Nature Adventures

NAO Crew

All are Certified in kayaking by the ACA and hold their First Aid CPR certifications and our leader of course holds his Wilderness First Reponder certification. We simply have the best staff you could ask for and they’ve been with us for years. 

Nature Adventures was established in 1999.  We are a permitted National Forest Service Outfitter and are fully licensed, insured and accredited.  Certified ACA Coastal and River Kayak Instructors and dedicated Naturalist bring to the camp over 25 years experience. We are the company that environmental groups and Universities choose for their outdoor expeditions in our area. 

Our Guides

Kathie Livingston

Owner and founder of Nature Adventures. Kathie started this company in 1999 and has led Professional Naturalist Guided Tours since 1984. She graduated from the University of Michigan with honors, obtaining a Bachelors of Science Degree in Resource Planning. She is also a Certified ACA River Kayak Instructor and has over 27 years in paddling and Naturalist guiding experience. She worked as the City of Charleston, SC Head Park Naturalist and Environmental Education Director for over 7 years teaching Marine, Wetland and Forest Ecology. Prior to this she worked for National Audubon as a Naturalist and Canoe Guide for 4 years. Her love for paddling started as a teenager, when she and her mother won a 20 mile canoe race, involving over 40 participants on a swift water river in Michigan. Founding the companies’ mission to help preserve the environment and to donate proceeds to benefit environmental organizations, it is upon this basis that Nature Adventures has excelled at being the lead kayak, canoe and hiking tour company in the Charleston, SC area. Kathie is a proven leader in the outdoor world. Locally, she's known as the area "woods woman" and the "kayak lady"....... Kayaking and love of the outdoors is a passion and a way of life to her. Even on her days off, she paddles!

Bob Weaver

What can we say about this great outdoorsman!? Just read our testimonies! If it's outdoors, he does it. Bob has his Master Naturalist Certifications from Clemson University. His education and expertise also includes engineering and management for the past 25 years, but his true love has always been the outdoors. He is a an excellent expedition guide and many of our clients request Bob as he adds humor and unique experiences to every trip. “The nicest guy you'll ever meet” we hear over and over again! Bob is an experienced river and sea kayaker, guide and certified assistant instructor. His wealth of knowledge of the outdoors is unmatched. Bob is also a Certified Scuba Diver and brings with him a nice collection of sharks teeth and marine artifacts. If Survivor would need a candidate from our team, it would definitely be Bob!Oh, and by the way....He Would Win!

Elizabeth Anderegg

Elizabeth comes with a B.A. in U.S. History from the College of Charleston and specializes in Cultural History and Ornithology on our tours! She is also an excellent naturalist! With experience as a Girl Scout Leader for over 16 years, she is great with kids on our outdoor expeditions and helps with our womens and couples retreats. Elizabeth is a  Certified ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor.

Dakota Walker

Dakota moved from Arizona where she was a kayak guide on the white water of the San Juan River in southern Utah. Her passion for water is only surpassed by her passion for wildlife. She has spent most of her life outdoors engaged in some form of adventure be it rock climbing, canyoneering, kayaking, backpacking or hiking. When she is not in the kayak she is in her office at Om Body practicing Holistic Health and bringing wellness to her clients. She is also the designer of this website. Dakota holds her ACA Coastal Kayaking Certifications for guiding Coastal Kayak Trips.

Tillman Bradley

Tillman is Kathie’s son and grew up kayaking since the age of 2. He has been helping guide trips for years and is excellent in intrepreting the flora and fauna on our trips. Tillman is an outstanding paddler and young “Naturalist” who inspires to pursue a career in Wildlife Biology or a related field. He is a freshman in college and is studying wildlife biology. He has a great love for the outdoors and for animals. We receive wonderful testimonials from our clients about him. He also gets the best tips as his love for kayaking is felt by others and his customer serivce is excellent!

John Dupre

John is a "young" retired Francis Marion National Forest Service Forester and Naturalist. He spent over 30 years there and his expertise in ecology is simply unmatched. John obtained his Bachelors of Science Degree from Clemson University in Forest Management. He grew up living in the forest, estuaries and islands. His ancestry dates back hundreds of years ago on Palmetto Plantation where he is a 14th century "native" to the area. . With incredible knowledge of the forest and wildlife, he brings with him years of expertise. John is also certified in Coastal and River Kayaking and is an excellent paddler. His calm and comfortable demeanor is welcomed on the quiet waters in our wilderness areas. ACA Coastal Kayaking Certifications for guiding Coastal Kayak Trips.

Diane Krishon Girardeau

An incredibly gifted and talented Wildlife Biologist. Diane received a BS in Wildlife Biology from UGA and an MS in Environmental Education from WVU. She has done mammal research off the Georgia coast, bat research in New Mexico for the Forest Service, and currently teaches wildlife biology at a local High School. She believes that environmental stewardship and respect is fostered through education and outdoor experiences. Diane works part time for Nature Adventures during school months and full time during the summers. She is also certified in river and coastal kayaking and is an excellent guide.

Laura Kate Caldwell

I graduated from Brevard College in 2005 with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Wilderness Leadership with Experiential Education. I have had a number of naturalist and outdoor education jobs between the mountains of Western North Carolina, and the low country of South Carolina. I really enjoy bird watching from my kayak, and trail riding my horse through the forest scenery. I spend a great deal of time both recreating, and working in the outdoors. I feel strongly as an environmental educator about instilling lasting values in future generations. Promoting good stewardship of our natural resources, and teaching leave no trace environmental ethics is something I want to be involved in for the rest of my life. Hands-on learning especially for young adults is by far the most influential method of revealing the awe of Mother Nature!

Certifications:
American Canoe Association (ACA)-sea kayaking guide certification
South Carolina Master Naturalist-Caw Caw Interpretive Learning Center
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) – WMA
ACCT-low ropes challenge course facilitator certification
Leave No Trace (LNT)-Brevard College
Project Wild- teacher certification DNR

Craig Bachman

Craig grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, moved to SC to gain a few years of teaching experience expecting to move back "home", but fell in love with the SC lowcountry and couldn't leave!!! He holds a B.S. degree in Chemistry from the Univ of Pittsburgh, and is working on completing an M.S. in Environmental Studies at the College of Charleston. Craig has taught in several different high schools including a bilingual school near Tegucigalpa, Honduras in Central America. Craig also sponsors outdoor/environmental education clubs in every school he's taught at and has helped lead several nature based tourism trips for students around the SC lowcountry, to the North Carolina mountains, to Florida, and even international trips to Honduras, Costa Rica, Mexico & Panama. He's a certified SCUBA diver and also a Certified Wilderness First Responder, and life guard.