MU students in a parks, recreation and tourism class had an unusual assignment recently: Stuff nearly 2,000 Easter eggs with candy for the enjoyment of scores of Columbia kids taking part in an after-dark, flashlight Easter egg hunt tonight at Stephens Lake Park. For the second year, Mizzou students are partnering with the city’s parks department to put on the event. The event was so popular last year that spaces for this year’s event have filled up and registration is closed.
The fun outing not only gives kids something to look forward to, but it gives the MU students the chance to give back to the community. At the same time, they learn about developing recreational programs for a community. The class is divided into committees, including marketing, developing the donor list, set-up and egg stuffing. “It’s really a great way for our students to learn the organizational concepts of putting on a major event,” says David Vaught, the department chair.