Searching for Spider Lilies

This kayak trip will take you from Sugar Hill Landing to the Combahee and nearby rice fields with Master Naturalists April Childress and Jody Tinsley. Besides experiencing the natural beauty of this environment, we are literally paddling into history as we navigate through the slave-dug canals crisscrossing the rice impoundments. We will launch from Sugar Hill, paddle down the creek to the Combahee River, and across to the rice impoundments and canals beyond. There we will look for the lilies and whatever else interesting we can find! We’ll return to the landing by around 1:00 or 1:30.

This is a kayaking trip, so you'll be getting at least your feet wet, on launching and landing.  (Don't worry even if you have no kayaking experience—Jody and April are certified guides and have lots of experience of taking beginners out on the water.) All participants are required to wear a properly-fastened life vest. Meet at Sugar Hill Boat Landing, off River Road in Yemassee. (River Road runs between Highway 17 and Yemassee.)

Cost

$25 per person if you bring your own kayak and equipment

$55 per person if we bring a kayak for you (paddle and PFD included)

Minimum of 4/maximum of 12 participants (kayak experience is not required.)

You will register for this event via the LCMNA website as usual, but will make your payment directly to April Childress, via Venmo, PayPal, or personal check. Payment must be received to secure your spot on the trip. Once you have signed up, email April at woodsweg@gmail.com for mailing address or other payment details (this info will be included in your confirmation email after registering).

COVID-19 concerns

This is a group activity during a pandemic, yet we want to stay safe! All participants should practice social distancing and wear masks during group meet-up, instruction, and equipment fitting, but may remove masks while on the water, staying at appropriate distances.

Wear/Bring

Wear synthetic clothes and water shoes that will stay on your feet (not Crocs or flip-flops. Old tennis shoes are fine). Your feet, pants, and seat will get wet! Layers are good. Bring snacks for during the kayak trip, as we’ll lunch after paddling, back at Sugar Hill landing. In addition to snacks (and lunch if you want to picnic with Jody and April afterwards), bring your usual being-outdoors paraphernalia: water bottle, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses with strap, dry bag, binoculars, camera, rain jacket, etc.

About Your Guides

April Childress and Jody Tinsley are both long-time adult educators and trip leaders, kayak instructors for the Road Scholar programs in the Lowcountry, and Lowcountry Master Naturalists. They invite other MN’s to enter the varied and delightful worlds of the Lowcountry found beyond the shorelines and river banks, to experience these rich aquatic environments rather than peer at them from land.