Instructor Spotlight: Paulette

Field Instructors are the heart of Muddy Sneakers expeditions. They spend their days exploring the outdoors alongside students and teachers, leading activities designed to expand scientific understanding, inspiring curiosity, and encouraging well-being and camaraderie.

Paulette O’Hara has been with Muddy Sneakers since January 2019. As a retired teacher, Paulette joined our team in order to continue to have a positive impact on students and hone and expand her craft, all while reveling in the beauty of nature.

Paulette says that to connect with nature is to connect with oneself – a connection that is necessary for a happy, productive life. She enjoys watching students grow in their love of nature while increasing their knowledge of science concepts and uncovering strengths they didn’t know they possessed.

Her biggest hope is that upon completing a year with Muddy Sneakers, students will have developed a love for nature, for science, and for themselves – a hope that has come to fruition many times over. Paulette shares one particularly memorable example:

One year I had a student in my group who tersely stated the following at the beginning of the expedition: “I don’t like to go outside. My outside is walking from the car to my house.” At the end of the day, she shared the following at closing circle, “I can’t wait to tell my mom about this park! I want her to take me here this weekend! I love nature!”

We’re grateful to have Paulette on our team, instructing and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. She leaves a lasting and profound impact on the students she supports.