Tulsa and more!

Today began our downhill trend. Only in terms of physical activity, though. Not in terms of activities, or memories, or even adventures. Today was filled with adventures.

Our first visit today was a great place in Tulsa known as Educare. Educare is an early childhood educational program that focuses on breaking the cycle of poverty. Their belief is that if you can start a child early in the learning process, then there is a greater chance of them breaking the cycle. Not only does the organization do great work, but their facility is incredible. Three teachers monitor and teach in each classroom. The things they teach range from healthy habits to ABCs and 123s. There are three Educare facilities in the Tulsa area and one in OKC. Oklahoma is one of the best states in the nation when it comes to early childhood education and Educate is one of those reasons.

From there we traveled to the Philbrook Museum! This museum is located in a house built by Waite Phillips of Phillips Oil. This massive house cost over $1 million in the 1920s, which is unreal. So the house is a monstrosity that covers nearly 30,000 square feet filled with some of the nicest and coolest pieces of art. We then made our way to Guthrie Green, a park in downtown Tulsa. We explored all they had to offer during their "Food Truck Wednesdays" and were even given a sneak peak of The Gathering Place. The Gathering Place is a $350 million park renovation and construction project in Tulsa, creating a new place for families and friends to hangout. This thing looks remarkable. You will have to check it out when it is finished!

Our time in Tulsa concluded with lunch and bowling at the Dust Bowl, a restaurant that combines food bowling in the most fun ways.

Then we drove to Stillwater! Once we made it there, we were able to tour the Eskimo Joe Promotional Products Plant. This location produces everything that Eskimo Joe's sells, from t-shirts to cups to pens and nearly everything in between. The company is in its 40th year and definitely a staple for the state. From there we took a quick trip by OSU to learn about their opportunities in higher education. The kids even played a prank on me, signing me up for OSU information though I am a student at OU (HAHAHa haha ha.. not that funny). Then came dinner. And by dinner I mean a much need and super tasty burger from Eskimo Joes.

As our night ended, everything fell into place. The students are friends. Their chatter and laughs fill every atmosphere we enter. They are learning from each other, challenging each other, and above all, becoming even better leaders than they already are. The memories being made here will last a lifetime, and some of the students have become to accept and understand that concept. Many of the students have already made plans to come visit others during this coming school year. It wouldn't even surprise me if some of them become roommates in college. Though this adventure is about showing off Oklahoma and learning about leadership, it's also about creating relationships with a firm bond that allow connections to solidify and friends to be made. And that is exactly where we are right now.

Andy Stewart
Student, Optimist, and aspiring Catalyst