ABOUT PLAY IT FORWARD ADVENTURES

PLAY it Forward’s mission is to provide all-encompassing travel experiences that empower people and enrich lives.  All tours are designed around three components – volunteering, exploring, connecting – as a means to exercise your mind, body and spirit.

PLAY it Forward’s philosophy when participating in active travel, outdoor adventure and volunteering abroad is SAFETY FIRST, FUN SECOND.  To ensure the safety of our Sojourners, local guides have been selected based on their skills and qualifications.  All have been certified in Wilderness First Response, or the equivalent certification within their home country, through programs like the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) or the Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI).

Jodi Nelson

Founder / Tour Leader

For the past fourteen years, Jodi Nelson has had a successful career in the film and television industry in both Minneapolis and Los Angeles.  As a line producer managing relationships, coordinating logistics and maximizing resources, Jodi knows how to make things happen.

A habitual world traveler, certified Wilderness First Responder and WMI wilderness First Aid graduate, Jodi has traveled to over 25 countries throughout her life.  While experiences of volunteering abroad and active travel used to be stimulating in their own way, each cultural experience seemed to be lacking what the other could provide.  Jodi wanted an all-encompassing adventure travel experience that would combine all three elements:  giving back to locals, having a cultural exchange, and immersing into landscapes in the countries you visit.

In January of 2007, Jodi decided to fulfill her lifelong dream of launching an adventure travel company.  PLAY it Forward Adventures is a concept in travel that merges outdoor adventure with volunteering abroad to give you an all-encompassing cultural experience that exercises your mind, body and soul.

Jodi doesn’t believe that donating money is the same as meeting a family whose life you’ve just impacted.  Doing cardio at the gym is not the same as carrying bricks or climbing a mountain with a team of world travelers.  PLAY it Forward Adventures offers emotionally charged, all-encompassing travel experiences that push you out of your comfort zone, making memories and transformations to last you a lifetime.

In her spare time, Jodi enjoys African dance and finding new ethnic restaurants in her own back yard of St. Paul, Minnesota.  All PLAY it Forward Adventures are currently lead by Jodi herself.

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Juan Salvador Galich

Tour Guide – Guatemala

Juan is a man of many experiences, all of which seem to inspire him in one way or another.  He lived in the United States for a year as a sushi chef, but then decided to return to his native home of Guatemala.  In 1997, he moved to Antigua and discovered how blessed it was with biking trails and interesting people from all around the world.  In the spring of 2005 he decided to combine these two benefits and become a tour guide, exposing foreigners to the beauty and culture Guatemala has to offer.

From barreling down the side of a volcano on his mountain bike to jamming on his drums at a local club, he brings his unique style and peaceful spirit to every PLAY it Forward adventure.

Innocent Lyimo

Tour Guide – Kilimanjaro

From mountaineering, kayaking, canoeing, and technical rock and ice climbing, Innocent Lyimo is a man of outdoor adventure.  Climbing extensively in Africa and North America, his lifelong dream is to one day climb Mount Everest.  Born, raised and schooled on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, Innocent first reached the summit at the tender age of 16.

With over a decade of experience as a mountain and safari guide, Innocent has acquired extensive class and field training from Arusha Professional Guides school, NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School based in Lander -Wyoming), WMI (Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS), and a diploma with TTU ( Tourism Training Unit) of Tanzania in cooperation with the government of Nederland.  Innocent now divides his time between Tanzania and Minnesota where he’s partnered with PLAY it Forward Adventures to provide an all-encompassing Tanzanian experience, with our without Kilimanjaro.

Dolly Beaver

Tour Guide – Peru Amazon

Dolly Beaver was born in Peru’s Amazon region and is dedicated to assisting the native Amazonian communities with economic, educational and medical needs.  Along with her husband, Paul, Dolly runs a lodge and tour operation on the Tahuayo River deep within the Amazon.  She has proudly started a non-profit organization, supported by their Jungle Lodge, to provide care and support for traditional native values through adventure travel and volunteering abroad.

Dolly has long been an advocate for the needs of the native communities and especially the needs of women and children.  Sharing the adventures, traditions and needs of this Amazon region is her contribution to our PLAY it Forward adventure.

Santiago Carrasco

Tour Guide – Peru Machu Picchu

Santiago was born and raised in Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, and has been guiding for over 16 years. Not only is he an expert guide in Cusco and Machu Picchu, but also does a lot of trekking in the mountain ranges of Vilcanota and Vilcabamba.  His experience includes trekking passes over 15 thousand feet including the famous Inca Trail leading to Machu Picchu.

A mestizo of mixed Inca and Spanish blood, Santiago holds a doctorate in tourism from San Antonio Abad University (the oldest University in the Americas). He speaks Spanish and Quechua, his native languages, and is fluent in English.  Being an authority on local culture, archeology and ecotourism, Santiago brings his passion for Peru to every PLAY it Forward adventure.