Parks + Rec hosts future Japanese educators
Published on March 03, 2023
Jackson County Parks + Rec recently welcomed a group of future educators from Japan for a tour.
Their tour included a visit with historic interpreters at Missouri Town Living History Museum, an up-close visit with a bison at the Hooved Animal Enclosure, a stop Lake Jacomo Marina and lunch at Kemper Outdoor Education Center.
According Park Ranger Major Larry Niederschulte, “The original idea was merely an offer I made to one family. The idea was for the one Japanese college student to ride with me and make a short visit to Missouri Town and to see a buffalo. This idea morphed into 15 people, six of whom are Juniors in College studying to become elementary teachers. It was one of those, ‘Hey the girls think this will be fun, would it be ok if a few others come too?’ I could not say no.”
The first stop on the tour was at the Hooved Animal Enclosure where Natural Resources Forman Don O’Keefe brought in a bale of hay so that the visitors could see the buffalo up close.
“For these six students from Japan it was the first time they had ever seen a live buffalo and up close,” Niederschulte said. “They told me it was the one thing they were all really excited about seeing.”
Next stop was Missouri Town Living History Museum where interpreters provided a tour of the village while demonstrating many historical aspects of the area. They were also given the opportunity to pet sheep and feed the chickens.
They were then off to Kemper Outdoor Education Center for a tour and lunch outside under the shelter house. A few of them also took a few minutes to unwind on the playground, Niederschulte said.
The group’s final stop was a short visit to Jacomo Marina for a look around.
In an email to Parks + Rec staff Niederschulte thanked everyone for their help and hard work. “Think about the importance each of you had with six future educators, who will pass along the knowledge you shared with them to an unknown number of future students and for the rest of their lives.”