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Boat Captain

Tourism: Mississippi Explorer Cruises, Lansing, IA
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Do you long for a job that will feed your sense of adventure? Are you someone who can entertain, teach, and instill in others an appreciation of the wonders of nature? Would you rather be navigating the mighty Mississippi than the early morning freeways? If you are a “Mark Twain wannabe” ready to chart a new career course, join Captain Jack Libbey at Mississippi Explorer Cruises on a VocationVacations® dream job holiday as a Boat Captain.

Jack grew up on the Mississippi River. His early playground was the back islands of the river. “I always knew I wanted to be a riverboat pilot,” remembers Jack. When he graduated from high school, the time was right for him to pursue his career. Trade was just opening up with China and Russia, and there was a huge demand for towboat operators to propel barges of grain up the river. Jack spent many years as a towboat operator and then moved on to gain additional experience piloting passenger boats and research boats.

In 2002, Jack started Mississippi Explorer Cruises with the goal of giving people an ecological perspective of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge. “The Mississippi River is truly a hidden, misunderstood, and undiscovered jewel,” believes Jack. “People know about Yellowstone Park and the Grand Tetons, but they have no idea of the wonders of this great heartland treasure.” Jack is truly an expert on this treasure, having spent two years with the Smithsonian Museum archiving Mississippi River folk life and traditions.

With a crew made up of seven employees, Jack operates seven boats out of four locations: Dubuque, Iowa; Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; Galena, Illinois; and Lansing, Iowa. His vessels range from a six-passenger jon-boat that ventures deep into the backwaters, to a much larger boat that can accommodate 98 passengers. Guests of Captain Jack and his crew enjoy the magnificent scenery and the educational commentary that bring the river and its environment to life.

Mississippi Explorer Cruises offer both scheduled and special excursions from April to mid-November, and is the only operation that provides access into the back waters of the Mississippi River. Passengers gain fantastic insights of the river’s transportation system, locks, wildlife, vegetation, birds and scenic beauty. Every cruise offers a new glimpse at this awe-inspiring gift of nature. “One day you may see a bald eagle, snag a fish for lunch, and the next day sight a blue heron or beavers and otters at play,” explains Jack.

“I often think of the line from ‘Forest Grump.’ Just like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get,” laughs Jack. A trip with Captain Jack is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore this unique natural wonder and a career as a Boat Captain.

While on your VocationVacations® dream job holiday with Captain Jack Libbey at Mississippi Explorer Cruises, activities will include some or all of the following:
  • Education in river piloting skills, handling (wind, current) and docking the riverboat
  • “Reading the river” – watching for sandbars, snags, obstructions
  • Learning deckhand skills
  • Assisting as ecology tour guide and junior Captain during cruises
  • Locking through a lock and dam
  • Reviewing river transportation…canoes to barges
  • Assisting in general riverboat maintenance
  • Learning about riverboat traditions, history, lingo and terminology
  • Riverboat stories and storytelling
The VocationVacations® dream job holiday with Captain Jack Libbey at Mississippi Explorer Cruises includes:
  • Two days of one-on-one mentorship in your dream job as
  • The option to participate in a total of one hour of pre- and post- VocationVacations career coaching from an accredited, affiliated VocationVacations career coach
  • A pocket-size VocationVacations journal so you can document your dream job coming to reality
  • Light lunches with your mentor

Available: June 1 through October 20, with exception of holiday weekends

Price: $949 Per Person

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The Thornton House

(Not included in the price of the VocationVacations® holiday)

Other activities and tourist destinations while on your VocationVacations® adventure:

Full payment of the VocationVacations dream job holiday is required to make a reservation. A $100 non-refundable fee is assessed if a VocationVacations experience is cancelled or rescheduled prior to 14-days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday, based on the approved availability of the mentor to reschedule. A VocationVacations adventure cannot be rescheduled and is non-refundable if cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday. Written notification of cancellation or rescheduling is required in all cases. In the US, Grounded Nomads, LLC and VocationVacations holidays encourage all customers to acquire travel insurance to cover any unforeseen expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling. In the UK, Grounded Nomads, Ltd and VocationVacations holidays must require all customers to acquire travel insurance to cover any unforeseen expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling and provide verification of such travel insurance to Grounded Nomads, Ltd.