When Emma Gilliam participated in Muddy Sneakers (2013–2014) as a student at Hillandale Elementary School in Henderson County, she didn’t know the experience would stay with her for years.
One of her most vivid memories is visiting the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock, North Carolina. She remembers petting the goats with friends, learning how to use a compass, identifying edible plants, and even figuring out how to find clean drinking water in the woods. “We were taught… how to use the restroom in the woods,” she laughs, “which I was definitely skeptical of.”
But beyond the fun and novelty, something bigger happened.
“Muddy Sneakers was my first real experience with experiential learning,” Emma says. “It showed me that learning does not just happen at a desk. It happens when you are engaged and curious in an experience.”
Growing up in Western North Carolina, nature was all around her, but Muddy Sneakers helped her truly appreciate it. The program made the outdoors feel accessible and turned science into something she could see, touch, and explore firsthand.
Today, Emma is pursuing her Master of Public Administration and hopes to work for a nonprofit that serves youth. This past summer, she worked for a national youth development nonprofit that provides experiential learning opportunities to high school students who might not otherwise have access to travel or hands-on enrichment programs.
“I have seen how monumental it can be to provide those opportunities,” she says. “Muddy Sneakers was my first connection to that kind of access and possibility.”
The program is also a family legacy. Emma and her twin sister both participated. Years later, she watched her younger brother go through Muddy Sneakers as well. Comparing experiences and hearing his stories brought everything full circle. Together, those shared memories shaped their appreciation for the outdoors and their mountain roots.
Emma believes programs like Muddy Sneakers are essential in public schools.
“That kind of experience is not something every kid gets on their own,” she says, “so having it built into the school day makes it really meaningful.”
For Emma Gilliam, Muddy Sneakers was more than a field trip. It was the beginning of a lifelong belief that learning should be active, accessible, and full of possibility.