Dragonfly Expeditions

08/02/2024

Dear Friends, Family and Colleagues:



I was born in a little town on the western shore of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. I loved the tidal creeks that fed the wetlands and marshes off of the wooded hills behind my house and I especially loved seeing the sailing ships and skipjacks out on the glittering expanse of the Chesapeake Bay. As I was growing up and into my young adulthood, the ideal travel company of my dreams was the legendary, Miami-based Windjammer Barefoot Cruises. It represented to me adventure, exploration, and the intrigues of the tropics. After decades of shepherding my expeditionary tour company of Florida and the Caribbean Basin, Dragonfly Expeditions www.DragonflyExpeditions.com, I have decided to add the chase of my dream for resurrecting the Windjammer brand and its extraordinary culture of adventure travel to my life's accomplishments.



In April of 2023, I outright purchased the 100-year-old sailing schooner and former Windjammer standard bearer, the S/V Mandalay which was moored off of the Carenage of St. George's, Grenada. Now, in August of 2024, I, with my business partner, the accomplished and innovative sports travel entrepreneur Zack Luttrell, am launching a public capital raise to raise the money for the Mandalay's restoration and the future purchase of a second schooner for our cruise line.



For those who have confidence in my business accomplishments and abilities, we are excited to offer you the opportunity to get in on the ground floor and go along with us on this adventure. If you only wish to cheer us on from the sidelines, we welcome that also. I aspire to make this company the pinnacle of my entrepreneurial life and to set about accomplishing a dream that had its beginnings in the thoughts of a little boy who fervently marveled at the mighty sea from the cliffs above its shores. I welcome all who are willing to share this dream with us.



To learn more about this project and indicate your interest in investing, visit our Vicinity page here. https://marketplace.vicinitycapital.com/offers/69

12/03/2019

Last night, The Knight Foundation announced that the Abandoned Vehicles of the Everglades project of our sister company, Adventure Life Productions, a collaboration between Alison Klapper León and myself, with our brilliant photographer partner, Matt Stock, is one of 44 winners in the 2019 Knight Arts Challenge Miami, a community-wide search to find and fund the best ideas for engaging and enriching Miami through the arts.

This year’s 44 winners represent a broad variety of disciplines, including visual art, theater, music and dance. Learn more about our project below. kf.org/kacmiami19winners

For the 11th year, Art Week Miami will kick off Monday with the announcement of the winners of the Knight Arts Challenge. This year, 44 artists and arts organizations will share more than $1.8 million...

11/13/2019

Please join the (Dragonfly Expeditionary) Club this Sunday morning as we help restore Key Biscayne's Bear Cut Preserve to its original pristine state by gathering and removing trash

Bear Cut Preserve Cleanup!!!!!! Andrew Otazo has a dream! This inspiring young environmentalist wants to see the Bear Cut Preserve, an ecosystem consisting of mangroves, hammocks and coastal forests abutting the fossilized reef and the northern boundaries of Key Biscayne's Crandon Park, free of tras...

07/16/2019

Join the Dragonfly Expeditionary Club for a spectacular evening of Polynesian Dining, Entertainment and History at the Mai Kai, Friday 7/26/19 https://mailchi.mp/a7f09e7dfbb4/spectacular-evening-of-polynesian-dining-entertainment-and-history-72619

06/18/2019

We are proud to announce that the Dragonfly Expeditionary Club, a member company of Dragonfly Expeditions has formed a community partnership with WLRN Public Radio (91.3 on your FM dial). Tune in to learn more about this great new friendship.

11/20/2018

02/02/2018

Hey guys! Check out the new Dragonfly Expeditions trailer! https://youtu.be/1Na-e0-Y7QQ

Dragonfly Expeditions, the oldest and most prestigious tour company in South Florida, hosts distinctive tours and excursions for corporate groups, individual...

01/15/2018

PREMIERE SCREENING: "BATTLEGROUND EVERGLADES" - DANGEROUS SEAS” EPISODE - A South Florida PBS (WPBT2 - WXEL) Speaking Sustainably Film Series in partnership with the Deering Estate.

You are invited you to a complimentary reception and screening of the Battleground Everglades, Dangerous Seas, on January 24th at 7pm at the Deering Estate Visitor Center Theatre | 7:00 - 7:30 PM Reception | 7:30 - 8:00 PM Screening | 8:00 PM Q & A with Host, Charles J. Kropke and Producers

DANGEROUS SEAS” EPISODE: South Florida is at the epicenter of a world-wide threat from sea level rise. Dangerous Seas examines how Florida's porous Biscayne aquifer, the source of South Florida's drinking water, is endangered by rising oceans and other contaminates.

The program also journeys to a remote Florida Bay mud flat, to discover how sea level rise contributes to dwindling bird nesting populations. In Everglades National Park, audiences can watch scientists studying how sea level rise is affecting critical peat soil, a building block for Florida’s storm-vulnerable coasts. This episode also showcases a well-known Florida artist using his own creativity to inspire environmental restoration.

The BATTLEGROUND EVERGLADES 6-episodes series explores the struggle to save one of the world's most revered wetlands: Florida's Everglades. Devastated by a century of drainage and development, the entire Everglades watershed is suffering from man-made pollution, habitat destruction and species decline.

Hosted by Charles J. Kropke, our company's CEO & documentary producer, author and well-known Everglades expert, the 6-part series showcases dramatic challenges and innovative solutions to restore this World Heritage Site. As more and more countries battle sea level rise, invasive species, algae outbreaks and other environmental issues, the Everglades is poised to become a beacon of learning and hope.

Charles has spent more than 30 years researching the Everglades and knows its origins, its people, and its importance in a world of climate change. This informative, entertaining and urgently needed series begins airing in February 2018.

SOUTH FLORIDA PBS

South Florida PBS has taken the media lead to meet the challenge of saving the Everglades. Its 2015 documentary, “The Unseen Everglades” was called by former Undersecretary of the Interior Nathaniel Reed: “The single most important documentary ever made… on Everglades restoration; a priceless educational film.” And now, the same Emmy-Award winning production team has produced a series of 6 special programs, Battleground Everglades, which explores the maze of proposed solutions to the problems of the Everglades and zeroes in on its numerous facets which play a role in our lives.

EVENT IS FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | CLICK BELOW TO RSVP
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/premiere-battleground-everglades-at-the-deering-estate-tickets-41877591002?aff=es2

01/12/2018

Just a little bit of everything you can discover in our Cuban Heritage Tour

Contact us to +1 305-774-9019

Travel Channel features Dragonfly Expeditions top tour the "Cuban Heritage Tour"

12/04/2017

"Abandoned Vehicles of the Everglades" - a Fine Art Exhibition during Art Basel @ The Biltmore Hotel

You Are Invited to the"ABANDONED VEHICLES OF THE EVERGLADES VERNISSAGE"THE HISTORIC BILTMORE HOTEL AND PARTNER DRAGONFLY EXPEDITIONS HOST BILTMORE CURATORS PROGRAM 2017 DURING ART WEEK

11/29/2017

Cultured Magazine recently featured the collaborations between Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables, Dragonfly Expeditions and Adventure Life Productions. Take a look at what they had to say:

The Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables partners with Dragonfly Expeditions to reshape the landscape of luxury Art Basel excursions.

www.culturedmag.com/the-biltmore-hotel/

11/27/2017

Thanks for sharing your pictures! It was so nice working with the communications students from the University of Miami! We all learned a lot and got a little excising too. 🚴‍♂️

11/23/2017

ATTENTION all Holiday shoppers! Check out Green Heron Gifts 2017 Holiday Catalog featuring a promo with our sister company Dragonfly Expeditionary Club!

11/21/2017

Don't forget to sign-up for our sister company Dragonfly Expeditionary Club's newsletter to receive inventions to all of our events! Including the coming holiday event: Coral Gables, Walking My Neighborhood – Amidst the Splendor of the Holiday Season.

Coral Gables – Walking My Neighborhood Dragonfly Expeditionary Club http://www.dragonflyexpeditionaryclub.com/ (305) 774- (tel:18005989853)9019 Facebook Powered by BubbleUp Join us for the next Dragonfly Expeditionary Club adventure! Coral Gables - Walking My Neighborhood Holiday Edition! Saturday,…

11/16/2017

Celebrate the opening of the Abandoned Vehicles of the Everglades' Art Week exhibit at the Biltmore Hotel with a special vernissage on December 5th at 7pm. Through a breathtaking, highly artistic form of night photography, the beauty of abandoned and historic vehicles discarded over the years throug...

09/28/2017

We are so excited to be partnering with the Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables for Art Basel/Art Week Miami 2017: Thanks Judy Holm and Matt Stock

Since 1988 ITCM has been reporting on the latest news and developments in the (MICE) meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions market worldwide.

09/01/2017

Earth Lion Expeditions and Climbing Horizons hosted a super hot reception Aug. 30 complete with traditional Brazilian cocktails, appetizers, and information about an upcoming expedition into the heart of the Amazon rain forest of Brazil.

Expedition organizers hosted the Kayapo Tribe Party & Fundraiser to boost awareness among curious and adventurous members of the general public at Boteco Brazilian Restaurant on Miami's northeast side.

Guests got details of this upcoming expedition, while also enjoying raffle prizes, a silent auction -- and an opportunity to take advantage of huge discounts by booking during event.

The once-in a-lifetime journey being planned takes adventurers into the heart of the Amazon Rain Forest of Brazil, Oct. 23 - 31, 2017.

During the trip, participants will have the chance to live among the Kayapó Tribe and experience their indigenous way of life while learning directly from the indigenous people about medicinal plants, hunting in the forest, rain forest ecology, and their unique customs.

Earth Lion Expeditions is a Coral Gables-based adventure tourism operator that seeks to offer meaningful sustainable travel that exposes the heart and soul of the destination. Climbing Horizons, a Hollywood based 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization, supports Grass Roots development projects in countries such as Belize, Peru, and Brazil.

For more information on the trip call 786-350-3462. You may also contact Carolin Lusby at [email protected] (Climbing Horizons) or Alison Klapper León at [email protected] (Earth Lion Expeditions). For trip description and deposit, visit http://earthlionexpeditions.com/expeditions/brazil-tribe/

08/03/2017

Space is limited. Reserve your spot(s) today. You don't want to miss this!

The Jewel of Coral Gables Dragonfly Expeditionary Club http://www.dragonflyexpeditionaryclub.com/ (305) 774- (tel:18005989853)9019 Facebook Powered by BubbleUp Join us for the next Dragonfly Expeditionary Club adventure! The Biltmore Hotel - A Legacy of Luxury Saturday, August 26th, 2017 10:30am - 1...

07/13/2017

Hey guys! The club is headed up to Broward for their next event, Art On Las Olas! Make sure to check it out if you are in the area.

The Waves Are Calling... Dragonfly Expeditionary Club http://www.dragonflyexpeditionaryclub.com/ (305) 774- (tel:18005989853)9019 Facebook Powered by BubbleUp Join us for the next Dragonfly Expeditionary Club adventure! Art On Las Olas Saturday, July 22nd 2017 3:00pm - 6:00pm In Spanish, Las Olas me...

06/15/2017

Excited to be hosting two MDCPS high school interns this summer! 😊

06/14/2017

Prestigious News! Tell us what you think...😉🤔

As always we would like to thank our partner Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables! 😊

The best hotels in the world for browsing some art without the crowds. From Paris to Miami, there is a place for everyone seeking some art:

06/12/2017

Hey Guys!!!

Please like and follow our sister company below...

If you are looking for international expeditions and adventures, then this is definitely worth keeping on your FB page! :)

Thanks loves 🐊

Earth Lion Expeditions is dedicated to eco-based travel that is exciting, innovative, and thoughtful. We minimize or offset our impact on the environment. Protecting nature through sustainable tourism and fostering conservation efforts is core to our long-term survival. We encourage the practice of…

05/30/2017

Hey Guys, Here's some of the clips from Despierta America! Thanks for sharing it Maity Interiano 🐊🎬

05/29/2017

Good morninggg!!!

Did you guys watch Despierta America this morning? 🎬🐊 Thank you Maity Interiano Maity On The Go for featuring us on the show!! Despierta America.

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!