If you are NOT a US CITIZEN and are planning to visit to work, volunteer or study, YOU WILL NEED THE CORRECT VISA. To find out more information you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling.
Learn about life in Alaska, help with our energetic sled dogs, gardening and other projects just outside of Anchorage, USA
Last activity
: 17 Mar 2025
Profile information
Usually responds within 2 days
Min stay requested: at least 3 weeks
Workawayers needed
Possibility that workawayers are needed
No availability
Details
Host ref number: 183294379154
Website Safety
Feedback (11)
Left by host for Workawayer (Sean)
Sean was a delight to have in our home. We enjoyed him so much we asked him to stay an extra month. He was helpful and eager to take on new tasks. His humor was much appreciated. He made friends with many of our dogs and helped diligently to care for them. We would certainly welcome him back in the future.
Lois and Eric
Left by Workawayer (Diana) for host
Staying with Lois & Eric in Eagle River was my first workaway experience and I couldn't have chosen a better family. Lois & Eric are a very kind and friendly couple from the first moment you meet them. Right from the beginning they took me as a member of the family and made sure that I didn't miss anything.
In return, I helped them a lot around
… read more the house - they have roughly around 40 dogs and 3 horses and Lois is also a passionate gardener so I also helped with watering or planting flowers and plants.
Lois & Eric were incredibly wonderful and tried hard to be amazing hosts by taking me on various trips and events so that I could get to know their culture and see a piece of another world. They showed me not only the surrounding cities of Eagle River and Anchorage but also the city of Seward, Whittier, and other beautiful places of Alaska.
They even took me on a brief vacation with them in Tupper Lake for two weeks where I got to know their extended family and friends. We stayed in a dreamy cottage, just near the lake where you could go for a swim or a ride on a boat. To get a tiny bit familiar with this place, they took me to the farmer's market, movie theater, a nearby town Lake Placid, or even the church where they had a wedding many lovely years ago.
I have so many marvelous experiences that I could slowly write a book. The nature, whether in Tupper Lake or Alaska, was delightfully enchanting. I couldn't get enough of that beauty. And the wildlife... it was truly exceptional to watch it all and I wish to recommend this experience to everyone.
Thank you for the 6 weeks that I could be a part of all this. You are welcome in Slovakia anytime and I hope I'll see you soon.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Mirja) for host
The 7 weeks in Eagle River were my first workaway (after having lived in Canada as an aupair for 1 year a couple years back) and I don't know how you could find better hosts.
It's not just about the absolutely adorable dogs - alaskan huskies with lots of energy and love to spare and Bert who really tries to fit in with them - or the 3 icelandic
… read more horses that were always happy about any extra attention. I really enjoyed getting to know not only Lois and Eric, but also Andy and Alea with whom I went hiking and exploring Alaska. Additionally to the absolutely awesome time I had with the family and all the pets, I got to go to Denali twice - taking the bus from Anchorage in August and driving with another workawayer in September -, which was a major reason for me to come to Alaska.
Feeding the dogs and cleaning their kennels, exercising (riding, lounging) and feeding the horses were a great way to spend my time in Alaska. Since I was in Eagle River in August and September, I didn't go mushing, but that didn't make this stay any less amazing. I saw lots of wildlife - moose, grizzly right down the roas; eagles and sandhill cranes in the sky. Everyone was also more than happy to share the vast knowledge about native - especially Yup'ik - culture that really added to an authentic alaskan experience.
Thank you all for this great time, you'll always find an open door and welcoming home with me when visiting Germany.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Photos
Flowers on the front deck.
Flowers on the deck and a little bit of our beautiful view.
More of our view off the front deck.
Family photo and these puppies are now 6 years old and awesome athletes and so very friendly.
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Left by host for Workawayer (Sean)
Sean was a delight to have in our home. We enjoyed him so much we asked him to stay an extra month. He was helpful and eager to take on new tasks. His humor was much appreciated. He made friends with many of our dogs and helped diligently to care for them. We would certainly welcome him back in the future.
Lois and Eric
Left by Workawayer (Diana) for host
Staying with Lois & Eric in Eagle River was my first workaway experience and I couldn't have chosen a better family. Lois & Eric are a very kind and friendly couple from the first moment you meet them. Right from the beginning they took me as a member of the family and made sure that I didn't miss anything.
In return, I helped them a lot around
… read more the house - they have roughly around 40 dogs and 3 horses and Lois is also a passionate gardener so I also helped with watering or planting flowers and plants.
Lois & Eric were incredibly wonderful and tried hard to be amazing hosts by taking me on various trips and events so that I could get to know their culture and see a piece of another world. They showed me not only the surrounding cities of Eagle River and Anchorage but also the city of Seward, Whittier, and other beautiful places of Alaska.
They even took me on a brief vacation with them in Tupper Lake for two weeks where I got to know their extended family and friends. We stayed in a dreamy cottage, just near the lake where you could go for a swim or a ride on a boat. To get a tiny bit familiar with this place, they took me to the farmer's market, movie theater, a nearby town Lake Placid, or even the church where they had a wedding many lovely years ago.
I have so many marvelous experiences that I could slowly write a book. The nature, whether in Tupper Lake or Alaska, was delightfully enchanting. I couldn't get enough of that beauty. And the wildlife... it was truly exceptional to watch it all and I wish to recommend this experience to everyone.
Thank you for the 6 weeks that I could be a part of all this. You are welcome in Slovakia anytime and I hope I'll see you soon.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Mirja) for host
The 7 weeks in Eagle River were my first workaway (after having lived in Canada as an aupair for 1 year a couple years back) and I don't know how you could find better hosts.
It's not just about the absolutely adorable dogs - alaskan huskies with lots of energy and love to spare and Bert who really tries to fit in with them - or the 3 icelandic
… read more horses that were always happy about any extra attention. I really enjoyed getting to know not only Lois and Eric, but also Andy and Alea with whom I went hiking and exploring Alaska. Additionally to the absolutely awesome time I had with the family and all the pets, I got to go to Denali twice - taking the bus from Anchorage in August and driving with another workawayer in September -, which was a major reason for me to come to Alaska.
Feeding the dogs and cleaning their kennels, exercising (riding, lounging) and feeding the horses were a great way to spend my time in Alaska. Since I was in Eagle River in August and September, I didn't go mushing, but that didn't make this stay any less amazing. I saw lots of wildlife - moose, grizzly right down the roas; eagles and sandhill cranes in the sky. Everyone was also more than happy to share the vast knowledge about native - especially Yup'ik - culture that really added to an authentic alaskan experience.
Thank you all for this great time, you'll always find an open door and welcoming home with me when visiting Germany.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Lucia) for host
I stayed in Eagle River for six weeks (about a month and a half) and it was a wonderful and unusual experience. Lois and Eric are very friendly and kind and they welcomed me with a smile and they were always very helpful to me, it’s like I’ve known them for a long time. Having been hosted in the middle of the sled dog racing season, every weekend
… read more we participated in the races and I also had the opportunity to take part in four of them, learning so many things about this world unknown to me and helping them in all that concerns it. As for the activities at home, I prepared meals for the dogs and fed them, cleaned their kennels, took them for walks, helped train the dogs in foster care, some cleaning and cooking, housekeeping, feeding their three horses. Like Lois and Eric, their friends are also very friendly and, even with them, I’ve never felt like a foreigner. In the meantime, I also had the opportunity to explore the surrounding areas, visiting magnificent places and even seeing the northern lights! Many thanks again for this incredible experience that I will remember for the rest of my life, you will always be in my heart. I hope to revere you again, keep in touch!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (HAO)
Hao was a wonderful help to us for over a month. He was willing to learn new skills and enjoy new experiences. His cheerful attitude and caring nature for especially our dogs was greatly appreciated. He cooked some wonderful meals for us, too. Certainly we would welcome him back in the future for another visit.
Eric and Lois made me feel like a guest more than a worker. With other hosts I felt that their perspective was, "You're here to work. But once you're here, we might as well enjoy your company and help you explore the area." Eric and Lois had the perspective "You're here to explore the area and enjoy our company. But once you're here, be so kind
… read more and help out a bit." There was plenty of free time for me to entertain myself, and Lois and Eric were very generous with giving me rides/lending me a car.
Work I did at Eric and Lois's house:
Feed the dogs.
Improve the dogs' kennels.
A bit of weeding and some errands.
Leisure activities:
Wildlife-viewing cruise in Seward.
Museum in downtown Anchorage.
Farmers' markets.
State fair.
Many absolutely amazing day hikes.
Left by host for Workawayer (Charlotte)
Charlotte spent a month with us in both the Adirondacks and Alaska. She is an absolute delight, cheerful, helpful and always willing. Her cooking and especially desert were wonderful. Our only wish is she could have stayed longer. We would love to have her back anytime.
Left by host for Workawayer (Julia & Michael)
Julia spent some three weeks with us in Alaska. She was an absolutely treasure to have for help and her positive personality. She was a great help with our Icelandic horses and they love her. Our dogs also bonded to her quickly and she was a wonderful help with them. We would welcome her back at any time and hope she comes for a longer visit again
… read more soon.
Left by Workawayer (Julia & Michael) for host
I stayed with Lois and Eric for about 2 weeks. I had just an incredible experience. Both of them were spending so much time showing me Alaska and were trying to realize all my wishes and even more! It was already April and the snow was melting but I had the chance to try dog mushing once. I enjoyed it so much! I also loved to spend time with their
… read more horses and dogs. I had a nice private bedroom and bathroom. It was always something going on, which was so much fun for me. Lois and Eric are incredibly nice and flexible people. I am really glad I met them and hope to come back again. I can recommend them 100%!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Luke) for host
I couldn't have asked for a better first workaway experience! Lois and Eric were so welcoming to me, and accepted me as part of the family during my Stay in August. They always made sure to include me in any of their missions and errands, and made an effort to make my experience as amazing as possible by organising me trips to Seward, Whittier,
… read more K'esugi ridge trail, and a few mountain hikes! Everyday at their home felt like a blessing, playing with their many beautiful dogs who I absolutely fell involve with, and exploring their beautiful garden which they have put a lot of effort into. (And it definitely shows!) I also met their daughter Alea who was incredibly nice, and made sure to give me advice on hiking and trail running trails I should explore during my stay!
Workwise, I helped them with the daily routine of feeding their dogs and cleaning out their kennels, feeding their 3 Icelandic Horses, cleaning up a bit inside the house, helping cook dinner, painting dog houses, helping out in the garden where needed, and helping Eric fix his boat.
In All, Lois and Erik are lovely people, and I would definitely like to visit them again in the future. I highly recommend them as your workaway hosts if you love dogs, a balcony with an amazing view, some good food, and great company.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Luke)
Luke was an absolutely wonderful person who we greatly enjoyed having in our home and life. He is cheerful, always eager to help and has so many interesting life experiences to share. He is very goal oriented, thoughtful and kind. We would welcome him back for another visit at anytime. Best wishes to Luke for all of his wonderful plans and life
… read more adventures!!
Left by host for Workawayer (Tyler)
Tyler was a willing help around our home and caring for the animals. He even housesat for a few days while we traveled. Certainly a person who will be a welcome visitor.
Left by Workawayer (Tyler) for host
I stayed with Lois and Eric from the end of March through the very beginning of May, and what a wonderful month it was. Because I was there for the back end of winter, I was able to spend a lot of time sledding with the dogs, which was an incredible experience. Lois and Eric threw me in with the dogs on day one and were super communicative and
… read more helpful in making sure I felt comfortable working with the dogs. The dogs were definitely one of the most wonderful parts about my stay in Alaska—after around two weeks and spending lots of time with the twenty-eight of them I learned their individual personalities and quirks. They're all huge sweethearts.
Some of the work included: cleaning/tidying up the garage, working in the greenhouse with Lois, moving plants around the property, cleaning up *lots* of dog poo, feeding the dogs and giving them exercise, feeding and grooming their Icelandic horses, and other general maintenance around the property. I really enjoyed a lot of the projects and found the work quite rewarding, but if physical labor isn't your thing, this might not be a great fit for you.
I had my own room in the finished basement of their house with a gorgeous view of Eagle River and down into Anchorage. The house is on a beautiful mountain in a spruce and birch forest which is just delightful. I was able to go on long walks with some of the dogs most days and thoroughly enjoyed spending time around the property.
Lois and Eric were kind enough to let me take one of their cars out for a few hours at a time on days where their wasn't much work to be done. They're both super knowledgeable about hikes in the area—hiking is a MUST if you find yourself in this area. The natural beauty right around their home but also in the greater Anchorage area is unbeatable. They also take pretty frequent excursions to surrounding towns or recreation areas—Eric and I took a day trip down to Seward to whale watch at the end of the winter season, which was such an incredible experience.
Tips: I will say that there were many days where there wasn't much work to be done, so I found it helpful to bring some books (Eric also has many great books laying around the house he let me borrow), or plan ahead with Lois and Eric and see if they'd either drop you off somewhere for some exploring, or allow you to do some solo exploring in one of the cars. They are super accommodating, so if you need anything at all, don't be afraid to ask! They're also super knowledgeable about Alaskan culture and dogsledding, and they'd be more than willing to share a bit of that knowledge with you.
Overall, I am very glad to have spent my time up in Eagle River surrounded by so much natural beauty, recreation, wonderful dogs, and kind hosts. If you are looking for a place to get away and enjoy some downtime and are open to new experiences, I highly recommend Lois and Eric as hosts.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Jacob)
Jacob stayed with us for almost three months. He was a great help in many projects, very hard working, self directed and capable. He did lots of work on a peony plantings project and we will think of him often when we enjoy the flowers next summer. He was great with our animals. He also is a good cook and happily contributed to our meals.
Left by Workawayer (Jacob) for host
My time with Lois and Eric in Alaska was incredible. I was able to explore sooo much, and there’s still so much more I wish I could have done! I was there from August-November, so I experienced the end of Summer, a month of Fall, and the beginning of Winter. Lots more details below for prospective volunteers...
The people:
Lois and Eric bring
… read more together a neat mix of perspectives Bay Area CA, Upstate NY, and eye-opening stories about life in an AK bush village. Lois is an avid flower gardener. ## redacted text ## She’s also one of those rare Workaway hosts that actually responds to all requests! Eric likes boats, birds and marine biology. They both work in healthcare. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet Andy or Alea. They sound like really cool kids.
The animals:
- Over 20 sled dogs! All really friendly and energetic. I hadn’t worked much with dogs before, but I loved hanging out with all of them.
- 2 house dogs. Sadie (Golden Retriever) was one of my primary adventure buddies.
- 3 Icelandic horses. I never got around to riding, but it was fun to learn about caring for them.
- Lois and Eric volunteer with a fantastic pet rescue program, so there are often some foster dogs at home too.
The work:
- The dogs need to get fed once or twice everyday. We usually let them loose to run around (my favorite part). Maybe fill some water buckets or scoop some poop.
- House-sitting. Lois sometimes travels. Eric sometimes works night shifts. So there might be days you handle the dogs by yourself. Speaking of the house, it’s up the hill in Eagle River. Great views. ##redacted text##
- Yardwork. Gardening. Watering flowers. Trimming brush. Wood chipping. Spreading mulch. I helped prepare some big beds full of peony roots. They can provide some good work clothes for the dirtier tasks.
- Feed the horses. Maybe bring them water if their bucket is frozen.
- Walk/let out the foster dogs.
The adventures:
- The first week I arrived, Lois and Eric had planned a short trip up to Denali National Park, so I got to come along! Later, Eric and I did a boat tour in Kenai Fjords National Park!
- Lois and Eric go into town frequently, so it’s easy to get a ride down to Eagle River or Anchorage. I don’t know much about what there is to do in the city. There are lots of accessible trails for biking and hiking.
- I was often able to use one of the cars (one of them is manual transmission) to go on adventures myself. This was a huge asset to explore as far South as Seward and as far North as Denali. Simply driving around Alaska is pretty.
- Hiking! The outdoor recreation available in Alaska is staggering. Mountains, fjords, glaciers, forests, lakes, rivers. Tons of it is within a half-hour drive of Anchorage. Trails for all skill and experience levels. There are even trails you can take right from the house!
- Some mountain biking, although I didn’t do much. Nice bike trails in Anchorage.
- Cross-country skiing! Again, plenty of options. Unfortunately, I left just before the dog mushing training could start.
- Eric and I did two river fishing trips with his small boat.
- I also enjoyed playing the mostly-in-tune piano at the house.
If you’ve read through all of this, you’re probably pretty stoked and should definitely reach out to them!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Isabel) for host
My experience in Eagle River was amazing. Lois and Eric are incredible teachers and very generous hosts. They were always willing to drive me around, they are very hospitable with food and accommodations, and they welcomed me into their family lifestyle. I could not have asked for a better location as there is so much to see and do and explore in
… read more the Eagle River and Anchorage area. I had fun skiing and hiking from the trails in their backyard and they loaned me a fat bike which was fun to try out as well.
All of the dogs are extremely friendly and fun to play with. When I first arrived we attached the dogs to a side by side but by the time I left we were on sleds. Learning about mushing was very interesting and they have lots of entertaining stories. It is the perfect experience for people who are new to mushing and sled dogs like I was.
Dog chores like feeding and poop scooping are simple and not very time consuming. I had lots of free time in my days to explore and do all sorts of activities. I do recommend arranging a car rental as this will open up even more opportunities.
If you are new to dog mushing, enjoy adventuring, and looking for a warm and welcoming family then this is the place for you!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Iveta) for host
Lois, Eric and Alea are amazing, friendly and very active family. I recommend them.
They took me to all the family activities. They treated me as a family member and I felt that way too. I visited Alaska in winter time and I helped them with their beautiful Alaska husky. I had many activities around dog mushing, dog races, adoption dogs, feeding
… read more dogs,... It was not work, It was fun. We attended a lecture on the Alaska environment, museum,... I enjoyed cooking dinner together. From their house is beautiful view of the entire Anchorage with stunning sunsets. The mountains around are so unreal. I had a wonderful time with you and your animals. Thank you Lois, Eric and Alea for this dream experience with sledge dogs in Alaska. I hope to see you again.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host
Lois, Eric, Alea and their many wonderful animals were splendid! I got the opportunity to stay here for about 6 weeks and time just flew by! I will never forget the spectacular views from the many beautiful sunsets. Working with their dogs is definitely a dream for those who love dogs and an amazing experience to discover dog mushing!
The family
… read more is just pure at heart, always smiling, active and very welcoming - if you're headed to Alaska don't let this beautiful experience slip!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Learn about organic gardening and share our love of the forest in Burnsville, NC, USA
Help on our off-grid sanctuary farm on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island, Hawaii
We've noticed that there's less than 3 photos uploaded to your profile. With the new host profile layout this we would highly recommend having more than 3 photos so your profile stands out visually.
Please take a few moments to choose some images that show off your place or area:
Please log in to your Workawayer account to contact this host, or
sign up here!
Learn about life in Alaska, help with our energetic sled dogs, gardening and other projects just outside of Anchorage, USA
Information for those planning to visit the US
If you are NOT a US CITIZEN and are planning to visit to work, volunteer or study, YOU WILL NEED THE CORRECT VISA. To find out more information you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling. Do NOT attempt to enter the USA without the correct visa!
Charity Work
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House sitting
