By Sally Tippett Rains
Some special kids from Rainbows for Kids were treated to a fun day in the sunshine learning to paddle board– and while they were at it, they learned about mindfulness and that they can succeed in anything they try– and whether they stood up on the paddle board or fell in the water, the were “enough.”
The life-lessons event, done in conjunction with SUP-STL is part of a unique program called “Paddle Freely by Kristen Terrill.” Teens and tweens from Rainbows for Kids– got to try paddle boarding and they all did great– and had the best time ever. They can’t wait until next year.
SUP-STL and Paddle Freely are quickly becoming a popular way for individuals or groups to achieve the peace that only being in the outdoors and on the water can provide. There is still time in the season to go out and enjoy the pastime. You can either just walk to the dock and rent a paddleboard or contact them for lessons or group outings.
SUP-STL is the company’s name. SUP stands for stand-up-paddle boarding– a sport in the water that got its roots from surfers in Hawaii.
According to SurferToday.com, “Stand-up paddle boarding, also known for the acronym SUP, is one of the fastest-growing boardsports in the world. SUP is a subclass of paddle boarding, a broader concept that also includes the use of arms while kneeling, lying, or standing on a narrow and long paddle board to move around in the water.”
Paddle boarders stand on boards, similar to surf boards in the water and use a paddle to move themselves in the water; whereas surfing is fast and furious, paddle boarding is peaceful and introspective.
Groups who sign up for Paddle Freely with Kristen Terrill get a chance to be out in nature and learn a little about themselves, while having fun and learning how to paddleboard. The program offered by SUP-STL is unique and is the brainchild of two outdoor enthusiasts: one a business owner and one a medical doctor.
When she first learned to paddle board, she says she recognized the healing power of being outside and taking time away from social media and the immediate pressures of life.
With each stroke of the paddle, she felt the weight of daily life falling off. She felt strong, connected, and more authentically herself. She felt “free” as she paddled; and that’s where they got the name for the program: Paddle Freely.
“Stacey and I met years ago when our kids were involved in local theater together,” said Terrill, “A couple of years ago. I had noticed so much positivity coming from her Facebook posts that I suggested we get together.”
“That summer in 2020 when COVID hit, I discovered my love of paddleb oarding, and started participating in as many SUP St Louis activities as possible–renting paddle boards, taking SUP Yoga, and doing river trips,” said Drake, shown right. “Not only did I need the fresh air, activity, and time on the water for my mental health and overall peace and centeredness, but it was a great activity to invite friends to because we could social distance. Kristen started coming, and we soon shared a similar paddle passion!”
The following summer, 2021, they both bought their own paddle boards and continued to share paddle adventures and outings when they could, but soon it was all about to change. In spring of 2022, the owner and founder of SUP St Louis, Shane Perrin announced that he wouldn’t open for the season for personal reasons, and he mentioned that he would consider selling the business if he found the right buyer.
Drake was so entrenched in the organization and her new-found hobby that she thought about it and then decided to buy the business. One of the first people she thought of was Kristen and she texted her that she was planning to buy the business. This got Terrill’s juices flowing and soon she was developing a business proposition.
Terrill, who has always enjoyed being active with her family, running, gardening and reading, has a passion for young people (including her patients) and feels mental well-being is just as important as physical.
Her favorite poem is “Success” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, which says, “…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
Terrill liked what she heard from Drake and vice versa.
“She was part of a group called Big Life,” said Terrill. “This is a mentor modeled group focused on following God and living a life of adventure.
They both took paddle board classes and the consequences of like-minds helped them combined on a unique idea which pairs learning a new skill– paddle boarding– with gaining confidence and self esteem.
“Kristen still helps me as a second guide on river paddles,” said Blake. “She’s still (and probably always will be) one of my favorite paddle people.”
It was their desire to help others that helped create the event for Rainbows for Kids.
“I think teaching kids how to paddle on a stand up paddle board empowers them and shows them they can do hard things, even things that they may have been afraid to try,” she said. “It also gives them an opportunity to do something fun outside, in the fresh air, and is super fun.”
Drake and SUP -STL along with Terrill will donate their time and efforts to help the kids who have so much going on with their cancer. Drake has always loved adventure and most things outdoors, including hiking & boating, but before buying the company she had not specialized in paddle boarding.
Lucky for the kids from Rainbows for Kids, she now owns a whole slew of paddle boards. If it’s more fun with a friend, imagine a whole bunch of friends.
The day the kids went was a perfect fall day, warm, sunny and mild. While it takes some balance to stand up on a paddle board, Kristen Terrill added a sense of fun to the day and announced “if anyone would like to just go ahead and jump into the water before we get started.”
She had some takers and throughout the peaceful paddle there were paddlers here and there that just jumped in and then climbed back on their boards. They are kids after all. And for the ones who fell, there was the lesson that it doesn’t matter how many times we fall down, as long as we keep getting up.
Paddling provides both Terrill and Drake immense joy and peace. They both see the benefits in providing stillness and calm and peace of mind. It is the calm water and the beauty of nature. Terrill feels this is important in her role as a pediatrician also.
“As a pediatrician, I had watched the pandemic really cause kids to struggle,” she said. “Mental health visits soared. I had this idea that if I could get kids outside, trying something new, I might have a little window to talk to them about how to handle their emotions and how to weather the storms that come with adolescence. This turned into a curriculum based on these concepts that include take home explanations to hopefully facilitate communication between the kids and their parents.”
Both women love providing opportunities to be on the water, and as they say: to experience the same peace and empowerment that comes from being on the water in God’s creation.
With Terrill being a pediatrician and realizing how important a clear mind can be in one’s health and well-being, it is a win-win combination.
“This is my second summer offering these classes with SUP-STL,” she said. “For me, it is a very natural extension of how I practice medicine. I simply want to provide a physical and mental framework for kids to learn to become themselves.”
During this time, the parents of children who have taken her class have asked if they could have a class, so she has started an adult class as well.
SUP-STL is not open on a regular basis, you must make an appointment but they are willing to work around people’s schedules to get them out on the water. The parking is provided by Michael Staenberg Group and is next to the area known as The District, by the Factory.
Anyone interested in taking the classes or renting a paddle board should contact them.
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