Samantha Woods, Muddy Sneakers Core Instructor, was born and raised in Western North Carolina, primarily Asheville. She is happy to still call these mountains home. Samantha has always had a passion for education. In fact, she has five years of experience teaching 5th grade in North Carolina public schools. Her love for learning began in preschool and her enthusiasm for the outdoors was cultivated early on. As a child, she and her mother spent countless weekends camping throughout the stunning landscapes of Western North Carolina. At the age of 11, she became a junior counselor at a local outdoor summer camp in Polk County. There, she discovered the joy of sharing her love for nature with others.
Samantha is a proud graduate of Appalachian State University. She has a deep appreciation for the natural world, which she hopes to instill in her students. Throughout her teaching career, she looked forward to engaging students in science lessons that connected them to their surroundings. Now, as a Core Instructor, she is happy to focus this passion exclusively in an outdoor setting. Specifically, she enjoys inspiring students to explore, question, and connect with the environment around them. She believes that learning in nature fosters curiosity and resilience, qualities essential for young learners.
When not guiding students on their adventures, you can find Samantha hiking the trails of her beloved mountains, swimming in local rivers, or rockhounding—always on the lookout for new discoveries in nature. She loves to travel and explore the beauty that different landscapes have to offer. However, she always finds herself drawn back to the comforting embrace of the Appalachian Mountains. Married and a proud cat parent to five furry friends, Samantha Woods cherishes her time at home just as much as her time outdoors.
Muddy Sneakers is grateful to have Samantha on the team!
