About Us

CrawDaddy Outdoors

Its beginnings were with Shell Rock Hardware who had been in business since 1985.  SRH owned by the Winter Brothers was a great outdoor recreation store and served Northeast Iowa outdoor participants for twenty years.  CrawDaddy Outdoors opened doors September 23, 2005 in the Shell Rock location and eventually moved to Waverly on November 10, 2005.  With more room, we were able to expand our selection of gear and begin to offer classes, trips, and rentals.  March 1, 2009 gave way to our new location at 207 E. Bremer Avenue in a historic 1884 building with 3 levels and four times the floor space of our old location.

Darrin Siefken, Owner

CrawDaddy Outdoors owner, Darrin Siefken, has over 25 years of outdoor skills and leadership experience.  Darrin was actively involved in scouting during his youth, earning his Eagle Scout in 1984.  Darrin became a vigil member of Order of the Arrow in 1986.   He has served in many of the leadership positions as a youth and adult at the unit level and on a district level.  These experiences have led him through his education and job experiences over the past twenty years.

Darrin earned his bachelor of science degree in 1990 from Iowa State University.  He majored in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and earned a minor in Leisure Studies with an emphasis in Environmental Education and Outdoor Recreation.  Upon graduation, Darrin began his career with ten years as the Environmental Education Coordinator/Naturalist for the Bremer County Conservation Board.   As naturalist he taught a generation of Bremer county youth an appreciation for nature and outdoor activities.  

Seeking a new challenge and more management responsibilities, Darrin accepted a position as the Bremer County Extension Education Director for Iowa State University.  While serving as County Extension Director, Darrin earned a Master of Arts degree in Youth and Human Service Administration from the University of Northern Iowa.  After five years, Darrin decided to take the next challenge and start CrawDaddy Outdoors.

Darrin also has many years of outdoor leadership experience.  He has lead multiple trips to a diverse number of locations.  Beginning with a scout high adventure trip to the Porcupine Mountains to leading the Waverly-Shell Rock high school adventure trip to the Rockies, Darrin has been to many outdoor destinations.

He has been to the boundary waters twenty five times, either for a personal vacation getaway or as a group leader.  Each trip has been a different set of lakes, meeting various weather conditions, trails, portages and unique paddling experiences. 

From the first trip with the Scout Explorer Post to family vacations with four rambunctious nephews to a quiet solitude get away with his wife to a fishing expedition with high school students.  Each trip is as unique and memorable as the first and the desire to plan and return each year never diminishes.  

He has hiked multiple miles of trail at Isle Royale National Park, leading a group of Hawkeye Community College students, a group of retired teachers and as a personal vacation destination.  He has also hiked in the Great Smokey Mountains, the Colorado Rockies, the Porcupine Mountains, and various other shorter day hike trails.

Darrin also has canoed/kayaked many of the rivers in northeast Iowa.  He coordinated the Bremer County River clean-up for a number of years throughout the 1990's.

Darrin resides in rural Tripoli with his wife, Janeen.  

Janeen Siefken 

Janeen enjoys the outdoors -  whether it is kayaking, canoeing, hiking, or cross country skiing.  She has been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Porcupine Mountains, Colorado Rockies, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Janeen's favorite outdoor destination is the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Morgan Jacks

Morgan has been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and  backpacking in the Rocky Mountains and at Isle Royale NP with Waverly-Shell Rock HS.  She has a BS in Biology and Math from Wartburg College.  Morgan brings a youthful enthusiasm and trivial knowledge of our kayaks.  Ask her any dimension or weight and she'll rattle off the answer.  Morgan has also been to the great state of Alaska, Apostle Islands Sea Kayaking, and has participated in an Earth Watch trip to Isle Royale National Park to help with the wolf study.

Brandon Everding

Brandon is a freshman at Wartburg College and is our sit on top kayaking guy.  He enjoys paddling and attempting to fish from it.  He at least out fishes his dad.  He is also our fastest runner, so he gets to be a part of the Eco Tri Team for CrawDaddy Outdoors.

Al Hemesath

Al recently retired, was looking for the funest job he could find in the Cedar Valley.  He found us.  Long time Scouter, he enjoys camping, backpacking, and kayaking.  Al has joined CrawDaddy Outdoors on our Flambeau River trip, Red Rock, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  This fall he hiked at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

Brenda Steinbronn

Brenda a recently retired teacher is a world traveler.  She has literally been around the world.  In the US she has been kayaking at the Apostle Islands, backpacking at Isle Royale National Park, and canoed the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.  Want to know of great places to travel, she is your go to person.

Dakota Gillmore

Dakota a Wartburg student and track stud is a recent addition to the staff.  Dakota has worked at a canoe livery along the Maquoketa River and enjoys camping and other outdoor activities.

Peter Hoffman

Peter a California guy is a skateboarder and a whiz at graphic design.  Studying at Wartburg, he has many interests in the outdoors including camping and kayaking.

Jessica Hoyng

Jessie a recent hire at CrawDaddy Outdoors is studying at Wartburg.  Jessie has worked in several retail positions and recently gotten the climbing bug.  When not at CrawDaddy Outdoors, she is working the climbing wall at The W at Wartburg.

Rob Warner

A recent graduate of Northland College in Outdoor Education.  Rob is our canoe guy, so much that we might have to brainwash him about kayaking.  Rob has numerous trips to the Boundary Waters under his belt.

Mark Curran

A long time Scouter, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in camping and outdoor activities.

Sean Kirkpatrick

A soon to be graduate of UNI in Leisure Studies.  Sean enjoys slacklining and other outdoor pursuits.

Other Staff and Volunteers

We are lucky to have a bunch of friends and acquaintances who love to do outdoor activities and help us out at the store and other events.  We do greatly appreciate their efforts.  Here are some of our part timers.

BenOlsen

When CrawDaddy Outdoors needs a trip leader, Ben is our guy.  Ben is a teacher in Cedar Falls and is a great asset to our staff.  Ben has lead trips to the Boundary Waters, Isle Royale NP, Rocky Mountains, Pictured Rocks, Apostle Islands and other Midwest locations.

Stacey Snyder

Stacey works for University of Northern Iowa and has been a science consultant with the AEA, guidance counselor, science teacher, naturalist, over the past twenty five years.  Stacey grew up along the Wapsi enjoying the outdoors and continues to do so today.  Stacey has backpacked Isle Royale National Park and canoed the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.  She loves to geocache and when we need a fill in for the fill in staff, Stacey is our go to gal.

Gary Duneman 

Gary is a retired high school teacher from Waverly-Shell Rock HS.  With many backpacking trips under his belt (Grand Canyon, Porcupine Mountains, Ozark Trail and many others) he brings extensive knowledge to our staff.  Gary also helps us out when we need an extra staff person at the store and sportshows.

Jerry Dove

When Jerry is not farming near Janesville, he is canoeing in the Boundary Waters,  and chasing big Muskies.  He helps us out at sportshows and other times when we need a helping hand.