The Muddy Sneakers Mission
The mission of Muddy Sneakers is to awaken in children a deeply felt connection with the natural world
— one that inspires curiosity, stimulates learning, and brings new life to classroom performance.
Vision
Muddy Sneakers envisions a world where every child has the opportunity to form a connection to nature
and benefit from the wellness it provides. We are committed to becoming a national model for closing
the science literacy gap, inviting diversity into the outdoors, and instilling an understanding of one’s role
in the greater ecosystem. In doing so, we cultivate healthier generations committed to the stewardship
of our natural resources.
Core Values
Access: We believe children of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities benefit from and have a right to
meaningful experiences in the outdoors that foster a connection to nature.
Belonging: We have a responsibility as outdoor educators to introduce nature as an equitable, inclusive,
and empowering space for all people.
Experiential Learning: Hands-on instruction, via the outdoor classroom, can deeply impact a child’s
formal education. We are committed to small group, place-based learning that reimagines the
traditional classroom. We cultivate curiosity, observation, inquiry, and relationships that fosters
scientifically literate future generations.
Conservation: We know that healthy human and natural communities are interconnected. To create a
more sustainable world, youth must have opportunities, at a formative age, to connect with nature and
come to understand how we each play a role in preserving the natural world.
Well-being: We promote an inclusive culture of integrity, passion, collaboration, accountability, and
individuality that inspires enjoyment and fulfillment for the individuals who fulfill our mission.