About Blackwater Outdoor Journeys

Blackwater Outdoor Journeys is an authentic adventure and education brand built around the blackwater rivers, swamps, and backcountry waterways of the American Southeast — the places most folks drive past, never knowing what’s back there.

Founded and hosted by Rodney Thompson, Blackwater Outdoor Journeys launched June 13, 2025 and quickly grew into more than just an outdoor channel. It’s real canoeing, kayaking, camping, fishing, and backwoods travel — filmed the way it actually happens. No staged perfection. No hype. Just real places, real decisions, and what those decisions lead to.

This brand is also personal. Viewers will see plenty of miles logged, but they’ll also see the family side of it — Rodney, his wife Tina, and the moments that make the outdoors matter. Along the way, you’ll pick up practical skills, simple systems, camp cooking, and the honest highs and lows of multi-day trips.

The Vision

The goal is simple: help regular people go from watching adventure to living it — with steady confidence and practical

skills that hold up when conditions change.

How Blackwater Works (The Whole Ecosystem)

• Blackwater Outdoor Journeys (Youtube): the proof — the adventures as they really happen.

• Campfire Tales: the stories — the meaning, the moments, and what sticks with you.

• Stay Rugged Podcast: the training — mindset, standards, and decision-making when things get uncertain.

• Outdoor Wilderness Camp Skills (Skool): the home base — step-by-step learning and a community that’s building real capability, not just consuming content.

Our Mission

We exist to do two things:

1. Give folks a real escape into wild places when they can’t get out there themselves, and

2. Equip the people who can go — with the skills and judgment to do it safely, calmly, and confidently.

Partnerships

We’re open to working with brands that match the values of this community: practical gear, trustworthy tools, and products that support real-world outdoor use. For partnerships, sponsorships, product reviews, or long-term collaborations, reach out directly.

STAY RUGGED.

Where the Map Ends, The WILD begins!!
Stay Rugged.