diff --git a/.docs/Notebooks/groundwater_paper_uspb_example.py b/.docs/Notebooks/groundwater_paper_uspb_example.py
index 983f01d21..367939b8a 100644
--- a/.docs/Notebooks/groundwater_paper_uspb_example.py
+++ b/.docs/Notebooks/groundwater_paper_uspb_example.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 if not os.path.exists(ws):
     os.makedirs(ws)
 
-    # Check if we are in the repository and define the data path.
+# Check if we are in the repository and define the data path.
 
 try:
     root = Path(git.Repo(".", search_parent_directories=True).working_dir)
diff --git a/.docs/Notebooks/shapefile_export_example.py b/.docs/Notebooks/shapefile_export_example.py
index 8026c86d2..99f3b2151 100644
--- a/.docs/Notebooks/shapefile_export_example.py
+++ b/.docs/Notebooks/shapefile_export_example.py
@@ -25,15 +25,18 @@
 # * general exporting and importing of geographic data from other sources
 
 import os
+import sys
 
 # +
-import sys
+from pathlib import Path
 from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory
 
+import git
 import matplotlib as mpl
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
+import pooch
 
 import flopy
 
@@ -47,8 +50,40 @@
 temp_dir = TemporaryDirectory()
 outdir = os.path.join(temp_dir.name, "shapefile_export")
 
+# Check if we are in the repository and define the data path.
+
+try:
+    root = Path(git.Repo(".", search_parent_directories=True).working_dir)
+except:
+    root = None
+
+data_path = root / "examples" / "data" if root else Path.cwd()
+
+sim_name = "freyberg"
+
+file_names = {
+    "freyberg.bas": "63266024019fef07306b8b639c6c67d5e4b22f73e42dcaa9db18b5e0f692c097",
+    "freyberg.dis": "62d0163bf36c7ee9f7ee3683263e08a0abcdedf267beedce6dd181600380b0a2",
+    "freyberg.githds": "abe92497b55e6f6c73306e81399209e1cada34cf794a7867d776cfd18303673b",
+    "freyberg.gitlist": "aef02c664344a288264d5f21e08a748150e43bb721a16b0e3f423e6e3e293056",
+    "freyberg.lpf": "06500bff979424f58e5e4fbd07a7bdeb0c78f31bd08640196044b6ccefa7a1fe",
+    "freyberg.nam": "e66321007bb603ef55ed2ba41f4035ba6891da704a4cbd3967f0c66ef1532c8f",
+    "freyberg.oc": "532905839ccbfce01184980c230b6305812610b537520bf5a4abbcd3bd703ef4",
+    "freyberg.pcg": "0d1686fac4680219fffdb56909296c5031029974171e25d4304e70fa96ebfc38",
+    "freyberg.rch": "37a1e113a7ec16b61417d1fa9710dd111a595de738a367bd34fd4a359c480906",
+    "freyberg.riv": "7492a1d5eb23d6812ec7c8227d0ad4d1e1b35631a765c71182b71e3bd6a6d31d",
+    "freyberg.wel": "00aa55f59797c02f0be5318a523b36b168fc6651f238f34e8b0938c04292d3e7",
+}
+for fname, fhash in file_names.items():
+    pooch.retrieve(
+        url=f"https://github.com/modflowpy/flopy/raw/develop/examples/data/{sim_name}/{fname}",
+        fname=fname,
+        path=data_path / sim_name,
+        known_hash=fhash,
+    )
+
 # load an existing model
-model_ws = "../../examples/data/freyberg"
+model_ws = data_path / sim_name
 m = flopy.modflow.Modflow.load(
     "freyberg.nam",
     model_ws=model_ws,
diff --git a/.docs/Notebooks/shapefile_feature_examples.py b/.docs/Notebooks/shapefile_feature_examples.py
index 13f970a42..b745a24df 100644
--- a/.docs/Notebooks/shapefile_feature_examples.py
+++ b/.docs/Notebooks/shapefile_feature_examples.py
@@ -31,11 +31,14 @@
 import shutil
 import sys
 import warnings
+from pathlib import Path
 from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory
 
+import git
 import matplotlib as mpl
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
+import pooch
 
 import flopy
 from flopy.export.shapefile_utils import recarray2shp, shp2recarray
@@ -58,6 +61,15 @@
 temp_dir = TemporaryDirectory()
 workspace = temp_dir.name
 
+# Check if we are in the repository and define the data path.
+
+try:
+    root = Path(git.Repo(".", search_parent_directories=True).working_dir)
+except:
+    root = None
+
+data_path = root / "examples" / "data" if root else Path.cwd()
+
 m = flopy.modflow.Modflow("toy_model", model_ws=workspace)
 botm = np.zeros((2, 10, 10))
 botm[0, :, :] = 1.5
@@ -129,7 +141,14 @@
 # * create geometry objects for pathlines from a MODPATH simulation
 # * plot the paths using the built in plotting method
 
-pthfile = PathlineFile("../../examples/data/mp6/EXAMPLE-3.pathline")
+fname = "EXAMPLE-3.pathline"
+pthfile = pooch.retrieve(
+    url=f"https://github.com/modflowpy/flopy/raw/develop/examples/data/mp6/{fname}",
+    fname=fname,
+    path=data_path / "mp6",
+    known_hash=None,
+)
+pthfile = PathlineFile(pthfile)
 pthdata = pthfile._data.view(np.recarray)
 
 # +
@@ -162,7 +181,14 @@
 
 # ## Points
 
-eptfile = EndpointFile("../../examples/data/mp6/EXAMPLE-3.endpoint")
+fname = "EXAMPLE-3.endpoint"
+eptfile = pooch.retrieve(
+    url=f"https://github.com/modflowpy/flopy/raw/develop/examples/data/mp6/{fname}",
+    fname=fname,
+    path=data_path / "mp6",
+    known_hash=None,
+)
+eptfile = EndpointFile(eptfile)
 eptdata = eptfile.get_alldata()
 
 # +