Salisbury Academy

SALISBURY — Each Wednesday at Salisbury Academy’s summer program, campers arrive with a special set of essentials: bug spray, sunblock, a bag lunch and a curiosity about where the next outdoor discovery will be.

Will it be a new insect under a rock? A colorful fungi beside a trail?

Anything is possible on Muddy Sneakers Outdoor Expedition Day.

Thanks to a new partnership between Salisbury Academy and theh environmental education organization Muddy Sneakers, every Wednesday at the summer camp is an off-site expedition day to a variety of parks and natural sites such as Boone’s Cave Park, River Park at Cooleemee Falls and Eagle Point Preserve.

On the expeditions, campers ages 5 through 10 are led by Muddy Sneakers field experts on focused adventures on a variety of topics. The children hike, explore and, most important, learn to appreciate the wonders of nature while connecting with the outdoors.

Elise Tellez, Piedmont field office director for Muddy Sneakers, said for her organization, the ultimate goal of the partnership with Salisbury Academy is to allow children to experience the joy of being outside.

“Nature is different things to different people. It can be a place to adventure, relax, explore or build your very own science lab,” said Tellez.

“It’s so important for children to find what nature is for them so they can have unique experiences, make new connections and hopefully grow up to be environmental stewards.”

During the school year, Muddy Sneakers provides outdoor science education for fifth-grade students. It currently serves 39 schools across 12 counties in the Carolinas. The partnership with Salisbury Academy is an opportunity to bring those same environmental opportunities to a younger audience, Muddy Sneakers staffers say.

“Working with this age group has been a lot of fun,” said field instructor Davis Hayden. “You can have a group of 25 children and every one of them comes away with something different.”

Topics studied on expeditions have included reptiles, amphibians, habitats and insects. The day begins with exploration and outdoor play, followed by games, books and a craft in theme with the lesson. After a day of outdoor adventure, campers return to the school abuzz with stories from their day.

“At the ring of rocks I caught a lizard, a leopard frog and a ton of other frogs,” said 6-year-old camper Teague Rowland. “I’m so excited for every Wednesday and love learning about lots of animals.”

The partnership with Muddy Sneakers complements Salisbury Academy’s schoolwide environmental programming offered during the school year as well as the value that the academy – an N.C. Green School of Excellence — places on sustainability.

“That these environmental lessons are already being taught at Salisbury Academy is the icing on the cake,” said Hayden. “These kids obviously love what they are doing.”