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| Adventure Maya-Archaeo Expeditions |
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| Adventure Expediton Specialist |
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John Skip Caldwell The Skipper
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I am Skip Caldwell and I have been a Professional Guide since 1978.
I was born and raised in Florida growing up in a very small Atlantic Coast tourist community where I would walk for miles, upon the white sands beach, looking for washed up Pieces of Eight and other Archaeological Treasure . I joined the Life Guard Corps when I was 14 years old and worked as a Life Guard until graduating from High School. It was then I joined the US Marines and served in the United States Marine Corps for 4 years. I am a Viet Nam Era Veteran and received an Honorable Discharge. My time in the service help develop my love for Outdoor Adventures and my Guiding Skills in general.
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After serving in the Marine Corps I decided I would go to school. I used my GI bill of rights and enrolled at the University of South Carolina where I received a BA in Psychology. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the PhD Psychology program at USC.
In my first year of the Doctorate program I obtained an assistantship working with "Hard Core Juvenile Delinquents" using Outdoor Adventure as a therapeutic tool. This was the beginning of what would become a "wave" of private commercial therapeutic programs; some which were known as "Hoods in the Woods", "Cabin Out Back", and of course "Outward Bound". I worked 4 years with this fledgling program developing my Group Dynamics Skills as well as my Leadership Skills and working my way towards a Doctorate of Psychology.
However, in 1977, as chance has it, I left the PhD program with an AbD, "All but Dissertation", to train and develop my skills under well known Outdoor Education Instructor and Mountaineer, Dr Rick Medrick of Outdoor Leadership Training Seminars. I spent a year studying and developing my Expedition Leadership skills in the rugged Mountains of Colorado concentrating on Technical Climbing, Winter Travel and White Water Boating. This intense program climaxed into my first White Water Guiding job with Arkansas River Tours. Since, I have spent 30 years being a Class V White Water Expedition Leader.
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I had made it, I was a Professional White Water Guide getting paid to do the things I loved, Leading Expeditions down Rivers of the South West, Guiding groups up 14,000' Rocky Mountain Peaks, and working as a Guide on High Altitude Elk hunts. Here I was in the shadows of many of the Mountain Men whom had guided the same rivers and trails I was guiding on. It was a dream come true!
During this period I had a chance to work and train with Dr Gary Ziegler a character right out of the pages of an 1800's adventure novel. Dr Ziegler is well known Adventure Specialist and National Geographic Explorer and a real Western Cowboy. He has recently made International headlines for his Archaeological discoveries in the Andes of Peru at the sites of Cota Coca and Llactapata.
I spent many years with Gary as his Lead Guide on Rivers and as Chief of Operations for one of the earliest International Outdoor Adventure Companies, "Ultimate Escapes". I must admit it was my time with Gary and Ultimate Escapes that I came to understand the essence of Dr Ziegler. Working with him and observing his style fostered my desire to go on and develop my own Adventure Outdoors business.
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For many years I owned and operated "Maniotu Guide and Outfitters" a contracting Guide Service Agency. During those early years I was able to lead and guide trips into Costa Rica and hunt for gold in the Jungles of Honduras. This was the 80's when it wasn't particularly safe traveling the rivers and jungles of Central America. Nevertheless, I was thrilled and excited to be part of such expeditions.
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Later on I expanded on my knowledge of ancient Indigenous South West Cultures and spent many years exploring the Canyons, Rivers and Desert of the Four Corners area. This is when I discovered a connection between the Ancient Cultures of the Southwest and early Maya civilization.
In the present, I am proud to say I am still guiding Class IV rivers, and currently expanding Adventure Expedition Specialist, a Colorado company. Traveling through some of the last great Virgin Rain Forest remaining in this hemisphere. Developing Archaeological Adventures and EcoTravel while Exploring vast Jungles for the remains of Pre classic Maya Cities and their Ancient Culture is again a Dream come True.
I hope you will join Adventure Expedition Specialists on one of these great Outdoor Adventures. Travel with us to meet the Maya see their Ancient Cities and make discoveries yourself. Remember "Its a Jungle Out There and We Explore It!"
For more information regarding our upcoming Expeditions email: AdventureSpecialist@X11.com for our Adventure Maya-Archaeo Expedition Itinerary.
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| Coco Oil Nuts |
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New Years 2008 El Mirador Expedition Introduction to El Mirador and the Norte Petén, Guatemala
Organized by Mike Reed Wedding trip of Tammy and Les
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