Muddy Sneakers recently received two Best of the Blue Ridge awards. Blue Ridge Outdoors announced in its January issue that Muddy Sneakers took top honors in the category Educational Outdoor Recreation Program, and Camp Muddy Sneakers won best Summer Camp/Program. The annual awards, voted on by the magazine’s 340,000 readers, recognize the top organizations, businesses, and experiences in the Southeast. (See the award announcement here.)
The Best of the Blue Ridge awards come as Muddy Sneakers continues its expansion across North Carolina. The organization has grown this school year to serve more than 2,800 students at 43 schools across 17 counties in Western North Carolina and the Piedmont. This includes providing curriculum-aligned programming to five new schools in the spring semester in three new counties: Madison, Anson, and Guilford. Muddy Sneakers partners with schools to supplement fifth-grade science instruction with hands-on outdoor learning expeditions on nearby protected lands.
Camp Muddy Sneakers is gearing up for its sixth summer in 2019 with exciting new adventures for kids in an expanded age range of 4-14 and a new location soon to be announced. The day camp embraces the philosophy that the best way for children to develop a connection to nature is through meaningful and fun outdoor experiences. The small-group format encourages kids to follow their imagination and curiosity as they actively engage with the world around them. Campers learn about biologically rich ecosystems while exploring the beautiful landscapes of North Carolina.
“Our organization is proud to bring outdoor experiential learning to children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to connect so deeply with their natural surroundings,” said Muddy Sneakers Executive Director Ryan Olson. “We are grateful for the recognition for our school-year and camp programs, which promote a love of inquiry and reimagine the region’s protected lands as places for learning and discovery.”
See coverage of our awards in the Salisbury Post, Transylvania Times, Mountain Xpress and Asheville.com.
