Missouri Botanical Gardens

On the pathway

The opportunity to expand a student’s horizon is one of the great joys of working with the After-School Tutoring program. This year, we have been blown away by the many opportunities we have been given to introduce our kids to new activities and places. The most recent of these was an invitation to the Missouri Botanical Garden Family Night, thanks to Jennifer Hartley, Epiphany Lutheran Church member and manager of the Garden’s schools program.

On Thursday, May 9, 21 Peace Center students were accompanied to the event by 15 volunteers. They enjoyed dinner, educational opportunities, and free access to the grounds, including the popular Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden. Several of the volunteers were from Faith Young Adults, a group based out of Faith Lutheran Church.

“The Botanical Garden always makes for a great time, but it was the kids that really made this trip memorable,” observed Ben Lange, one of the group’s leaders. “They were so fun and excited. We could’ve visited just the Schnuck’s exhibit, and it would have been just as enjoyable because of the sheer joy and energy inside of them!”

On the log

The students were similarly thrilled with the trip. After an evening of climbing ropes and rocks and excitedly running through the gorgeous scenery, 11-year-old Jonathan Muhire summed up the sentiment expressed by everyone there: “When are we coming back?”

By Samantha Hoyt Lutheran Young Adult Corps