Come enjoy the restorative benefits of stand up paddling. 

WILDERNESS PLACES

I've been paddling into wilderness places for nearly 20 years. What started with kayaking has evolved into a passion for stand up paddling. You never know what you'll see on a paddle trip, but you can be certain that something will come up; a breathtaking sunrise, sea turtle hatchlings, manatees, porpoises, sea rays, or even an eagle. We also pay attention to what comes up in us!

RESTORATIVE SPACES

Paddle boarding is a restorative resource that engages the whole body and the whole person. Research reveals that repetitive motion for short periods of time calm the body and decreases cortisol level, the main stress hormone. High impact sports increase your cortisol level while a low impact and repetitive sport like "restorative paddle boarding" decreases cortisol levels. 

CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE

Is your interior life a noisy place? Do busyness and overcommitment keep you feeling anxious? When you slow down, do you feel resistance? Enter into a warm, curious posture of quiet attentiveness. Presence matters over performance. Contemplative practice is one of hospitality, an invitation to weary hearts. Success is never the point. Savoring is.

P A D D L E   G U I D E

Meet Ruth Ann Steen

Hi there! I'm Ruth Ann and I love a good adventure.

​For 27 years, I've been pursuing and building friendships with significantly hurt and traumatized teenagers. Part of this experience has been inviting my friends on life changing adventures to experience wonder in wilderness places. 

I am excited to invite YOU on an adventure. I'd love to help you craft a paddle adventure that meets you right where you are in your paddling ability and your spiritual journey. 

If you've never been on a board, have no fear! We'll work together until you feel comfortable and ready to paddle into your first paddle adventure. If you already have some experience stand up paddling, I'd love to take you on some of my favorite local paddles. 

We all have a story. Let's turn a page in yours and start a brand new adventure together today! 

LET'S GO PADDLING!

The taste of wild berries, the scent of sunbaked pine, the sound of water lapping the shore. These bring me back to myself.

​–Parker Palmer

T E S T I M O N I A L S

Happy People

Having only paddle boarded briefly on my honeymoon, I wanted to find a paddle buddy who could show me some good technique and help me to make paddle boarding a regular part of my outdoor fun. Ruth Ann taught me a few simple tricks of the trade and also showed me some gorgeous paddling spots around St. Augustine that many locals don’t even know about. I now have the confidence to paddle on my own and Ruth Ann is helping me to find the right board to purchase. Thank you, Ruth Ann, for helping this middle-aged women to begin a new adventure!​

Jessica from Chattanooga