
PADDLE BABES
Charleston's Only Community
on the Water Just for Women
Paddle Babes isn’t your average kayak outfitter—
we’re a full-on outdoor lifestyle membership.
Paddle Babes is a laid-back community for women looking to unwind and connect with nature and each other. We’ve created a space for you to relax, recharge, and create meaningful connections both on and off the water. Beginners and seasoned paddlers are welcome. We paddle different locations around Charleston: Mt Pleasant, James Island, Johns Island, Sullivans, Folly, and more.








































BECOME A MEMBER
We provide everything you need: gear, instruction, and friends!
Just show up at the boat ramp and paddle.
💡 Each session = one guided experience. For most of the year, that means a paddle (kayaking and paddleboarding)—but when the air temperature drops below 60°F, we shift into Winter Babes mode (usually for about 6 weeks in January and February). Winter sessions are just as magical, with adventures like nature walks, fossil hunts, beach yoga, and sound baths.
We’ve got a membership for every kind of babe—whether you’re easing in or going all in.
All members choose the events they want to attend from our EVENT CALENDAR. Check it out below to get an idea of our rhythm.
🌊 Basic – $97/month
1 session per month
12-month commitment
Gear and instruction
Phone dry bag
Seasonal gift
4 beach bonfires per year (Oct-Apr)
Off-water hangs (coffee, beach, happy hour)
Members-only Slack channels
Referral program
Great if you're new, busy, or just want a steady dose of nature
☀️ Seasonal – $447/quarter
6 sessions per quarter
flexible booking: up to 4/month
3-month commitment
Gear and instruction
Phone dry bag
Seasonal gift
4 beach bonfires per year (Oct-Apr)
Off-water hangs (coffee, beach, happy hour)
Members-only Slack channels
Referral program
EXCLUSIVE:
10% off Paddle Babes retreats
Second dibs on retreat registration
Ideal for dipping your toes in or connection in bursts
🌺 All-In – $130/month
24 sessions per year
flexible booking: up to 4/month
12-month commitment
Gear and instruction
Phone dry bag
Seasonal gift
4 beach bonfires per year (Oct-Apr)
Off-water hangs (coffee, beach, happy hour)
Members-only Slack channels
Referral program
EXCLUSIVE:
15% off Paddle Babes retreats
First dibs on retreat registration
Annual gift for All-In Babes only
BEST VALUE for the babe who wants it all, year-round
What’s Included
Your membership includes more than sessions—
it’s a full-on outdoor lifestyle + girl gang:
Each session fully planned for you and guided by a certified instructor
All the gear provided at every paddle, including life vests and dry bags
Group and individualized instruction as needed. Learn basic paddle skills; self-rescue; how to read tides, currents, and wind; key conservation takeaways, and more!
Marsh and salt water ecology education built into every paddle (identify species, learn to spot sea creatures, and learn the magic of the ecosystem that’s all around you!)
Built-in girl gang at every session
Regular off-the-water hangs (happy hours, coffee dates, beach hangs)
4 yearly beach bonfires (October-April)
Gifts galore:
seasonal member merch
birthday treats
sweet surprises
Members-only Slack space to connect + coordinate with the girls AND find out what’s happening behind the scenes
$30 Half Moon gift card every time you refer a friend who joins us
Discounted collab events with amazing women entrepreneurs (tea ceremonies, somatic release workshops, hormone workshops, and more)
A branded phone dry bag to keep (and we’ll replace it for the lifetime of your membership any time you lose or damage it)
Retreat Discounts
Included with Seasonal + All-In:
SUMMER: July 24-27, Cocoa Beach, FL (bioluminescence season!)
FALL: October Murrells Inlet, SC (kayak + beach REST retreat)
WINTER: February 2026 — stay tuned, we’re eyeing Puerto Rico!
Not available on Basic—but you're welcome to join us full-price!
Why Paddle Babes?
✨ Make real friendships in a fun, inclusive community
🌊 Reconnect with nature and yourself—especially near water (science calls it “blue mind.” We call it feeling amazing.)
🌀 Flow with the seasons through grounding and restorative activities
🌱 Give back to Charleston’s waterways through community volunteer efforts
Paddle Babes is more than paddling—it’s your space to grow, breathe, and belong on the waterways of Charleston.
Please review our FAQs before registering. Registration fees are nonrefundable.
EVENT CALENDAR
This calendar is for reference only. Locations are subject to change based on weather and wind conditions.
Events are for Paddle Babes members unless otherwise noted on the event listing.
To register for member-only events, please log into your account and sign up through the member calendar.
Curious about events that are open to the public?
We’d love to hear from you—shoot us an email at hello@hightidepaddle.co for more info!
WHAT ARE MEMBERS SAYING ABOUT PADDLE BABES?
“No exaggeration, joining Paddle Babes this year is one of the best things I could’ve done for myself.”
— Sarah
“This club is a saving grace for me! Good people, good conversations and beautiful views! It’s so healing, thank you!”
— Jen
“Thank you for creating such an amazing community!”
— Abby
“It’s such a wonderful community, and honestly it ends up being such a
highlight in my week!”
— Kaitlyn
-
We have 3 membership options to suit all kinds of Babes:
🌊 BASIC – $97/month
1 session per month with a 12-month commitment
Great if you're new, busy, or just want a steady dose of nature
☀️ SEASONAL – $447/quarter*
6 sessions per quarter with no further commitment
Ideal for seasonal paddlers or connection in bursts*Payment plan available for Seasonal: $167/month for 3 months
🌺 ALL-IN – $130/month
24 sessions per year (up to 4/month)
• Monthly payment
• 12-month commitment
• Best value for the babe who wants it all, year-round -
Membership includes:
paddle sessions (1-4 per month, depending on your membership level)
2 monthly off-the-water members-only meetups
two monthly marsh restoration volunteer day with SC Department of Natural Resources and Charleston Waterkeeper (optional, of course)
VIP treatment: quarterly member merch, birthday gifts, and sweet surprises
private Slack channel to connect + coordinate with the girls
$30 Half Moon gift card every time you refer a friend
discounted collab events with amazing women entrepreneurs (tea ceremonies, somatic release, hormone workshops, and more)
discounted member pricing for all our retreats
nature-rich winter meetups like sound baths, beach bonfires, nature walks, beach yoga, and more!
PLUS, everything below
All paddle events include:
locations and routes planned for the tides, current, and weather
kayak or paddleboard, life vest, and equipment at every meetup
group and individualized instruction as needed
dry bag for your use during class
phone dry bag for you to keep!
supportive, welcoming community for all skill levels
You bring a reusable water bottle and your sense of adventure!
-
That’s great! We’re thrilled to have you join us. Our paddles are beginner friendly, and we’ll teach you everything you need to know!
(We’ll ask you to arrive 20 minutes early to your first paddle for instruction.) -
Please read through all details before registering. Registration fees are nonrefundable, even if you miss your event(s).
After registration, members are responsible for booking their paddles. You may only attend events you've booked on the calendar. Unused credits expire at the end of your 3-month term.
There’s no refund or credit for members who do not book their events or who miss the events they've booked.
If we have to cancel a paddle for weather or wind conditions, you’ll be able to use that credit for another event on the calendar.
-
We explore different creeks and rivers around Charleston at a leisurely pace, typically traveling 2–3 miles, launching from different spots each month.
Sometimes we’ll plan a picnic and stop on an island, sometimes we’ll just float along the current and watch the dolphins, sometimes we hunt for fossils, and sometimes we’ll learn new skills. Expect something different every time we meet!
-
We have 8-12 events each month to choose from! We always meet Saturday mornings, Wednesday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. We also have Friday sunrise paddles in the spring and summer. We have one Thursday evening happy hour (off-water) per month.
Our volunteer schedule is set by DNR and Charleston Waterkeeper, who meet with volunteers weekdays between 9am and 5pm.
-
PADDLES will have up to 10 ladies, your soon-to-be besties! Most of these are returning members, and some are new. (Members may also invite a friend one time to an event that member is attending. Some of our events may have member friends joining us.)
Paddle Babes founder Lauren will lead every paddle. She's an ACA certified kayak and SUP instructor, certified in CPR and first aid, and a 19-year veteran teacher. She has many years of experience in bringing together women in nature and community, and she believes women thrive in community and in nature, and this club is for any woman who wants to find more of herself on the water surrounded by supportive, likeminded women.
WINTER OFF-WATER EVENTS are not limited to a certain number of attendees, but they are limited to members and member friends. Lauren will lead off water events.VOLUNTEER opportunities will be with other volunteers recruited by DNR and Charleston Waterkeeper. Lauren will attend volunteer events, but they’ll be led by other organization leaders.
-
As long as your equipment is appropriate for our venues, you're welcome to bring it (with preapproval from Lauren). However, there's no discount for members who use their own equipment.
FAQ’s
Question Unanswered?
For any further questions or specific inquiries, please don't hesitate to reach out.