heroes” event can make a whole day of it. The Arboretum now allows cross-country skiing! Visitors glide across the trails through the magnificent Arboretum tree collections, and even go off-trail, for the ultimate sense of freedom.

If a slower pace is better, why not enjoy the stunning vistas on snowshoes? For those without snowshoes, the Arboretum rents them ($8/three hours, members get discounts). “Husky Heroes, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are free with Arboretum admission.

The Morton Arboretum gratefully acknowledges our sponsors, Arboretum View Animal Hospital and ComEd.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of 4,117 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission – the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time or sunset, whichever is earlier. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March through October, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., November through February. Visit www.mortonarb.org, click About, and then Press Room, or call to learn more.

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