About Us
About Muddy Sneakers
Students benefit from Muddy Sneakers’ hands-on, inquiry-based outdoor science experiences.
Who We Are
Muddy Sneakers is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit outdoor science education program serving North Carolina’s fifth-grade public school students.
What We Do
Muddy Sneakers introduces students to the wonders of the natural world through experiential outdoor education aligned to North Carolina’s essential science standards. We strive to instill in students a lifelong love of nature and inquiry while enhancing academic achievement, inspiring the joy of living, and reinforcing the interconnectedness of all things.
How We’re Different
Muddy Sneakers students enjoy engaging in science lessons on local public lands.
We Facilitate; You Participate
Our team facilitates programming for all outdoor science experiences and virtual learning as well as the end of grade review, allowing you to participate alongside your students.
You’ll See Measurable Results
NC State University researchers measure the impact of our programming on students and teachers annually to ensure our partners continue to see data-driven programming that produces exceptional results.
Students Benefit from Small-Group Instruction
With a maximum of 12 students per Muddy Sneakers Instructor, our experienced, safety-minded team provides individual attention and opportunities for all students to engage.
Repeat Experiences Offer Continuous Connection
Over the course of the academic year, students receive 6 opportunities to connect with local public lands, utilizing the state’s 3.8 million acres of preserved natural classroom space.
Cost-Effective and Accessible to All
As a nonprofit organization, we fundraise 75% of programming fees with support from Community Sponsors, board and staff members, friends and allies, and grants.
Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission
The mission of Muddy Sneakers is to awaken in children a deeply felt connection with the natural world — one that inspires curiosity, stimulates learning, and brings new life to classroom performance.
Vision
Muddy Sneakers envisions a world where every child has the opportunity to form a connection to nature and benefit from the wellness it provides. We are committed to becoming a national model for closing the science literacy gap, inviting diversity into the outdoors, and instilling an understanding of one’s role in the greater ecosystem. In doing so, we cultivate healthier generations committed to the stewardship of our natural resources.
Core Values
Access
We believe children of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities benefit from and have a right to meaningful experiences in the outdoors that foster a connection to nature.
Belonging
We have a responsibility as outdoor educators to introduce nature as an equitable, inclusive, and empowering space for all people.
Experiential Learning
Hands-on instruction, via the outdoor classroom, can deeply impact a child’s formal education. We are committed to small group, place-based learning that reimagines the traditional classroom. We cultivate curiosity, observation, inquiry, and relationships that fosters scientifically literate future generations.
Conservation
We know that healthy human and natural communities are interconnected. To create a more sustainable world, youth must have opportunities, at a formative age, to connect with nature and come to understand how we each play a role in preserving the natural world.
Well-being
We promote an inclusive culture of integrity, passion, collaboration, accountability, and individuality that inspires enjoyment and fulfillment for the individuals who fulfill our mission.
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Donate to Muddy Sneakers
Each $50 donation sponsors one student’s participation in Muddy Sneakers for a full school year! Learn more »