Muddy Sneakers, an innovative program that brings the joy of learning outside to fifth-grade students, has been named the Conservation Organization of the Year for 2010 by the Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards program.

The North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation sponsor this award, which highlights individuals and organizations that have exemplified conservation activism across the state.

Muddy Sneakers is entering its fourth year, and is a proven effective program that brings public school educators and students into outdoor learning experiences. So much so, the Western North Carolina-initiated program will expand this year into South Carolina.

Field instructors work with fifth-grade students and teachers to create a lifelong love of nature, a commitment to stewardship, improved academic performance, an enthusiasm for health and fitness and an understanding of the interconnectedness within the natural world.

www.muddysneakers.org or 828.862.5560.