2023 - 2024 Teacher Packet DISCOVERY PARTNERSHIP

DISCOVERY PARTNERSHIP 2023 - 2024
TEACHER
INFO PACKET
Muddy Sneakers is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit outdoor science education program
serving North Carolina’s fifth-grade public school students.
To learn more, visit www.muddysneakers.org.

WELCOME
Dear Teachers & Educators,
It is my tremendous honor to welcome you to Muddy Sneakers. Whether this is your first year with us or
you've been here since the beginning, we're grateful to join you as a partner in enriching the educational
experience for your students.
One of our goals at Muddy Sneakers is to be a resource not only for students, but also for our teachers.
Experiential hands-on learning is at the core of our organization, and yet, we understand that the work we
do begins and ends in the classroom with you. We hope that as we embark on this journey together, you
find our team and programs just as rewarding and meaningful for you as they are for your students.
In this packet, you'll find instructions and resources to help guide you through a year with Muddy Sneakers.
While this is a valuable reference, we understand that nothing replaces a phone call or conversation while
sharing a cup of coffee. Please reach out to our team at any point with questions or feedback.
Thank you for trusting us with your time.
We promise you a wonderful year of hands-on
learning, connection to nature and peers, and if
we're lucky, a few pairs of muddy sneakers.
Partnership fees are underwritten by generous
donations from foundations, businesses, and
individuals. Please join us in thanking those who
make Muddy Sneakers possible in your community.
Sincerely,
Cody Bliss
Director of Programs
Muddy Sneakers, Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization
(tax identification number 26-0338084) under Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
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YEAR AT A GLANCE
NEXT STEPS
Prepare for the year ahead
CONTENTS
2 PARTNERSHIP OVERVIEW 5
PROGRAM ELEMENT
DESCRIPTIONS
9 SAFETY PREPAREDNESS
&
10 STUDENT BEHAVIOR

PARTNERSHIP OVERVIEW
2
Congratulations! You're enrolled in a DISCOVERY PARTNERSHIP, which includes:
2 Field Expeditions
1 Live Online Virtual Sessions
1 Classroom Curriculum Units
On-Call Teacher Coaching
GET TO KNOW YOUR MUDDY SNEAKERS TEAM
Name
Phone
Email
Name
Phone
Email
Name
Phone
Email
Your Muddy Sneakers Program
Manager will provide this info to
your lead teacher in mid-August.
Lead Instructor
Program Manager
Assistant Education Manager
WHO TO
CONTACT...
To inquire about a Parent
Orientation? Program Manager
To schedule Student/Teacher
orientation? Lead Instructor
To schedule (or reschedule)
programs? Program Manager
For tips on implementing Classroom
Curriculum? Lead Instructor &
Assistant Education Manager
With feedback about virtual
sessions? Assistant Education
Manager
With feedback about expeditions?
Lead Instructor & Program Manager
For on-call support with science
instruction? Lead Instructor
For assistance with grant-writing?
Program Manager

YOUR YEAR AT A GLANCE 3
JUNE - AUGUST
Select your school's Lead Teacher
Confirm student enrollment numbers
Schedule your Muddy Sneakers year
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
Return completed participant forms
Schedule and complete Student &
Teacher Orientations
Secure bus transportation &
chaperones for expeditions
SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER
DECEMBER
Complete mid-year teacher survey
Fall semester payment due
JANUARY - MAY
MAY
Complete scheduled programs
Utilize Classroom Curriculum
Spring semester payment due
Re-enroll for next year
Complete end-of-year teacher survey
Facilitate end-of-year student survey
Complete scheduled programs
Utilize Classroom Curriculum
FOLLOW & SHARE
Throughout the year, we'll be sharing
highlights of our work with community
supporters on social media.
We invite you to share photos, videos,
and testimonials as well!
Please tag Muddy Sneakers and/or use
#muddysneakersnc to contribute to
these efforts.

ENROLLMENT NEXT STEPS
4
BEFORE YOU BEGIN...
Review pages 5 - 8 to familiarize yourself with all program elements.
1 SCHEDULE YOUR PROGRAM YEAR
Your school's Lead Teacher should schedule
your entire program year with your Muddy
Sneakers Program Manager as soon as
possible to secure your preferred dates. Our
calendars fill up quickly!
Schools are responsible for
providing transportation to &
from expedition sites. We
recommend making these
arrangements as soon as dates
are confirmed.
SCHEDULING CHECKLIST
Student/Teacher Orientation
DATE 1 DATE 2
2 Field Expeditions
1 Live Online Virtual Sessions
2 RETURN COMPLETED PARTICIPANT FORMS
Distribute and collect student participant
forms and any payment required from
students. Return printed participation forms
to your Lead Instructor.
Digital (Fillable) PDF (English)
Digital (Fillable) PDF (Spanish)
Printable PDF (English)
Printable PDF (Spanish)
Participation forms must be on file
at the Field Office prior to your
school’s first expedition.

LEARNING EXPEDITIONS OVERVIEW
5
FIELD EXPEDITION:
Full-day, off-campus learning expeditions
that provide students with hands-on, realworld
applications of the topic of the day
while benefitting from the proven benefits
of learning outside and connecting with
nature on local preserved lands.
Topics, locations, and dates are
selected by your Lead Teacher
and Lead Instructor.
EXPEDITION RESOURCES
Muddy Sneakers Outdoor
Expedition Guide
Printable Packing List
Chaperone Overview &
Expectations
INCLEMENT WEATHER ON EXPEDITION DAYS
Inclement weather includes a high
probability of one or more of the
following:
significant rain
thunderstorms (including microbursts)
wind chill at or below freezing for
most of the day
Rescheduling due to weather is decided by
the Lead Instructor & Lead Teacher, usually
by 5pm the day before. A new date should
be set within 24 hours of cancellation.
Muddy Sneakers reserves the sole right to
cancel based on threatening forecasts or
conditions.

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FIELD EXPEDITION TEACHER CHECKLIST
Ensure signed Student Participation Forms have been submitted for each student.
Secure bus transportation.
Ensure lunches are prepared for students who do not regularly bring lunch to school.
Recruit chaperones (1 per 12 students).
Divide students equally into groups of 12 or fewer. Within groups, assign partners.
Review Safety & Behavior Expectations with students (page 10).
2 DAYS BEFORE EXPEDITION
Remind students of packing list.
Review and confirm information in the logistics email received from your Lead Instructor.
Confirm availability of bus transportation, lunches, and chaperones*
1 DAY BEFORE EXPEDITION
Review weather forecast & remind students of necessary materials & appropriate layers
DAY OF EXPEDITION
Direct the bus driver using the directions sent by the MS Lead Instructor
Upon arrival, the Instructors will direct the bus to parking & a safe student unloading area
Learn alongside your students, assist Instructors in having a successful day, and enjoy!
1 chaperone per 12 students
is REQUIRED.
Notify your Lead Instructor prior to departure if
you cannot meet that ratio.
Students unprepared to
be outdoors cannot attend.
Be sure each student has all items on the
packing list before loading buses.

MUDDY SNEAKERS LIVE! ONLINE
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During these virtual sessions, a Muddy
Sneakers Instructor will join each enrolled
5th grade classroom remotely via the video
platform of your choice to facilitate a
learning session, lasting approximately one
hour, on the topic of the day.
Muddy Sneakers LIVE! Online
Virtual Programs Guide
Topics, dates and times are
selected by your Lead Teacher
and Lead Instructor.
MUDDY SNEAKERS LIVE! ONLINE TEACHER CHECKLIST
Confirm logistics, including dates, times, and links
Set up classroom technology for a Muddy Sneakers Instructor to join class virtually (either
projecting the session from teacher computer onto a large screen, or connecting students
on individual devices).
Supply appropriate materials & links to any 5th students joining the classroom virtually
(provided to your Lead Teacher the week prior to session) .
Print out or gather required session materials for students.
Ensure at least one classroom teacher/chaperone is present during sessions.

CLASSROOM CURRICULUM
8
Muddy Sneakers Classroom Curriculum
consists of 8 units aligned with all 8 NC 5th
grade essential science standards, as well as
integration of 5th grade Social Studies, ELA
and Math Standards:
1. Energy
2. Forces & Motion
3. Matter
4. Weather
5. Living Systems
6. Inheritance & Adaptation
7. Terrestrial Ecosystems
8. Biomes & Ecosystem Relationships
Each unit includes 10+ distinct lessons for
facilitation in the classroom, on the
schoolyard, or as homework.
Activities integrate exploration, observation,
experimentation and hands-on learning.
Lessons include goals, standards met,
material lists, facilitation notes, and printable
student pages. In addition, teachers receive
information about suggested scaffolding of
lessons as introductory or review, lessons
well-suited for Substitute Plans, lessons to
be facilitated outdoors, and lessons that
work well as homework.
Partners may use Muddy Sneakers
Classroom Curriculum and
resources/materials only as
intended, disseminating this
material only to students enrolled
in the program and only for the
2023-24 school year.
Other parties expressing an interest
in a Muddy Sneakers partnership
and/or use of any associated
materials should be referred to
Muddy Sneakers for enrollment.
The sharing of contracted
Muddy Sneakers material is
strictly prohibited.
Links to Classroom Curriculum modules are
provided to your Lead Teacher at the
beginning of the school year. Muddy
Sneakers LIVE! Online student sheets are
distributed a week prior to the online
session.

SAFETY & PREPAREDNESS
9
Providing a safe learning environment for all
participants is Muddy Sneakers' top priority.
Field Instructors are trained on and practice
emergency procedures which utilize
guidelines/recommendations from leading
outdoor learning organizations, such as:
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor
Ethics
National Outdoor Leadership School’s
(NOLS) Wilderness Medicine Institute
American Camp Association
Outward Bound
Instructors will review emergency
procedures (including scenarios like
discovering an active bees’ nest, seeing a
snake, or encountering unanticipated
weather) to empower participants to think
critically about their own well-being and
make appropriate decisions to maintain their
own safety and comfort in the woods.
HOW SHOULD I DRESS?
Closed-toe shoes
Weather-appropriate attire
Sunscreen/bug spray
(optional); apply prior to arrival
WHAT SHOULD I PACK?
Lunch/snacks
2 full bottles of water
Pen/pencil & notebook
Extra layers of clothing
Sunscreen/bug spray (optional)
Thanks for your support in the instruction of
and, when needed, implementation of these
emergency procedures.
All Field Instructors are Wilderness First Aid and Child and Adult CPR-certified.
A NOTE ABOUT WEATHER PREPAREDNESS
Schools will not be asked to participate in
an expedition if Muddy Sneakers staff feel
conditions are unsafe. However, due to the
nature of learning outside, students may
encounter various weather conditions.
Physical comfort and safety is critical;
therefore, if unpreparedness poses a
significant or immediate safety concern,
students will be asked to stay at - or return
to - school.
If there are significant student barriers to weather preparedness that cannot be solved within the school
community, please contact your Muddy Sneakers Field Office to discuss options/support.

STUDENT BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
10
Muddy Sneakers serves as an extension of the classroom. As such, students are
expected to behave as if they are in their classrooms.
PLEASE DO
DO NOT:
DO NOT
Follow instructors' directions the
first time.
Stay with the group.
Run only when permitted &
appropriate.
Be prepared to learn, with a field
journal & writing utensil.
Show respect to the environment,
instructors, chaperones, peers &
self.
Be engaged during lessons &
activities.
Take care of supplies/gear.
Talk while the instructor, another
adult, or peer is speaking.
Engage in rough play and/or
disrespect towards others.
CONSEQUENCES
Behavior that negatively affects
Muddy Sneakers' daily objectives
(safety, learning, fun) may result
in removal from current & future
expeditions.
STUDENT BEHAVIOR STRATEGIES
Please share any behavior management
strategies that have been successful in the
classroom with your Muddy Sneakers Lead
Instructor, so these practices may be
continued in the field.
If there are attention-getters or behavior
rewards/consequences in place at school,
it can be helpful for students to hear the
same expectations and language outside
the classroom.