How many times did your parents tell you when you were a child: “Don’t get dirty!”? Children had the opportunity to do just that and play in nature’s earth on June 26 at the Creative School for Children.

More than 100 children and Creative School for Children staff and volunteers jumped, rolled and swam in a 24-foot by 32-foot mud pit for the third annual Mud Day. The event coincides with the World Forum Nature Action Collaborative for Children’s International Mud Day.

The idea for Mud Day began as a conversation between members from Nepal and Australia in 2009, and is now celebrated by thousands of children worldwide. The goal of Mud Day is to provide the children a different learning opportunity that many children today sadly miss…exploring nature by playing in mud.

“The children were super excited,” said Amie Kusak, Creative School instructional specialist. “What they loved most was knowing there were children all around the world playing in the mud at the same time as them.”

Creative School for Children is a department in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.