Chad Cadwell

My Name is Chad Cadwell and I am the owner and operator of Missouri River Expeditions LLC and EartH2O Adventure Outfitters. My family has been operating commercially on the Missouri River for generations and I found myself naturally suited for the seasonal lifestyle. Over the past 6 years I have been blessed with the opportunity to guide thousands of people down the mighty Missouri river and in the winter paddling, sailing, and surfing the warm waters of the Caribbean. I am confident that I am on this planet for 2 reasons; education and entertainment. A good friend once told me that if you can educate yourself while being entertained, you are living well. This business/lifestyle has offered me the ability to facilitate education and entertainment for others on beautiful sand beaches all around this continent and it's freckles while educating and entertaining myself. I love guiding as it is my venue to promote and foster stewardship of this beautiful planet on which we live. For this reason, along with many others, I plan on guiding adventure travel expeditions the remainder of my days. I paddled my first kayak at summer camp when I was 12 years old. It wasn't anything like the beautiful boats we use today. Now, I am in the process of becoming an ACA certified kayaking instructor. I graduated in May of 2002 from the University of South Dakota where I majored in recreation. I completed my internship at a water sports outfitter called Wind and Surfing Adventures in St. John, US Virgin Islands under seasoned waterman Richard Metcalfe. I also attended classes at the University of the Virgin Islands at St. Thomas where I received an emphasis in Hotel and Restaurant Management. My hobbies include kayaking, climbing, biking, hunting, fishing, surfing, windsurfing, and sailing. When I am not on the river, I work seasonal jobs like bartending at Carey's Bar in Vermillion, framing houses, and driving a tractor during corn and bean harvest. Since attending school in the Virgin Islands in 2000-2001 I have spent each winter hiding from the South Dakota's frigid temperatures in the warm Caribbean sunshine. I now offer custom travel packages in the US and British Isles. These trips include but are not limited to kayaking, surfing, windsurfing, sailing, and rock climbing trips customized for your personal schedule, taste, budget, and skill level. Come out and play with me.

One God, one world, one paddle, one love---CCC

Louie

My name is Louie. I grew up on the Missouri River with my dad, Chad Cadwell. I turned 3 years old in November and I am now old enough to go with Chad on expeditions. I finally got over chasing the geese on the sand bar and I am starting to realize that I have to sit still in the kayak because I weigh 90 pounds and if I jump out, Dad follows against his will. I am a good guide dog, I will keep all critters out of camp as well as babysit children. When I am not guiding I enjoy hunting, chasing cats, and hitting on the 2 year old Huskie down the block. I really like people and I hope to see you on the river.

Tony Kellar

Tony Kellar has guided and chef'd for Missouri River Expeditions for the last few years. His favorite stretch of the Missouri River is in South Dakota; between Fort Randall Dam and Vermillion.
"The scenery is just amazing! I think it's the best large-river kayaking offered in this whole part of the country. People who go out on those trips come back absolutely flabbergasted at this resource they never even knew they had! They come back with a whole new understanding and appreciation of this part of the country."
He took a hiatus last year to work for Alaska Discovery; a guide service in Juneau, AK. "Alaska has been a long time dream, now a dream-come true. The glaciers and whales and bears and sea lions…aagh! It was beyond description! Paddling in Glacier Bay changed my life! Lots of livin' and dying' going on. The air's like a multi-vitamin that you breathe and you can feel it working in your blood!"
Tony is glad to be back home and will be guiding part-time for MRE this summer, while promoting the release of his second book, "[i]Zen and the Art of Kayaking[/i]". In 2004 his first book, "[i]Camping and Cooking With the Bare Essentials[/i]" was published and he says he knew right away that he was hooked on writing.
"Living in a kayak and a tent is so conducive to writing. There are just so many experiences out here that are so rich…it doesn't get any better."
He looks forward to returning to MRE…"for the river of course, this is central North Americas Crown Jewel. But also the guests; the staff… what a great group, like brothers and sisters to me. I am so blessed to have the life I do. It's the [i]world's best[/i] way to not quite make a living!"

RJ Fitzsimons

RJ Fitzsimons is originally from New Jersey. He has a bachelors degree in fine arts from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green Kentucky, and a Maters degree in Fine Arts from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He has been with MRE for five seasons now, filling the role of "Mr. Fixit." Before coming to MRE he spent several summers working and kayaking in Maine. Rj has been on the water all his life from sailing in New Jersey to canoeing and Kayaking all over the south east as a boy scout. His true love is the great outdoors, but teaching technical theatre at Augustana College in Sioux Falls is his lively hood!

Tim Cowman

Tim Cowman is a native South Dakotan. He has a Master of Natural Science degree from the University of South Dakota. Tim works for the South Dakota Geological Survey and also teaches in the University of South Dakota Earth Science Department. Tim and his family are avid kayakers on the Missouri River and enjoy stopping along the islands and wooded banks for excursions into the wilderness surrounding the river. As a geologist, Tim has done a lot of research on the geomorphology and natural history of the river – dating all the way back to the ice ages! In addition to kayaking, Tim enjoys biking and long distance running.

Lisa Walters

Born and raised along the banks of the Mighty Mo, I have always called the Missouri River my home. As the only daughter of river bottom farmers, I developed a deep passion for both agriculture and the river. This passion only deepens with each passing year. I am currently a senior at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa and will graduate with a BA in Ecological Science and a Career Concentration in Mission Service in the spring of 2008. I love to travel and spent this past semester studying abroad in Belize, Central America with the Creation Care Study Program. While in Belize, I studied God and Nature, Sustainable Community Development, Tropical Ecosystems, and had an internship at The Belize Zoo. Along with Belize, I also spent time in Guatemala and loved every minute of my time in Central America. My plans for the future include graduate school and the possibility of spending more time abroad.
I have been involved with Missouri River Expeditions since its formation years ago. I learned to kayak from Chad himself about 8 years ago and have never looked back. I now feel most at home on the Missouri with a paddle in my hand or simply chilling along its banks.