Who We Are
Jamie & Renee Borglum
Owners of CrawDaddy Outdoors
Jamie and Renee began their new adventure in January 2024, as the new owners of CrawDaddy Outdoors. They are proud to continue the legacy of community involvement, quality products, awesome trips, and great service.
Jamie and Renee along with their 3 daughters, Adali, Emi, and Livia, live south of Waverly. Jamie was born and raised in Waverly, graduating from W-SR in 2001. Jamie grew up with a love for the outdoors enjoying camping, backpacking, canoeing, hunting, and fishing. As an Eagle Scout, he went on numerous adventures to the Boundary Waters as well as other trips backpacking and camping. After graduation, Jamie took a summer job at a Boundary Waters outfitter and lodge on the Gunflint Trail. There he fell in love with the tourism industry and helping other people relax and find joy and adventure in the outdoors. He had gone on the W-SR Rocky Mountain backpacking trip to Colorado and decided to go to Western State in Gunnison, Colorado for school. There he joined the Western State Mountain Rescue Team and met teammate and now wife Renee. They had a kindred spirit for adventure and the outdoors. Renee grew up in Colorado camping, jeeping, hiking and loving the mountains and outdoors.
When the two decided to get married they moved back to Waverly, IA. Renee began teaching Science at Waverly-Shell Rock High-School, in the same classroom as one of Jamie’s favorite teachers, who led the Rocky Mountain Trip that inspired him to move to Colorado where he eventually met Renee. Renee now leads that same trip to Colorado immersing students in the wilderness. Jamie and Renee both share a passion for teaching others about the outdoors, encouraging them to explore beyond their current comfort zone and helping them feel prepared for their own life’s adventures.
Abriel Dixon
Abriel is a southern-Iowa native and Wartburg grad who lived and worked in a variety of National Parks for 14 years before moving to Waverly in 2014. She loves hiking, kayaking, and sitting in the solitude of the outdoors.
Alisha Kapparos
Alisha has been working at CrawDaddy's since 2021. She enjoys all things outdoors, but most often, you'll find her wandering in the woods. Basically everything she does, she'll do it outside! She's also our store's designated plant caretaker. Ask her about what countries she's done yoga poses in.
Darrin Siefken
As former owner of CrawDaddy Outdoors, Darrin brings over 30 years of outdoor skills and leadership experience to his new role with us. He has extensive trip experience, and backpacking, canoeing, and kayaking have taken him to BWCA, Lake Superior, Smoky Mountain National Park, Isle Royale, Pictured Rocks, Apostle Islands, Porcupine Mountains and Colorado.
Kelby Aissen
Kelby has been working at CrawDaddy since 2021 and is a student at W-SR High School. He enjoys all things outdoors, from kayaking, hunting, and fishing, to backpack running and hiking.
Ian Gritters
Ian has been working at CrawDaddy since 2022 and attends W-SR High School. He enjoys kayaking, hiking, and boating.
Adali Borglum
Adali has been working at Crawdaddy since 2024 and is a student at W-SR High School. She enjoys everything in the outdoors from backpacking to trail running to kayaking. She particularly enjoys birding and helps with bird conservation in the Driftless region.
Nancy Van De Walle
Nancy is new to the team in 2024. is a student at Denver High School and loves kayaking, hiking, camping, swimming, and walking her dogs.
Peter Hoffman
Peter enjoys stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, and biking. Peter loves including his dog, Macy May, on all of his outdoor adventures.
Annette Wittrock
Annette is a naturalist for Butler County and we are fortunate enough to have her at CrawDaddy as well! She enjoys traveling and hiking in national parks, kayaking, fishing, and anything that gets her outside. She is also a triathlete and has hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! Her job as a naturalist lets her take others outdoors to show them the things she finds so fascinating and enjoyable.
Melisa Reilly
Melisa is a science teacher in Waterloo and works at CrawDaddy in the summers. She enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking, and biking, and you might find her hiking the trails around Hartman Reserve and George Wyth State Park.
Morgan Gascho
Morgan, an Iowa native and UNI grad, enjoys kayaking, disc golfing, geocaching and looking at lake views from her hammock. Outside of her time at Crawdaddy, she is a Spiritual Director and Group Fitness Instructor. For fun tricks, ask her about the clover shape and the sound that gathers the attention of preschoolers!
Hunter Telleen
Hunter began working for CrawDaddy in 2024. He is a student at WSR and enjoys bow hunting.