The curriculum draws together lessons on the sciences, math, economics, anthropology, language and literature. "Our job then becomes to literally bring this to life from the trail," she said. Porsild envisions it as an umbrella organization to teach people of all ages.īefore each mission north, Porsild pulls together a phone-book-thick curriculum that follows each journey every step of the way. It also comes at a time Porsild and her nonprofit organization are looking to expand their educational mission and the adventure learning concept. Along with the National Science Foundation and NASA, it had been a key source of support, Porsild said. At least two neighbors have come to her defense before the Planning Commission.ĭespite obstacles, positivityThe clash with the city has been ill-timed with another blow: the loss of funding from the Best Buy Children's Foundation, which has opted to channel money elsewhere. She is unaware of any complaints, and has worked at training the dogs not to bark or howl. "The neighbors have been absolutely amazing about it," Porsild said. Because she doesn't board or sell dogs, she also doesn't regard herself as having a kennel. "At this point, there's nothing on the table" to change the ordinance, Ronningen said.įor her part, Porsild said when she arrived in Afton in 2008, it was her understanding she would be given a variance that would allow her to keep the dogs on the property. Ronningen said the only option is to change the ordinance, which has to be requested by a Planning Commission or City Council member or a resident landowner (Porsild rents her acreage). "One person's hobby and passion is another person's nightmare." "There's a reason for these types of regulations - that's a lot of dogs," Knaak said.
Ronningen and Fritz Knaak, the city's attorney, said the ordinance is meant to protect neighbors from potential problems. Those situations seem to make a battle with Afton city officials seem trivial. It's the most unbelievable experience to see them just come together as this machine. when you have stood on thin ice and the sled is going in and you know it's not a situation where they can pull it out. When you have faced a polar bear and these guys are the ones who've made the polar bear go away. "I have stood in numerous situations where my life is on the line and they're the ones pulling me out of it. And they're not just my family - they're my companions and my partners in what I do.
"I probably know these guys better than I know my own family," Porsild said. Porsild and the dogs can be seen each day training in the hills and fields of rural Afton and Woodbury, pulling a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. Starting with hand-cranked generators to power often-unreliable computers at first, she and her team now use Internet video conferencing and satellite feeds. Inspired by older relatives who explored the Arctic and two parents who were educators, Porsild has helped pioneer the idea of using Arctic trips as a platform to teach. She's also a renowned explorer, Web developer and writer. She's executive director and expedition leader of GoNorth! Adventure Learning, an organization tied to the University of Minnesota that teaches students by drawing them into the exhilarating experience of exploring the Arctic. "Clearly, she's out of compliance with the ordinance."Ī woman who has been pushed to the limits of physical and mental endurance, Porsild is hopeful of finding a resolution with the city so that a mission to which she has devoted so much passion is not undermined.Ī veteran of 17 trips to the Arctic since arriving in Minnesota from her native Denmark in 1992, Porsild began working with polar explorer Will Steger. The city only allows private kennels to have up to five dogs, said Barbara Ronningen, chairwoman of the Planning Commission, which has discussed the issue over the past two months. It will be shared over 16 weeks by 3 million K-12 students in 4,500 schools in 30 countries.Īlthough Mille Porsild and her dogs have survived what the Arctic has thrown at them in their many trips, they might not be able to get around the Afton Planning Commission and a city ordinance. Goodie is the alpha male, but the burly and powerful sled dog is bucking that role for the moment as he lies on his back on the frozen ground, looking expectantly for a belly rub.Īcross the yard, his female counterpart, Rubi - so named for her thick, deep-red coat - looks on with queen-like serenity among the group of 22 dogs preparing for their February Arctic adventure.
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