Meditative Paddle with Wisdom of Hildegard of Bingen

The Ipswich RIver is a beautiful and generally slow moving river, perfect for a contemplative paddle. Neighbors accompanying us may include; beaver, muskrat, great blue heron, belted kingfisher.

Who is Hildegard of Bingen? Our paddle will be accompanied by a wisdom reading from Hildegard who lived from 1098 -1179 CE. She was a Benedictine abbess, mystic, physician, botanist, composer, feminist. She experienced the Divine in the beauty and wonder of nature. Hildegard challenged the norms and power structure of her time and was a spiritual badass!

Launch from IRWA dock for a mix of paddling upstream and downstream (depending on river conditions and comfort of group). Kayaks/canoes available courtesy of IRWA with paddle and lifejacket.

Sign up now to reserve your boat! Participants may also bring their own kayak or canoe. This paddle is for those with basic kayaking/canoeing experience.

Note: As conditions allow, we will paddle upstream, against a moderate current, with bends in river (followed by a relaxing paddle back).  Paddler should have arm and core strength to paddle upstream and navigate a curving river course. While safety is our priority, there is an element of risk with any outdoor event. Participants are asked to sign a liability waiver. 

This hike is part of a series of events Ipswich River Watershed Association is holding in conjunction with North Shore Spirituality in Nature Group (NS SING). NS SING provides monthly outdoor events exploring the watershed once a month via hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking or canoeing.  SING offers a contemplative, meditative experience providing opportunities for deepening spiritually in the midst of nature.

Our Guide:
Kent Harrop is an avid hiker, backpacker and kayaker. Year round he hikes trails of the North Shore or paddles along the Ipswich River, local lakes and coastline.  Kent is a recently retired pastor in the Christian tradition with a longstanding commitment to interfaith collaboration and environmental advocacy. He is the volunteer founder of NS SING and looks forward to forming a leadership team as the group launches the winter of 2025.