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Our company's founder, Captain Jack, has spent a lifetime on riverboats, including towboats, passenger and research vessels... as well as exploring endless back waters with Mississippi Explorer. Having a vast knowledge of the river's navigation system, it's environment, history, people, and ecology, has afforded him many opportunities to share his experiences and knowledge as a public speaker, consultant, archivist, and author. Highlights of his career include a two year stint archiving river folk life with the Smithsonian Institution. The research concluded with an exhibit and presentation in Washington DC that yielded over a million visitors! Never short of a river yarn, Captain Jack always enjoys sharing river lore and legends with passengers. |
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Mississippi Explorer Cruises is fortunate to have expert naturalists and historians available to provide narrations on specified Eco-Cruises, birdwatching and historical excursions.
River Educator:
· Mark Wagner
· Director of Education...National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
Join River Educator Mark Wagner and his staff of informative Museum guides onboard the Mississippi Explorer V as they take you to explore several aspects of the river from the backwaters to Catfish Creek. While on the 90-minute cruise, you will learn about the natural and historic elements that make up the Mississippi River.
Naturalists:
· Ric and Betty Zarwell
· Birding Guides
On specified cruises, local birding experts Ric and Betty Zarwell compliment our crew. Together, Ric and Betty sponsor an educational birding festival in Lansing every fall. They share their knowledge with hundreds of birding enthusiasts from around the nation and parts of the globe. Ric is the regional coordinator for the Audubon IBA [Important Birding Areas] Program.
River Naturalist and Birding Guide:
· Jon 'Hawk' Stravers
Experienced with the river's backwaters and ecology, Jon's expertise adds a special zeal onboard the Mississippi Explorer during Bird Watching cruises. Jon serves as the Research and Field Trip Coordinator for the National Audubon Society’s Upper Mississippi River Campaign. Jon has also conducted and supervised research on a cooperative basis with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project, and Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Jon is recognized as a leading expert on Red-shouldered Hawks nesting along the Upper Mississippi River. Other research he has conducted includes: Raptor migration along the Upper Mississippi River and the effects of human disturbance on Bald Eagles nesting within the Upper Mississippi River.
 Story Teller and Historian:
· Duke Addicks
Duke leads the Mississippi Explorer on 'special' themed historical cruises that every river history buff... young and old will enjoy.
Duke has fascinated hundreds of audiences of adults and older children and has been heard by millions over public, commercial and Native American radio networks.
He holds a degree in anthropology from the University of Minnesota and is also a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. He is admitted to the practice of law before the Supreme Courts of Minnesota and the United States. Duke studied traditional storytelling in his youth with his Cherokee Grandmother and later with Ojibwa storyteller and healer Anna Moon Feather. Duke was an instructor on contract with the Science Museum of Minnesota for over ten years and presented over 300 programs for that organization. For the last 14 years he has been a volunteer ranger, naturalist and storyteller for the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, presenting a variety of monthly programs.
In addition to his storytelling, Duke is currently on the Board of the Northstar Storytelling League and currently is a member of the Boards of the Ramsey County Historical Society and Northstar Storytelling League. As a professional storyteller, Duke has made numerous storytelling presentations for libraries, schools, colleges, corporate meetings, associations, festivals, historical societies, theaters and other organizations and groups. Duke frequently uses bagpipes and Native American drums and flutes when appropriate as part of his stories. He also leads human and natural history walking tours of many locations in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.
 Educator & River Historian:
· Norm Leeman
Norm Leeman was a Middle School Social Studies teacher for the Postville Community School District for 34 years. He taught U.S. History, Iowa History and World Geography, as well as Hunter Education. He has fished the Mississippi River for over 50 years. He also attended an archeological field school in the Prairie du Chien area for 3 summers. He has a strong interest in history and enjoys visiting with our passengers. |
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