About Paddles & Packs
Paddles & Packs exists to help make outdoor time a routine part of childhood again — not an event or a program, but an everyday rhythm. We support ordinary outdoor time: the kind that doesn’t require special gear, expertise, or planning.
Paddles & Packs exists to fill the gap between organized programs and the reality of everyday family life — where outdoor time has increasingly become infrequent and treated as a special occasion. Our work helps parents make being outside feel simple, meaningful, and worth returning to.
What We Do
Paddles & Packs is a parent-focused media company created to help families spend more time outside — not by doing more, but by remembering how good it feels to be there.
We don’t provide programs or curated experiences. We don’t track hours or measure success.
Instead, we offer gentle guidance, stories, and ideas that help parents weave outdoor time back into everyday life — building habits that bring joy, connection, and a deeper sense of togetherness. These are simple moments, close to home, that fit into real days and leave families feeling calmer, more grounded, and more connected.
Our work is about making outside feel familiar and welcoming again — less like something to plan, and more like somewhere families belong.
How It Works
Our approach is simple and repeatable:
Pause → Notice → Stay Longer → Carry It Home
We help families pause long enough to step outside, notice what’s already around them, linger when moments unfold, and carry those experiences home as memories that shape family life over time.
The outdoors does the work. We simply help families show up to it more often.
Meet Celeste
Hi, I’m Celeste — outdoor enthusiast, working mom, and founder of Paddles & Packs.
I believe the simple moments — shared campfire meals, backyard hikes that start with “Do we have time?” — are the ones that stay with our kids long after childhood ends.
When I’m not writing or planning our next outing, you’ll usually find me hiking, paddling, or wandering a nearby trail with my husband and our two boys — bringing up the tail, soaking everything in, and chasing our next small (or big) adventure.
If you dream of spending more time outside with your family, you’re in the right place. You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy the outdoors. You just have to take the first step — and I’m here to help make that step feel simple, doable, and full of heart.
Why This Work Matters
For years, like many parents, I rushed through life — racing from task to task, always feeling behind. But every time we stepped outside, something shifted. My kids opened up. I breathed deeper. The world slowed down enough for us to actually see each other.
That shift became the heart of Paddles & Packs.
Today, I help families create space for presence and connection through simple outdoor moments. My guide, The Distracted Parent Detox, offers a gentle reset for parents who want to step out of the noise and into something more meaningful.
This isn’t about being outdoorsy — it’s about being present.
Meet our Gentle Guides
Behind many of the stories and learning resources on Paddles & Packs you’ll find three familiar friends — Maple the Moose, Chesley the Chipmunk, and Winslow the Wood Frog.
Together, they form the Trailside Trio, gentle guides who bring reflection, curiosity, and wonder to every outdoor moment.
They’re here to remind families that nature isn’t just a place to visit — it’s something to feel, question, and carry home in our hearts.
Meet the Trailside Trio →
Our Promise
We’re not here to help you chase perfect moments — we’re here to help you make real ones.
The kind of days where your kids come home tired and full of stories. The kind of days that won’t make your Instagram grid, but will live in your memory forever.
At Paddles & Packs, we believe in saying yes to adventure — especially on the days when it feels easier to say no. We believe in getting a little lost, and finding joy on the other side. And most of all, we believe that you only get one chance to live this season of life with your kids — and that the best family memories are made outdoors.
Want to know what really drives us?
Read Our Manifesto →Interested in Working With Paddles and Packs?
If you’re a journalist, blogger, or brand looking to collaborate, you’ll find everything you need — from our story and mission to product info and brand assets — on our Media & Brand Resources page.
Visit the Media Page →Ready to Plan Your Next Adventure?
Explore our beginner-friendly hiking, camping, paddling, and outdoor mindset guides — crafted to make every family adventure simple, joyful, and stress-free.
Explore Our Guides →
