Sometimes, the impact of outdoor learning reveals itself in the most unexpected and heartwarming ways.
Alumni Story: Meet Sarah
At this year’s Spring Festival at Fort Fisher, while setting up our booth, instructor Stacy was greeted by a young woman named Sarah–a former Muddy Sneakers student from back in 2008 when she was in fifth grade in Brevard!
Now a graduate student studying birds, Sarah actively engages in environmental outreach connected to her research on North Carolina’s feathered friends.
And the best part? She credits her path to those early days in the woods with Muddy Sneakers.
Muddy Sneakers is why I do what I do today.
Sarah, Muddy Sneakers Class of 2008
It was one of those full-circle moments that gives you goosebumps–the kind that reminds us why this work matters. A spark ignited years ago in the forest has grown into a lifelong passion for science and stewardship.
Thank you for helping make stories like Sarah’s possible. Every hike, every lesson, every muddy bootprint is a step toward a more curious, connected, and caring future.
If you have an Alumni Story to share, please email us at info@muddysneakers.org. We’d love to hear how Muddy Sneakers has made a difference in your life!
