Muddy Sneakers
Muddy Sneakers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that delivers experiential outdoor science education to North Carolina public school students in grades 2-8, with a primary focus on 5th grade. The organization operates from three regional hubs serving 22+ counties, combining per-participant program fees, annual school partnerships, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersRaleigh, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Muddy Sneakers does
Muddy Sneakers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that delivers experiential outdoor science education to K-8 students in North Carolina, with a primary focus on 5th grade. The organization operates through three regional hubs (South Mountains, Central Piedmont, Triangle) serving 22+ counties, and partners with public land sites including Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State Forest, and Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. Its core technology is a proprietary curriculum of 90+ lesson plans aligned to NC Essential Standards, supplemented by on-call Teacher Coaching and annually validated through a research partnership with NC State University established in 2018.
The business model is a hybrid of earned program fees and philanthropic funding. Schools pay per-participant fees for Field Trips ($25), Outreach Programs ($15), EOG Test Prep ($10), and Classroom Curriculum ($75/group), with Teacher Coaching at $35/month or $275/year. Annual Partnership bundles are priced at $100 (Basic) and $150 (Full) per participant. Corporate and adult revenue comes from the Nature at Work team-building program starting at $2,500 per group. The philanthropic side includes individual donations (one-time and monthly via the Sole Society), the Nickels for Nature retail roundup, corporate sponsorships at $25K-$250K+ tiers, and grants from foundations such as Dogwood Health Trust, Glass, Sutherland, de Beaumont, and the Blanche & Julian Robertson Family Foundation, alongside state appropriations via the NC Department of Public Instruction.
In the 2024-2025 school year, Muddy Sneakers served 4,121 students across 57 schools and groups in 19 districts spanning 15 counties and the Qualla Boundary, delivering 67,551 hours of programming through 258 field expeditions. Since founding, the organization has served over 35,000 students across 34 NC counties, with $6.9M in cumulative private funding invested in NC public schools. The organization is led by Executive Director David Raha̱:ti:h Webb and operates with approximately 33 employees from its Raleigh headquarters and a Salisbury field office.
Muddy Sneakers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Muddy Sneakers
- Legal name
- Muddy Sneakers, Inc.
- Website
- https://muddysneakers.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Muddy Sneakers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that delivers experiential outdoor science education to North Carolina public school students in grades 2-8, with a primary focus on 5th grade. The organization operates from three regional hubs serving 22+ counties, combining per-participant program fees, annual school partnerships, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Muddy Sneakers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Science Education Services
- NAICS
- All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Earth Science & Geoscience Programs (EDAMABAI), Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals) (EDALAIAG)
Keywords
Where Muddy Sneakers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Raleigh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Muddy Sneakers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Program Fees: Schools and youth groups pay per-participant fees for field trips, outreach programs, EOG test prep, and after-school programs. Annual partnerships offer comprehensive packages at fixed per-participant rates.
- Donations and Grants: Individual donations through one-time and monthly giving (Sole Society), corporate sponsorships at various tiers ($25,000-$250,000+), foundation grants from organizations like Dogwood Health Trust and Blanche & Julian Robertson Family Foundation, and government support from NC Department of Public Instruction and State of North Carolina.
- Corporate Team Experiences: Nature at Work corporate team-building experiences starting at $2,500 per group, providing hands-on outdoor science activities for corporate retreats and team events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Field Trips - 5 hours outdoor learning at site partner locations |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Outreach Programs - 2.5 hours at school location |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | EOG Test Prep - 1 hour interactive review |
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | Classroom Curriculum - 90+ lesson plans |
| Subscription | Monthly | Teacher Coaching - On-call virtual support |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | After-School Programs - Nature play activities |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Nature at Work - Corporate team experience |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Partnership - Year-long comprehensive program |
| Subscription | Annual | Basic Partnership - Streamlined annual program |
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | Fall Field Trip Special Offer |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Muddy Sneakers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Muddy Sneakers delivers hands-on, experiential outdoor science education programs for North Carolina public school students in grades 2-8, with primary focus on 5th grade. Programs are delivered at 37+ public land sites and on school campuses, and are aligned to North Carolina Essential Standards. The organization also sells a 90+ lesson Classroom Curriculum and on-call Teacher Coaching subscription to support educators, plus corporate team-building experiences through its Nature at Work program.
Product overview
Muddy Sneakers is an outdoor education nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of hands-on, experiential learning programs aligned to North Carolina Essential Standards. The core offerings include Field Trips and Outreach Programs for experiential science education at various outdoor locations; EOG Test Prep for 5th Grade standardized testing preparation; Classroom Curriculum with 90+ supplemental lesson plans; and Teacher Coaching for professional development. The organization provides multiple participation pathways through Annual Partnerships (Full and Basic tiers), Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) custom combinations, and seasonal programs like the Fall Field Trip Special. For adult audiences, Nature at Work provides corporate team-building experiences. Programs span grades 2-8 and cover topics including aquatic ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems, forces and motion, matter, weather, inheritance and adaptation, and living systems. The portfolio is unified by the organization's mission to awaken children's connection with nature through inquiry-based outdoor education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sole Society: Monthly giving program; an exclusive giving circle of recurring donors dedicated to supporting Muddy Sneakers' mission of connecting students with the outdoors through hands-on, experiential learning.
- Nickels for Nature
- Nature at Work
Products and services
- Field Trips Experiential 5-hour outdoor science learning field trips led by Muddy Sneakers Educators at partner sites across North Carolina, featuring hands-on activities aligned to NC Essential Standards for grades 2-8. Available at $25 per participant with a minimum of 15 participants.
- Outreach Programs 2.5-hour outdoor learning programs delivered at school locations, bringing hands-on science education directly to students at their own campuses for grades 2-8. Available at $15 per participant with a minimum of 15 participants.
- 5th Grade Science EOG Test Prep 1-hour interactive review sessions led by Muddy Sneakers Field Instructors to prepare 5th grade students for the North Carolina End-of-Grade Science test. Available at $10 per participant with a minimum of 15 participants.
- Classroom Curriculum Supplemental science curriculum containing 90+ hands-on lesson plans aligned to North Carolina Essential Standards for 5th Grade Science, with cross-curricular activities for grades 3-5. Includes professional demonstration videos, substitute teacher plans, and asynchronous instruction support. Available at $75 per group with maximum group size of 25.
- Teacher Coaching Personalized professional development service pairing teachers with Muddy Sneakers science education coaches for real-time support, lesson planning, and inquiry-based teaching strategies. Available at $35 per month or $275 per year, and included in the Full Partnership program.
- After-School Programs Nature-based enrichment programs adapted from Muddy Sneakers field trip activities, providing structured outdoor play and hands-on exploration for students in grades 2-5 at $150 per hour, with groups up to 25 students at schoolyards or outdoor spaces.
- Nature at Work (Walk in the Woods) Corporate team-building experience inviting partners and organizations to participate in hands-on outdoor science activities, starting at $2,500 for customized 2-hour or 5-hour programs for corporate teams, employee families, and community groups.
- Full Partnership Comprehensive year-long partnership for 5th grade including 4 Field Trips, 2 Outreach Programs, EOG Test Prep, Classroom Curriculum, and Teacher Coaching at $150 per participant with a minimum of 15 participants.
- Basic Partnership Streamlined annual partnership for grades 3 and 5 including 3 Field Trips and 1 Outreach Program at $100 per participant with a minimum of 15 participants.
- Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) Customizable combination of programs and services allowing schools to select Field Trips ($25/participant), Outreach ($15/participant), EOG Prep ($10/participant), Classroom Curriculum ($75/group), and Teacher Coaching ($35/month or $275/year) based on their needs and budget.
- Fall Field Trip Special Limited-time seasonal offer for schools booking 2 Fall Field Trips to receive 10% off 1 Spring program, with program combinations ranging from $59-$72.50 per participant for 5th-grade classrooms.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% of students reported wanting to spend more time outside after Muddy Sneakers programs
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Muddy Sneakers
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Muddy Sneakers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Muddy Sneakers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NC State UniversitycoreResearch partnership established in 2018 for annual program evaluation. Researchers evaluate impact on students and teachers served, with findings distributed twice yearly to teachers.
- Pisgah National ForestcoreSite partner providing field trip locations in Haywood County for outdoor education programs.
- DuPont State ForestcoreState forest partner in Henderson County used for field trip programs including creek crossings and ecosystem exploration.
- Carl Sandburg Home National Historic SitecoreNational historic site in Flat Rock, NC used for outdoor education including goat encounters and compass skills.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Muddy Sneakers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IslandWood: Washington-based nonprofit offering multi-day outdoor learning programs for school groups, plus teacher professional development. Directly comparable in delivering immersive outdoor science education to elementary students and supporting educators.
- North Cascades Institute: Washington State-based nonprofit offering field-based environmental science programs for K-12 schools, graduate programs, and the public. Comparable footprint, school partnership model, and standards-aligned curriculum.
- Teton Science Schools: Wyoming-based nonprofit delivering residential and day outdoor science education aligned to K-12 standards. Closest peer to Muddy Sneakers in operating model: place-based field science curriculum, teacher training, and grade-specific programming.
Regional players
- Triangle Land Conservancy: NC-based land trust that has contributed Muddy Sneakers staff to its philanthropy team. Shares the Triangle regional geography and outdoor education mission, but primarily a land conservation organization rather than a direct K-12 science education provider.
- Asheville Museum of Science: WNC-based science museum that has previously employed Muddy Sneakers staff. Comparable in delivering informal K-12 science education in the mountains region, but facility-based rather than field-based outdoor programming.
- MountainTrue: Western North Carolina conservation nonprofit protecting forests, waters, and mountain communities. Comparable WNC geography and conservation mission, but advocacy-focused rather than direct K-12 outdoor science education.
- North Carolina Wildlife Federation: Statewide conservation nonprofit that awarded Muddy Sneakers its 2011 Governor's Award. Comparable in NC-only geography and conservation/education mission, but broader in scope (policy, advocacy, hunting/fishing) rather than a dedicated K-12 outdoor science provider.
Emerging players
- Children & Nature Network: National nonprofit advocating for equitable access to nature-based experiences for children. Mission-aligned with Muddy Sneakers (both inspired by Richard Louv's work), but operates as a network/advocate rather than direct program provider.
- Student Conservation Association: National nonprofit engaging youth and young adults in conservation service. Less K-12 focused than Muddy Sneakers but shares the mission of connecting young people with public lands and natural resource education.
Broad incumbents
- National Wildlife Federation: Large national conservation organization with K-12 outdoor education programs (e.g., Great Outdoors University, where one Muddy Sneakers field instructor previously worked). Overlaps in school-based outdoor learning but operates as a broad advocacy/conservation incumbent rather than a regional specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Muddy Sneakers social profiles
Digital presenceMuddy Sneakers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Muddy Sneakers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Muddy Sneakers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Muddy Sneakers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Muddy Sneakers
What does Muddy Sneakers do?
Muddy Sneakers delivers hands-on, experiential outdoor science education programs for North Carolina public school students in grades 2-8, with primary focus on 5th grade. Programs are delivered at 37+ public land sites and on school campuses, and are aligned to North Carolina Essential Standards. The organization also sells a 90+ lesson Classroom Curriculum and on-call Teacher Coaching subscription to support educators, plus corporate team-building experiences through its Nature at Work program.
Is Muddy Sneakers a public or private company?
Muddy Sneakers is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Muddy Sneakers founded?
Muddy Sneakers was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Muddy Sneakers based?
Muddy Sneakers is headquartered in Raleigh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Muddy Sneakers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Grants and corporate Team Experiences.
Who are Muddy Sneakers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IslandWood, North Cascades Institute and Teton Science Schools. Regional players are Triangle Land Conservancy, Asheville Museum of Science, MountainTrue and North Carolina Wildlife Federation. Emerging players are Children & Nature Network and Student Conservation Association. National Wildlife Federation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Muddy Sneakers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Muddy Sneakers.
What industry is Muddy Sneakers in?
Muddy Sneakers's product category is Outdoor Science Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMABAB, Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology), with a secondary code of EDAMABAI, Earth Science & Geoscience Programs. Its NAICS code is 61169 and its SIC code is 8200.