Pathways: Fall 2023 Newsletter
The Fall 2023 edition of Pathways, our bi-annual newsletter, includes exciting news about what lies ahead for the 2023 - 2024 school year. Inside, you'll see how we are supporting more students and teachers than ever, discover the secret that keeps our school partners returning year after year, and learn about exciting ways you can support our mission - by enjoying a cup of coffee, joining us at a film festival, or hosting a fireside chat!
The Fall 2023 edition of Pathways, our bi-annual newsletter, includes exciting news about what lies ahead for the 2023 - 2024 school year. Inside, you'll see how we are supporting more students and teachers than ever, discover the secret that keeps our school partners returning year after year, and learn about exciting ways you can support our mission - by enjoying a cup of coffee, joining us at a film festival, or hosting a fireside chat!
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NOTES FROM THE FIELD > FALL <strong>2023</strong><br />
PATHWAYS<br />
DIRECTOR'S NOTE<br />
Dear Friends,<br />
As the vibrant hues of autumn paint the landscape, I'm<br />
excited to welcome you to our <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong>. This season<br />
marks not only a transition in the natural world but also an<br />
exciting new chapter for Muddy Sneakers. As we dive into<br />
another school year, we are filled with excitement for the<br />
enriching journey that lies ahead.<br />
For Muddy Sneakers' fifth graders, this isn't just another<br />
school year – it's an opportunity to explore, discover, and<br />
connect with nature in ways that ignite their curiosity and<br />
deepen their understanding of science. We're thrilled to<br />
support their academic year with hands-on outdoor<br />
experiences that breathe life into learning.<br />
In this newsletter, you'll catch a glimpse of the exciting<br />
initiatives, innovative program offerings, and collaborative<br />
partnership opportunities planned for the year ahead. This<br />
year, Muddy Sneakers will reach more students than ever<br />
before and we're eager to share the stories of growth and<br />
exploration that will unfold!<br />
Thank you for joining us on<br />
this journey as we empower<br />
the next generation of<br />
curious minds and nature<br />
enthusiasts.<br />
David Rahahę·tih Webb,<br />
Executive Director<br />
WHAT'S NEW?<br />
PILOT PROGRAM:<br />
3 PARTNERSHIP TIERS<br />
Educators today bear a<br />
multitude of responsibilities,<br />
each task seemingly more<br />
intricate than the last:<br />
managing staff shortages,<br />
devising captivating lesson<br />
plans, mastering new<br />
technologies, tending to<br />
student conduct, nurturing<br />
social and emotional<br />
development, and<br />
accommodating diverse<br />
learning styles, among others.<br />
Unsurprisingly, the <strong>2023</strong><br />
State of the American<br />
Teacher Survey underscores<br />
that teachers' well-being trails<br />
behind that of the general<br />
working population.*<br />
In this demanding landscape,<br />
a beacon of support emerges:<br />
Muddy Sneakers. With a<br />
decade and a half of honing<br />
our program, we possess<br />
irrefutable evidence that<br />
Muddy Sneakers not only<br />
cultivates students<br />
academically, socially, and<br />
emotionally, but also<br />
alleviates the pressures faced<br />
by 5th-grade science<br />
educators. Additionally, we<br />
equip them with techniques to<br />
elevate their teaching prowess.<br />
Despite these merits, some<br />
schools remain uncertain<br />
about partnering with Muddy<br />
Sneakers. Feedback from our<br />
community reveals that some<br />
educators hesitate due to<br />
concerns about time, effort,<br />
financial commitments, and<br />
potential challenges that might<br />
arise.<br />
Considering this input, we're<br />
piloting solutions that aim to<br />
extend our reach: three distinct<br />
partnership options. This<br />
diversification empowers<br />
educators to decide the level<br />
of involvement based on their<br />
resources and comfort. The<br />
question becomes: Dip a toe,<br />
immerse a sneaker, or take the<br />
plunge?<br />
*Source: Doan, S. (<strong>2023</strong>, June 21).<br />
Teacher Well-Being and Intentions to<br />
Leave: Findings from the <strong>2023</strong> State of<br />
the American Teacher Survey. RAND.<br />
(continued on next page)
(continued from previous page)<br />
Discovery Partnerships offer<br />
schools new to Muddy<br />
Sneakers an introduction to<br />
essential program components<br />
with minimal investment.<br />
Hands-on participation<br />
enables schools to tangibly<br />
experience our value, making<br />
progression to a more<br />
comprehensive partnership an<br />
organic transition.<br />
Basic Partnerships share many<br />
of the same benefits as Full<br />
Partnerships while providing an<br />
option for schools with time or<br />
financial constraints. New<br />
partners may use this option to<br />
familiarize themselves with<br />
expectations, processes, and<br />
curriculum depth, paving the<br />
way for a potential Full<br />
Partnership or supplementary<br />
à la carte selections.<br />
thriving students and more<br />
supported educators.<br />
In addition to these three<br />
partnership tiers, Remote<br />
Partnerships continue to be<br />
available for schools located<br />
outside of our current<br />
programming areas who want<br />
to benefit from the holistic<br />
learning approach Muddy<br />
Sneakers provides.<br />
The reaction from educational<br />
institutions has been<br />
overwhelmingly positive. New<br />
partners are keen on the Full<br />
Partnership, while those<br />
seeking a pathway into the<br />
program or those with<br />
variable needs appreciate<br />
the accessible options.<br />
Returning partners continue<br />
to lean towards Full<br />
Partnerships.<br />
<strong>2023</strong>-24 PARTNERSHIPS<br />
BY PROGRAM TIER<br />
Full<br />
Basic<br />
Custom<br />
Remote<br />
Discovery<br />
<strong>2023</strong>-24 PARTNERSHIP MAP<br />
4,200+<br />
STUDENTS<br />
63<br />
SCHOOLS<br />
17<br />
COUNTIES/DISTRICTS<br />
Full Partnerships exhibit the<br />
textbook embodiment of our<br />
impact. With a treasure trove<br />
of recurring expeditions, virtual<br />
learning sessions, Classroom<br />
Curriculum modules, ondemand<br />
coaching, and adept<br />
End-Of-Grade test<br />
preparation, this level results in<br />
As we march forward, our<br />
program model will evolve in<br />
tandem with input from<br />
schools and the evaluation by<br />
NC State University, ensuring<br />
alignment with community<br />
needs, fostering a connection<br />
to local terrain, and fortifying<br />
our educators.<br />
# Schools Served per County<br />
1. Buncombe (7)<br />
2. Cleveland (5)<br />
3. Forsyth (4)<br />
4. Guilford (1)<br />
5. Haywood (3)<br />
6. Henderson (14)<br />
7. Jackson (1)<br />
8. Macon (1)<br />
9. Montgomery (5)<br />
10. Orange (1)<br />
11. Polk (4)<br />
12. Qualla Boundary (1)<br />
13. Rowan (9)<br />
14. Rutherford (1)<br />
15. Stokes (1)<br />
16. Transylvania (3)<br />
17. Watauga (2)<br />
WAYS TO SUPPORT<br />
Your charitable donations will help more than 4,000 fifth graders, their teachers, and schools access experiential science education in<br />
some of NC’s most iconic places. Beyond financial gifts, there are many ways to support Muddy Sneakers. Here are a few timely ideas:<br />
HELLBENDER COFFEE IS BACK!<br />
A subtly sweet, chocolatey blend supporting our mission<br />
MUDDY SNEAKERS MORNING & FIRESIDE CHATS!<br />
An easy way to make a significant impact<br />
Makes a great teacher<br />
and/or holiday gift!<br />
This September, our friends at<br />
Pisgah Coffee Roasters are<br />
making it easy to perk up your<br />
mornings while awakening a<br />
deeply felt connection to the<br />
natural world for NC students.<br />
$7 of each $14 bag comes to<br />
Muddy Sneakers. Stock up at<br />
pisgahroasters.com!<br />
Do you have a group of friends, colleagues, or connections<br />
that would be interested in learning more about Muddy<br />
Sneakers? We’d love to meet them!<br />
As we take schools off our waiting list, we must build<br />
awareness of our work to ensure sustainable financial<br />
support for these new students. Please consider hosting a<br />
Muddy Sneakers Morning or Fireside Chat to share Muddy<br />
Sneakers with your community. To learn more, email Jordan<br />
at jordan@muddysneakers.org.<br />
(continued on next page)
THE "MUDDY SNEAKERS MAGIC"<br />
On a crisp fall morning in the<br />
mountains, Muddy Sneakers'<br />
Field Instructors prepare for an<br />
outdoor educational<br />
expedition.<br />
Amid the tranquility of nature,<br />
they await the arrival of 80<br />
energetic 5th graders who will<br />
be trading in their desks for<br />
streams, towering trees and<br />
open meadows for the day.<br />
Learning about Forces and<br />
Motion through activities like<br />
engineering handmade boats<br />
and hanging bear bags while<br />
Junaluska Elementary School, Forces & Motion expedition in Pisgah National Forest<br />
"Our students were more inquisitive and invested in<br />
their own learning today than we’ve ever seen them."<br />
(continued from previous page)<br />
accounting for friction and<br />
mass fill the forest with<br />
laughter and collaboration.<br />
The day goes without a hitch,<br />
and just before getting on the<br />
bus, a couple of teachers pull<br />
aside our team and, with a<br />
smile, express their gratitude.<br />
They describe how wonderful<br />
it was to watch their students<br />
learning through doing,<br />
sharing, “our students were<br />
more inquisitive and invested<br />
in their own learning today<br />
than we've ever seen them.”<br />
MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR RETURNS!<br />
4 showings: Asheville, Salisbury, & Winston-Salem<br />
It is in these moments that,<br />
despite challenges faced by<br />
the education system,<br />
Muddy Sneakers' impact<br />
shines through.<br />
As the organization celebrates<br />
16 years, the question "how<br />
can Muddy Sneakers best<br />
support NC’s public schools?"<br />
remains central.<br />
Feedback from teachers,<br />
principals, and<br />
superintendents emphasizes<br />
the support Muddy Sneakers<br />
provides.<br />
In the face of budget cuts and<br />
the Covid-19 pandemic, the<br />
program positively impacts<br />
students' social and emotional<br />
well-being. Aaron Greene,<br />
Polk County Superintendent,<br />
attests to its benefits, stating,<br />
"[Muddy Sneakers] has<br />
proven beneficial...especially<br />
with student social/emotional<br />
health and growth."<br />
Teachers also acknowledge<br />
the partnership's value.<br />
Ophilia Pearson, a 5th grade<br />
teacher at Hurley Elementary,<br />
shares that Muddy Sneakers<br />
brightens teachers' lives.<br />
Recognizing the importance of<br />
educators, Muddy Sneakers<br />
collaborates with them,<br />
offering expertise that<br />
enhances students' learning.<br />
Dr. Jason Gardner, former<br />
Rowan-Salisbury Assistant<br />
Superintendent, highlights<br />
how the program improves<br />
attendance rates and academic<br />
performance in science.<br />
As each season passes, Muddy<br />
Sneakers’ ongoing reflections<br />
on its purpose is guided by our<br />
community. As<br />
Superintendent Greene puts it,<br />
“when students can connect<br />
the abstract concepts and<br />
ideas in the curriculum with<br />
applications they have<br />
experienced, true learning<br />
occurs,” and for us, that is the<br />
true Muddy Sneakers “magic.”<br />
Throughout our last 16 years,<br />
the primary theme of our work<br />
has been ensuring a timely<br />
connection to nature for each<br />
generation, while ensuring we<br />
harness our organizational<br />
expertise and mission in<br />
service of the current years’<br />
needs within communities and<br />
schools we serve.<br />
Thank you for the ways you bring<br />
Muddy Sneakers’ magic to life.<br />
Build community with us at Mountainfilm on Tour!<br />
Each year, Mountainfilm premieres in Telluride, Colorado and<br />
then hits the road sharing the year's most inspiring short films<br />
with communities worldwide.<br />
<br />
NOVEMBER 16<br />
SALISBURY<br />
NOVEMBER 17<br />
WINSTON-SALEM<br />
NOVEMBER 18<br />
ASHEVILLE<br />
This is a great way to rekindle your spirit, stoke your outdoor<br />
recreation plans, and introduce Muddy Sneakers’ work to new<br />
friends.<br />
For more ways to give, visit muddysneakers.org/waystogive.<br />
Tickets on sale October 2 at muddysneakers.org
WNC OFFICE<br />
P.O. Box 146<br />
Brevard, NC 28712<br />
828-862-5560<br />
PIEDMONT OFFICE<br />
P.O. Box 2151<br />
Salisbury, NC 28144<br />
704-209-4009<br />
www.muddysneakers.org<br />
#muddysneakersnc<br />
SEEKING<br />
VOLUNTEERS<br />
Our volunteer program is<br />
growing! Current opportunities<br />
include:<br />
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR:<br />
Recruit, coordinate, and empower<br />
Muddy Sneakers' volunteer team.<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Shadow and<br />
document Muddy Sneakers<br />
expeditions via photo and/or video.<br />
CONNECT KIDS<br />
TO NATURE<br />
Become a role model<br />
for future generations.<br />
FLEXIBLE TIME<br />
COMMITMENT<br />
One hour or one year;<br />
what works for you?<br />
STATEWIDE<br />
OPPORTUNITIES<br />
Travel to new places or<br />
stick close to home!<br />
Please support our work!<br />
Visit muddysneakers.org to<br />
give a meaningful gift today.<br />
Muddy Sneakers<br />
at Home<br />
Geology Rocks!<br />
EVENT VOLUNTEER: Plan, set up,<br />
clean up, and represent Muddy<br />
Sneakers at festivals and events.<br />
Email info@muddysneakers.org<br />
to get involved.<br />
Dig in to rocks & minerals<br />
with this fun Scavenger Hunt!