What Fifth Graders Teach Us About Learning in Nature
A Day Outside with Muddy Sneakers, by Hattie Fletcher, 2024–2025 Intern
Learning Like It Matters
By 11:15 a.m., one kid is already kneeling in a stream, scooping water with both hands. Another is trying to figure out what kind of bug just landed on their forehead. Someone announces they’ve found a rock shaped exactly like a heart.
Welcome to a day with Muddy Sneakers.
This is science class, but not the kind you might remember. There are no desks. No whiteboards. Just a group of fifth graders, a couple of instructors, and a whole lot of forest. And somehow, every single part of it matters.
What It’s Actually Like
Each field day starts with a circle. We check in, we name our goals for the day, and sometimes we play a game that ends in chaotic, giggly disaster. Then we hit the trail.
The lessons vary – weather patterns, ecosystems, matter – but the way kids absorb them out here is different. They don’t memorize the parts of a tree; they sit under one and observe it. They don’t just hear the term “aquatic ecosystem”; they splash around in one. You’ll overhear kids saying things like, “I think this is decomposing!” or “Mrs. Kim! I found POOP!”
It’s all fair game.
Sometimes the best moments happen during snack breaks or hikes. That’s when they get quiet. They notice things. They ask the kinds of questions that remind you how curious kids really are when you give them room to wonder.
It’s Not Just Fun, It’s Transformative!
I’ve watched quiet students speak up for the first time. I’ve seen kids who usually struggle to sit still become totally focused when tracking animal prints in the mud. And I’ve heard more than one say, “I didn’t know learning could be like this.”
You can see the shift. The way they carry themselves changes. They walk with more confidence, laugh a little louder, and start pointing out moss like it’s treasure. They remember what they learned not because they were told, but because they felt it. And that’s what sticks.
Why It Matters
Not every student will grow up to become a biologist. But every student deserves to experience the outdoors as a classroom; a place where they’re allowed to be curious, messy, loud, and absolutely themselves.
In a world that’s more plugged-in and distracted than ever, these days outside offer something rare: presence. And in that presence, kids find joy. They find belonging. And often, they find a new way of seeing the world.
Final Thoughts (And A Little Nudge)
If you’re an educator, parent, or just someone who remembers how good it felt to play in the woods, this message is for you too. Muddy Sneakers isn’t just teaching science. It’s reminding kids that they are a part of nature, not separate from it.
So next time you wonder if one day outside can really make a difference, come join us. You’ll see it in the mud-caked shoes, the spark in their eyes, and the way they long for their next field trip with Muddy Sneakers.
Trust me, it matters.
