Garrett Cooper
I am a graduating Expeditionary Studies student specializing in paddle sports at
Plattsburgh State University. Until recently I was a volunteer EMT and a member
of a Search and Rescue team. In addition to my EMT training I have taken a Wilderness First
Responder class, as well as training outside the Expeditionary Studies program
with the British Canoe Union and American Canoe Association. I am certified as
a level 1 BCU coach and level 2 ACA Essentials of River Kayaking instructor and
have earned the BCU 3 star canoe award. Before I started my education in Plattsburgh I was in
the Army as a Forward Observer for a Scout/Sniper platoon and spent over 14
months in Iraq. When I completed my contract I rode my motorcycle south for 7
months to Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. Last December
I went to Cambodia to work as an Expedition Medic for Cambodia Expeditions on a
multiday dirt bike tour and to paddle a native wooden boat down the Mekong for 12 days.
I have also been on various other paddling trips such as sea kayaking the Roadless
Coast and San Juan Islands in Washington, sea kayaking in Wales and Scotland,
white water kayaking in North Carolina, and canoeing in the Adirondacks.
I am a graduating Expeditionary Studies student specializing in paddle sports at
Plattsburgh State University. Until recently I was a volunteer EMT and a member
of a Search and Rescue team. In addition to my EMT training I have taken a Wilderness First
Responder class, as well as training outside the Expeditionary Studies program
with the British Canoe Union and American Canoe Association. I am certified as
a level 1 BCU coach and level 2 ACA Essentials of River Kayaking instructor and
have earned the BCU 3 star canoe award. Before I started my education in Plattsburgh I was in
the Army as a Forward Observer for a Scout/Sniper platoon and spent over 14
months in Iraq. When I completed my contract I rode my motorcycle south for 7
months to Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. Last December
I went to Cambodia to work as an Expedition Medic for Cambodia Expeditions on a
multiday dirt bike tour and to paddle a native wooden boat down the Mekong for 12 days.
I have also been on various other paddling trips such as sea kayaking the Roadless
Coast and San Juan Islands in Washington, sea kayaking in Wales and Scotland,
white water kayaking in North Carolina, and canoeing in the Adirondacks.
Matthew Smith
I am currently in the Expeditionary Studies program for at
least another year, but I have been on all the same paddling trips as
Garrett with the exception of his trip to Cambodia. I am a certified
water safety instructor, wilderness first responder, level 1 BCU coach,
level 2 ACA Fundamentals of River Kayaking instructor, and 3 star
BCU sea kayak paddler. I have recently returned from a summer of
guiding sea kayak tours in the San Juan Islands and I have grown up building
and paddling cedar strip canoes. This will be my first major expedition,
but I believe I have the right training and attitude to help make it a
success.
I am currently in the Expeditionary Studies program for at
least another year, but I have been on all the same paddling trips as
Garrett with the exception of his trip to Cambodia. I am a certified
water safety instructor, wilderness first responder, level 1 BCU coach,
level 2 ACA Fundamentals of River Kayaking instructor, and 3 star
BCU sea kayak paddler. I have recently returned from a summer of
guiding sea kayak tours in the San Juan Islands and I have grown up building
and paddling cedar strip canoes. This will be my first major expedition,
but I believe I have the right training and attitude to help make it a
success.