Staying after school once was one of a kid's worst nightmares. Having to stay inside, under the watchful eye of a teacher, while all the other kids in the world were free to run and play was something to avoid at all costs.
But for a few kids at the Neosho Middle School, one day each week they get to stay after school under the watchful eye of a teacher. And, for these kids, staying after school is fun and exciting.
These kids are members of a "nature club" sponsored by ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher Phyllis Chancellor, and when the final bell rings on Thursday, the fun and the learning begin.
"Many of these kids have never had much learning about the outdoors," Chancellor said. "This is fun and different for them."
And what makes it fun are the activities the teacher provides for the kids. Each Thursday there is something new to learn and, if weather permits, there is usually a little hike around the school.
"We can walk around the school and we can go across the street to the golf course to do and see things," Chancellor said. "There is water over on the golf course so we can look for water birds. There are always Canada geese hanging around and there are lots of red wing blackbirds that are so noisy. The kids love that."
In her nature club activities, Chancellor gets support from Jeff Cantrell, education specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. With help from Cantrell, kids in the nature club have activity books, binoculars and many other helpful and fun materials.
A natural-born nature lover, Chancellor enjoys sponsoring the nature club and seeing the kids learn about a world that most are not familiar with at all. "They just haven't had experiences like this," she said.
In her classroom, she keeps interesting things like bones, feather, and rocks which ignite the kids curiosity. "They really like learning about animals," Chancellor said.
Hikes and field trips are the highlight of the club's events. "Last year we got to go fishing up at the Walter Woods Conservation Area," Chancellor said. "This was for all the fourth graders and everyone had a great time."
Before each meeting, Chancellor provides, out of her own pocket, milk and a snack "...because kids are always hungry after school."
And, since the nature club meets after school, transportation is sometimes a problem. "I take as many home as I can," Chancellor said, "but sometimes we do a lot of waiting for parents to come get the kids. But it's all worth it."
