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.
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. His love of scouting earned him the District Award of Merit for the Winnebago Council in 1996. 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 fifteen 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 twelve 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
Janeen definitely 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, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She definitely likes the North Shore of Lake Superior.
With a BA in Business Administration from University of Northern Iowa, she definitely brings to the business some very important skills.
Chelsie Thompson
Chelsie is very active in the outdoors hunting, fishing, and camping. She has been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and backpacking in the Rocky Mountains with Waverly-Shell Rock HS, where she is a senior. Chelsie brings not only outdoor knowledge but a fashion sense and a bubbly personality.
Morgan Jacks
Morgan has been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and backpacking in the Rocky Mountains and Isle Royale National Park with Waverly-Shell Rock HS. She is a sophomore at Wartburg College. Morgan brings a youthful enthusiasm and trivial knowledge of our kayaks (She made flash cards).
Nick Kilburg
With a degree in Fitness Management from Wartburg College and just starting his masters at UNI in Leisure, Youth and Human Services, Nick brings great outdoor knowledge and climbing experience to our staff. Nick also works for UNI Outdoors and has many outdoor trips under his belt including: Havasupai and Grand Canyon, Arches NP, Great Smoky Mountains, and many of the best climbing locations in the USA.
Kevin Grondahl
With experience in wilderness trips, team building courses, climbing, and careers as a naturalist and youth pastor, Kevin brings a unique touch to CrawDaddy Outdoors.
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 and other Midwest locations.
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.