Malcolm & Mitch Canoe the Big Muddy
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bigmuddyadventure.wordpress.com
Update: August 16th, 2015
Thank you to everyone who has helped us reach our goal! We will be shipping postcard, stickers, t-shirts, etc... out as we pass through towns! We couldn't have reached this goal without everyone's help!
The Gofundme campaign will continue to run throughout our journey so please tell your friends about our story and check out our social media pages!
We are on the water and invite you to follow our blog and instagram: bigmuddyadventure.wordpress.com instagram @bigmuddyadventure
Here are a few photos we have gotten so far!
Driving to Lake Itasca!
Day 1 on Headwaters of the Mississippi River
The Department of Natural Resources has built emergency shelters for paddlers.
Thanks for reading!!
_________________________________________
Embarking in August, we are planning to canoe the Mississippi River, the fourth longest river in the world, from its source, Lake Itaska, to the Gulf of Mexico. This 3 month long expedition, spanning over 2,320 miles and passing through 10 states, will be an important journey of self-growth and discovery for us as individuals, and an opportunity to embody the raw pioneer spirit of American exploration.
To help us get down the river, we will be floating on a lifetime friend, a Grumman canoe. However, we will need some more supplies if we hope to obtain the sweet taste of salt water splashing on our faces and the cool sea breeze at our backs. That is where you come in; any support you can provide will be greatly appreciated!
Your generous donations will be used for gear, food, and transportation for our trip. Additionally, a portion of these funds will be donated to the Louisiana Outdoors Outreach Program (LOOP).
LOOP provides positive, life-changing outdoor experinces for youth in Greater New Orleans, allowing them the opportunity to experience the diverse wetlands ecosystem of southern Louisiana. LOOP works with at-risk youth in Greater New Orleans to teach social-emotional growth through outdoor skills. Since 2004, LOOP has grown to serve between 2,000 and 3,000 area youth each year with close relationships amongst local schools and youth organizations. In addition to academic-year programming spanning canoeing, climbing, camping, fishing, and swimming, LOOP facilitates summer internships that equip high school students with technical skills to become employable outdoor professionals.
Since its founding, LOOP has been supported through Louisiana’s Office of State Parks. This year, a state-wide budget deficit has severely decreased LOOP’s staff and program capacity. Friends of LOOP graciously accepts donations to ensure New Orleans youth continue to benefit from life-changing outdoor programming. Please visit their website at www.loopno.org for more information!
We firmly believe outdoor education to be one of the most important aspects in youth development, and that is why we are tying our own personal journey to the development of New Orleans inner-city youth. Having lived in The Big Easy for the past four years, we understand the difficulty that many children face in getting out of the city and into the natural environment. Being immersed in nature holds a pivotal role in personal and emotional growth, and through this Mississippi River trip, we hope to not only grow independently, but also provide a means for others to do the same.
When we float through the Big Easy in the final stage of our journey, we will personally volunteer with LOOP. We are so excited for this closing portion of our adventure, as it will allow us the opportunity to personally spark a passion and understanding for the outdoors, creating a space for personal growth for those who need it most.
To chronicle this adventure, we will be maintaining a blog that will depict our day-to-day experiences on the river, and will also be creating a documentary style video at the end of the trip to fully explore the impact and scope of our journey. Also, through a Q&A portion of our blog we are planning to educate LOOP participants about the Mississippi River and wetland ecosystems, as well as teach wilderness survival skills and boat safety knowledge.
This is a link to our blog. Check it out!
bigmuddyadventure.wordpress.com
Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
https://www.facebook.com/mississippiriveradventure
Instagram @bigmuddyadventure
This is LOOP's Website if you would like to find out more!
LOOP
LOOP INSTAGRAM
LOOP FACEBOOK PAGE
THE CREW
Ever since meeting in freshman year of college the two of us have always had a taste for adventure, and passion for the great outdoors . Whether it be chasing toothy Alligators through the swamps of Louisiana, or surfing with hungry sharks in Fiji, we have always been looking for that bigger, better, and crazier experience to test our grit, and skill in the outdoors. We are happy to say that after graduating from Loyola University New Orleans, we are ready to push our limits to the next level, and embark on the trip of a lifetime.
Mitchell Selby
Born in the year of 1992, Mitchell set out to explore the world and see what was waiting. His competitive swimming career in high school prepared him for a life of water sports. Mitchell earned the rank of Eagle Scout then completed a National Outdoor Leadership School course where he acquired the skills necessary to survive a blizzard, cross frozen rivers and navigate using map and compass. After his first year of college, he paddled and portaged through the Crown Lands of Ontario where he found his love for the great outdoors. He then returned to the city of New Orleans.
Once he was back in the wild, concrete jungle of the Big Easy, he enrolled in a study abroad program in the country of Fiji where he caught wind of a pirate treasure that could only be found by deciphering the trickiest of riddles. As much as he wanted to spend his weekends in the library, he simply couldn’t ignore the urge to solve the riddle and was enticed by the subtle warnings of deadly undertows, murky waters and sharks that stood between him and the treasure. After spending 3 months of surfing, sailing and scavenging the coasts of Fiji, Mitchell found the treasure that had been left behind by the Dread Pirate Malcolm.
Once back from Fiji, Mitchell just couldn’t shake the feeling of adventure but knew his next outdoor pursuit needed to be shared with others. Mitchell was able to track down the Dread Pirate Malcolm and proposed that they paddle their way through America and write about their adventure in hopes of helping others get outside. The two lads spent many nights planning out the trip and decided that they not only wanted to paddle the Mississippi River from source to mouth, but they wanted to inspire and empower others to do the same.
They hoped to inspire others by leaving a blog and donating a portion of their budget to a non-profit organization that helps youth stay out of trouble by getting them into the outdoors. The duo decided upon a Louisiana organization called the Louisiana Outdoor Outreach Program which utilized the outdoor environment as a classroom to build upon academic, social and organizational skills for youth up to 18 years of age.
Malcolm Reed
An avid adventurer and experienced canoeist, Malcolm feels most at home out in the woods, sleeping under the stars, or floating downriver in his beloved Grumman canoe. Having just graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a bachelors in Business Management and a minor in Biology, he is ready to pursue his love for canoeing, and completely immerse himself in the natural world before moving out into the world. Through this adventure, Malcolm hopes to gain a broader perspective on America, as the Mississippi River is the artery into which much of the country's water, infrastructure, and culture flows. The ultimate goal of this trip for Malcolm is that of self-exploration and emotional development, as he wishes to adopt a piece of the pioneer spirit that has been lost in our interconnected society, and to explore one of the last truly wild and unpredictable pieces of the American landscape.
Malcolm is also an artist, who has started his own t-shirt and design company, Malrkey. Mostly working in pen and ink mediums, Malcolm incorporates elements of nature and the world around him into chaotic depictions of his own thoughts and emotions. Through these drawings and illustrations, Malcolm hopes to chronicle the personal and emotional element of the trip, as well as document the raw beauty that the Mississippi River landscape has to offer.
Our buddy Aaron sporting the Fleur-de-lis shirt (the Fleur Gear reward ) down in the Big Easy.
Update: August 16th, 2015
Thank you to everyone who has helped us reach our goal! We will be shipping postcard, stickers, t-shirts, etc... out as we pass through towns! We couldn't have reached this goal without everyone's help!
The Gofundme campaign will continue to run throughout our journey so please tell your friends about our story and check out our social media pages!
We are on the water and invite you to follow our blog and instagram: bigmuddyadventure.wordpress.com instagram @bigmuddyadventure
Here are a few photos we have gotten so far!
Driving to Lake Itasca!Day 1 on Headwaters of the Mississippi RiverThe Department of Natural Resources has built emergency shelters for paddlers. Thanks for reading!!
_________________________________________
Embarking in August, we are planning to canoe the Mississippi River, the fourth longest river in the world, from its source, Lake Itaska, to the Gulf of Mexico. This 3 month long expedition, spanning over 2,320 miles and passing through 10 states, will be an important journey of self-growth and discovery for us as individuals, and an opportunity to embody the raw pioneer spirit of American exploration.
To help us get down the river, we will be floating on a lifetime friend, a Grumman canoe. However, we will need some more supplies if we hope to obtain the sweet taste of salt water splashing on our faces and the cool sea breeze at our backs. That is where you come in; any support you can provide will be greatly appreciated!
Your generous donations will be used for gear, food, and transportation for our trip. Additionally, a portion of these funds will be donated to the Louisiana Outdoors Outreach Program (LOOP).
LOOP provides positive, life-changing outdoor experinces for youth in Greater New Orleans, allowing them the opportunity to experience the diverse wetlands ecosystem of southern Louisiana. LOOP works with at-risk youth in Greater New Orleans to teach social-emotional growth through outdoor skills. Since 2004, LOOP has grown to serve between 2,000 and 3,000 area youth each year with close relationships amongst local schools and youth organizations. In addition to academic-year programming spanning canoeing, climbing, camping, fishing, and swimming, LOOP facilitates summer internships that equip high school students with technical skills to become employable outdoor professionals.
Since its founding, LOOP has been supported through Louisiana’s Office of State Parks. This year, a state-wide budget deficit has severely decreased LOOP’s staff and program capacity. Friends of LOOP graciously accepts donations to ensure New Orleans youth continue to benefit from life-changing outdoor programming. Please visit their website at www.loopno.org for more information!
We firmly believe outdoor education to be one of the most important aspects in youth development, and that is why we are tying our own personal journey to the development of New Orleans inner-city youth. Having lived in The Big Easy for the past four years, we understand the difficulty that many children face in getting out of the city and into the natural environment. Being immersed in nature holds a pivotal role in personal and emotional growth, and through this Mississippi River trip, we hope to not only grow independently, but also provide a means for others to do the same.
When we float through the Big Easy in the final stage of our journey, we will personally volunteer with LOOP. We are so excited for this closing portion of our adventure, as it will allow us the opportunity to personally spark a passion and understanding for the outdoors, creating a space for personal growth for those who need it most.
To chronicle this adventure, we will be maintaining a blog that will depict our day-to-day experiences on the river, and will also be creating a documentary style video at the end of the trip to fully explore the impact and scope of our journey. Also, through a Q&A portion of our blog we are planning to educate LOOP participants about the Mississippi River and wetland ecosystems, as well as teach wilderness survival skills and boat safety knowledge.
This is a link to our blog. Check it out!
bigmuddyadventure.wordpress.com
Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
https://www.facebook.com/mississippiriveradventure
Instagram @bigmuddyadventure
This is LOOP's Website if you would like to find out more!
LOOP
LOOP INSTAGRAM
LOOP FACEBOOK PAGE
THE CREW
Ever since meeting in freshman year of college the two of us have always had a taste for adventure, and passion for the great outdoors . Whether it be chasing toothy Alligators through the swamps of Louisiana, or surfing with hungry sharks in Fiji, we have always been looking for that bigger, better, and crazier experience to test our grit, and skill in the outdoors. We are happy to say that after graduating from Loyola University New Orleans, we are ready to push our limits to the next level, and embark on the trip of a lifetime.
Mitchell Selby
Born in the year of 1992, Mitchell set out to explore the world and see what was waiting. His competitive swimming career in high school prepared him for a life of water sports. Mitchell earned the rank of Eagle Scout then completed a National Outdoor Leadership School course where he acquired the skills necessary to survive a blizzard, cross frozen rivers and navigate using map and compass. After his first year of college, he paddled and portaged through the Crown Lands of Ontario where he found his love for the great outdoors. He then returned to the city of New Orleans.
Once he was back in the wild, concrete jungle of the Big Easy, he enrolled in a study abroad program in the country of Fiji where he caught wind of a pirate treasure that could only be found by deciphering the trickiest of riddles. As much as he wanted to spend his weekends in the library, he simply couldn’t ignore the urge to solve the riddle and was enticed by the subtle warnings of deadly undertows, murky waters and sharks that stood between him and the treasure. After spending 3 months of surfing, sailing and scavenging the coasts of Fiji, Mitchell found the treasure that had been left behind by the Dread Pirate Malcolm.
Once back from Fiji, Mitchell just couldn’t shake the feeling of adventure but knew his next outdoor pursuit needed to be shared with others. Mitchell was able to track down the Dread Pirate Malcolm and proposed that they paddle their way through America and write about their adventure in hopes of helping others get outside. The two lads spent many nights planning out the trip and decided that they not only wanted to paddle the Mississippi River from source to mouth, but they wanted to inspire and empower others to do the same.
They hoped to inspire others by leaving a blog and donating a portion of their budget to a non-profit organization that helps youth stay out of trouble by getting them into the outdoors. The duo decided upon a Louisiana organization called the Louisiana Outdoor Outreach Program which utilized the outdoor environment as a classroom to build upon academic, social and organizational skills for youth up to 18 years of age.
Malcolm Reed
An avid adventurer and experienced canoeist, Malcolm feels most at home out in the woods, sleeping under the stars, or floating downriver in his beloved Grumman canoe. Having just graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a bachelors in Business Management and a minor in Biology, he is ready to pursue his love for canoeing, and completely immerse himself in the natural world before moving out into the world. Through this adventure, Malcolm hopes to gain a broader perspective on America, as the Mississippi River is the artery into which much of the country's water, infrastructure, and culture flows. The ultimate goal of this trip for Malcolm is that of self-exploration and emotional development, as he wishes to adopt a piece of the pioneer spirit that has been lost in our interconnected society, and to explore one of the last truly wild and unpredictable pieces of the American landscape.
Malcolm is also an artist, who has started his own t-shirt and design company, Malrkey. Mostly working in pen and ink mediums, Malcolm incorporates elements of nature and the world around him into chaotic depictions of his own thoughts and emotions. Through these drawings and illustrations, Malcolm hopes to chronicle the personal and emotional element of the trip, as well as document the raw beauty that the Mississippi River landscape has to offer.
Our buddy Aaron sporting the Fleur-de-lis shirt (the Fleur Gear reward ) down in the Big Easy.
Organizer
Malcolm Reed
Organizer
New Orleans, LA
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