Everything begins with a single step. Whether you’re reflecting on the past or looking forward to the future and setting goals, it all begins with a step. And that outlook can translate to all aspects of life. So, when you’re looking ahead, or behind, keep in mind that all progress is progress, even if that progress is small. For this month’s cover story, we’re discussing the Great Land Run race and its history along with stories from some of the runners. When thinking of running a half marathon or even a 5K, many people are simply intimidated by just the thought of it, but if the stories from some of the Great Land Run race runners highlight anything, it’s how their journey, too, began with just a step. So, when you’re tackling life and its many, many obstacles, remember that everything begins with just one step. And day by day, step by step, we’ll make it through the motions. And if you take your first step now, you might be ready to take on that half marathon for the Great Land Run race in 2025! After all, everything begins with a single step.
A Single Step
Every year, Enid hosts the Great Land Run racing event. Started in 2008, the run is a fun, spirited event that usually attracts several hundred athletes. Presented by Wymer Brownlee and Koch, the event commemorates the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893, which gives runners and walkers the chance to race, and most importantly, also raises funds for schools in Garfield County. With the 17th annual Great Land Run just around the corner, Enid Monthly is shining a light on both the race itself and the inspiring stories of some local runners.
It’s been said that “A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.” In the case of Enid runner Jason Watkins, it would be accurate to say that a streak of nearly one thousand runs began with a single pair of cowboy boots. And for fellow runner Johnette Kemph, also of Enid, what has become an epic quest of finishing half marathons across America began with some neighborhood mailboxes. For each of these hometown runners, running has taken them on journeys that they never imagined. Like the thousands of people who participated in the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893, Jason and Johnette are staking their claim—only instead of homesteads, their claims are firmly planted on the annals of Enid running lore.
Although Jason’s running story really did begin with cowboy boots, those came a bit later in life. As a youth, Jason grew up on a farm in nearby Burlington, and he was not a track star. In fact, his school did not even offer track or cross country. Instead, he played basketball. “We had winter basketball and summer basketball,” he recalled. In college, he met his wife, Sheila, and in 1993, he graduated from Rose State College with an associates in radiology. One thing led to another, and eventually Jason found himself at the helm of his own business, Health Link Mobile X-Ray.
Building a thriving business is an impressive accomplishment, but as any business owner knows, it is also a demanding one. In the thick of both growing the business and raising two growing kids, Jason eventually found himself at a crossroads. “I was up to about 228 pounds,” he said, “and I just didn’t take care of myself like I should have.” So about 12 years ago, he woke up around the first of January and said to himself, “I’ve got to do something different.” The “something different” ended up being a lap around the local high school track with a pair of cowboy boots. Unsurprisingly, Jason recalled saying to himself, “Well, this is kind of hard.”
He didn’t know it at the time, but that one lap would change his life. Undaunted and undeterred, Jason bought himself a proper pair of running shoes, and then he ran some more. Impressively, it only took him about a month to go from the cowboy boots lap to his first 5K, which was the now defunct “Warm Your Heart 5K” hosted by the Junior Welfare League. His daughter encouraged him, saying “Dad, if you’re going to run, don’t squeeze your fist, hold your hands like you’re holding a potato chip in each hand.” Father and daughter ran that 5K together, and Jason has been running 5K’s ever since.
In addition to 5K’s, Jason has run a slew of other races. Gradually, he shed pounds and added miles. He had not originally intended to run longer distances, but they kind of snuck up on him. He said, “You’re only half crazy to run a half marathon,” and so he ran one at Woodring Regional Airport, on the eastern outskirts of town. Jason just kept going, eventually finishing the Tulsa Route 66 half marathon and the Oklahoma City Memorial marathon. Looking back, Jason credits his successful journey of fitness and improved health to God, saying, “I just feel blessed that I’ve been given an opportunity to stay healthy.”
If Jason began running with cowboy boots, Johnette began with mailboxes. Now a retired lady of a certain age, Johnette worked for 35 years as an insurance adjuster. She spent 25 years with General Adjustment Bureau and the last 10 with Progressive, all based here in Enid. Her job was demanding, and it took her all over northern Oklahoma. “I spent long hours in a truck,” she said, “so fast-food heaven!”
The years took their toll, and eventually Johnette had had enough. “I was grossly overweight when I retired,” Johnette said, and her doctor had concerns about the potential for diabetes. So, Johnette began going to Zumba classes at the gym. One of her Zumba friends, Tami, wore tee shirts from 5K races she had done, and somehow those shirts caught Johnette’s eye. They sparked her curiosity about running, and then she mustered up the courage to go to meetings for the Enid Running Club. From Johnette’s rookie viewpoint, the long-time runners seemed impossibly grandiose, and she recalled griping to her coach, Glenn, that “I couldn’t run very fast.” And Glenn replied, “Have you ever thought about how many birthdays you’ve had?” Taking up running in one’s mid-sixties is not for the faint of heart, and yet that is exactly what Johnette did.
Like Jason, once Johnette started running, she did not stop. She mixes up the running with plenty of walking, but she still gets the job done. In fact, Johnette is now part of an elite group of racers called Mainly Marathons, whose members strive to complete races in all 50 states. Along with a close-knit group of girlfriends, Johnette has conquered half marathons almost everywhere, with just about 12 states left to check off their list. “We have three coming up in September, in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho,” she said. “It’s a girl’s trip, our break from reality. You don’t mess with tough old women!”
Both Johnette and Jason are active members of the Enid Running Club (ERC), which organizes the Great Land Run race. The ERC is responsible for setting up the race start/finish line, providing chip timing, etc., and they do it with a small army of volunteers. According to Jason, “It’s a ball of volunteers. Whether it’s handing out water, helping with registration, helping set up the equipment…there’s always room for volunteers.”
The ERC has helped with the Great Land Run race event from the beginning. Starting with a 5K in 2008, the event has since added a 10K and a half-marathon. As the event has grown, so has the behind-the-scenes effort to ensure a successful race day. In addition to the ERC, the generous contributions of many others in the community help to maximize the positive impact that the races have on the community. ERC President Eve Switzer said, “It’s just a large process. There are so many parts, and we couldn’t really do it without all our partners and help from the schools and help from our sponsors.”
In 2008, when the Great Land Run Foundation started the race, they could not have foreseen the sheer amount of support that would eventually be raised for schools. As of 2024, the Foundation has donated over $500,000 to Chisholm and Enid public schools. According to Dr. Dudley Darrow, who is the superintendent of Enid Public Schools and also a board member of the Great Land Run Foundation, the funds have been a tremendous gift.
Dr. Darrow explained that the Land Run funds are unrestricted, meaning that schools may use the money as they see fit. For Enid’s students, the funds have supported the purchase of classroom technology such as SMART Boards, tools in the high school fabrication lab, and resources for the aviation class at Enid High School.
The future is bright, too, as Enid High plans to launch a Vocational Agricultural (“Vo-Ag”) program in the 2024-2025 school year. Land Run funds will be directly supporting that effort, with Dr. Darrow reporting that they will be “using these funds to help kick this off. You know, we’re a Vo-Ag community and a very agribusiness community. And it’ll just help us get this program off the ground.”
Working in collaboration with Autry Technology Center, Enid High has planned a robust program that aims to help students who are interested in exploring careers in the agricultural industry. Dr. Darrow said, “It’s everything related to ag. As you know, we live right in the middle of the country where agriculture is a huge part of our life. And when you start looking at the industries in the Enid area, a lot of them can be tied back to agricultural skills and, you know, agricultural mechanical skills…meat judging, welding, and there’s windmills. There’s just a ton of opportunities for our kids to get a good start and a good foundation for their training.”
Regardless of what careers students end up pursuing, the new Vo-Ag program will teach things that can be used in all areas of work and life. Every student who participates will learn to embrace fundamental professional values such as hard work, curiosity in learning new things, and setting and working towards goals. One class or workshop can be the first step for a student on a journey they never could have imagined, but one that ends up being incredibly enriching, just like Jason’s cowboy boots.
Jason never imagined that a single lap in cowboy boots would someday lead to his current streak of over 900 consecutive daily 5K runs. He has no plans to stop, either, even working in his daily runs when he is on vacation. Even better, that journey has put him in a position to help others. When his friend Dan asked for help on getting started with running, Jason’s answer was simple. “Just walk out your door,” he said, “Walk away from your house for 15 minutes and turn around and go home.” Dan did walk out the door, and he worked his way up to four miles a day. He’s even begun a streak of his own, recently informing Jason that he had done 15 consecutive weeks and lost over 40 pounds in the process.
Johnette’s jogs between mailboxes amounted to a similar outcome. She never imagined that running between mailboxes with her little sidekick, Zeek, who does 3-5 miles a day with her, would someday take her (and two of her best running friends) on a three-state tour in September of this year. The group is headed to Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, and they plan to smash three half marathons in one combined trip. Johnette said, “It’s a good way to combine getting some exercise and also having fun. This has been a godsend, this group of ladies. We lean on each other.”
The 2024 Great Land Run itself will also forge a new path this year. For the first time, the races will start at Red Bird Farm, a Christmas tree farm and local agritourism destination at the north end of Enid on Hwy 81. Kent and Becky Evatt opened Red Bird Farm in 2018, and both are part of the Enid Running Club. They are huge supporters of the running community, and there is a lot of excitement in the air about this charming venue. Jason said, “My house was up at the top of the hill directly behind Red Bird Farm, so it’s kind of a throwback…if I run the race this year, it’ll be on that same area I used to run at all the time.”
Approximately 100,000 people participated in the 1893 Cherokee Strip Land Run. That historical event was ostensibly about land, but in another sense, it was also about stories: the stories of Native Americans, of government officials, and with particular resonance here in Enid, of settlers. Thousands of people and countless stories were woven together to create the fabric of northern Oklahoma. People took steps forward (or galloped on horses) without knowing exactly how their stories would go but hopeful at the creation of forging new ones. Fast forward to 2023, when over 200 athletes crossed the finish lines of the Great Land Run 5K, 10K, and half marathon. Every finisher began their race long before the starting gun, though. For Jason, Johnette, everyone in the Enid Running Club, and yes, for everyone else who has ever laced up their shoes and walked out the door, it all began with a single step.
Game Warden of the Year
This article might come off a little bias towards Oklahoma game wardens, and if it does, it was intentional. Like police officers and fire fighters, I give these men and women all the kudos they deserve. I’ve always thought it must be a bit daunting for a warden to walk up on someone in a field knowing the majority of people they approach are likely toting a firearm. That said, I’ll give praise to Blake Cottrill (Garfield Co), Phillip Cottrill (Major Co), and Marshall Reigh (Grant Co.). These are all friends of mine and literally all guys I’d trust with about anything. They work long hours, and they work hard. More than anything, they all are of the opinion of trying to educate violators instead of simply issuing tickets.
I did a ride along with Warden Reigh at Kaw Lake recently. We made what seemed like a million contacts, and for the most part, people were compliant and had the requisite boating regulations in order. He’s always told me he’d rather educate folks than simply write tickets for lesser violations. Funny story, when I first met Warden Cottrill (Philip, not Blake), he was the local warden. I shot a turkey and had drug it 100 yards to my truck to tag it. He was sure to inform me it needed to be tagged where it was shot as opposed to moving it prior to tagging it. I’ve hunted my whole life, but I reckon I wasn’t aware of that rule. Instead of giving me a fine, he let me know the regulations.
Back to the premise of this article: Warden Reigh was just awarded “Game Warden of the Year” for the entire state. I know of no other person that likes to hunt/fish as much as him (and his wife and daughter). He mentions the best part of his job is spending time working with the public. He gets to spend his time outdoors, and he hopes to do more checking of compliance rather than writing tickets.
His father was the Payne County Warden beginning in 1976. They traveled all over the U.S. hunting and fishing, and he instilled the love of the outdoors in his children. Therein lies the love for the outdoors.
There are currently 118 wardens in the state, making it the 2nd largest law enforcement agency. You must have a bachelor’s degree with 16 hours of “upper level” science to apply. Game wardens are referred to by many as the “Swiss Army Knife of Law Enforcement”, which is certainly applicable. They handle not only law enforcement duties but answer questions all day (and sometimes night) about what someone can do/cannot do.
I’ve rambled long enough. My friend and the Grant County Warden, Reigh, just won this prestigious award out of over 100 wardens. I literally don’t know a more “down to earth” guy that loves his/her job more than he does. I don’t hate being a lawyer by any means, but I also don’t love my job like he does. Congrats pal.
Rising Voices
One of Enid’s cultural gems is the Enid Symphony Orchestra. While the ESO has been around in one form or another since 1905, it was just last year that they celebrated their “Silver Season,” which marked the 25th anniversary of the renovation of the Joan Allen Symphony Hall. As the orchestra heads into the 2024-2025 season, aptly named “Rising Voices,” the series promises to be an epic one. There are six main shows planned between September 2024 and April 2025, with the Edward Jones “Harvest Wine” series taking place in August.
The August schedule consists of four smaller, intimate shows designed to showcase individual artists. Executive Director Victoria ‘Tori’ Moreira said, “The cool thing about Harvest Wine is it’s not usually classical music,” and this year’s slate promises to deliver a fun, eclectic range of music. Artists scheduled to perform include a local indie folk singer-songwriter, a jazz trio, a Broadway cabaret duo, and an opera tenor.
Kicking off the official start of the season is the September 14th concert, which will highlight women composers, including Lili Boulanger, Vítězslava Kaprálová, and Florence Price. “We’re calling it ‘Rising Voices’ because the composers of this concert, a lot of them were women who died very young, and it makes you wonder what kinds of songs they would have written had they lived longer,” explained Moreira.
Guests are encouraged to bring their young ones to the October show, which will feature Prokofiev’s beloved classic Peter and the Wolf, along with Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite. The Sunday after Thanksgiving, the symphony will perform its traditional holiday concert, this year featuring vocalist Joan Allison, who “specializes in jazz, blues, music from the 40s and 50s…we’re going to be doing a bunch of holiday hits that she’s going to sing with the orchestra,” said Moreira.
In February, audiences will be treated to a romantic concert that includes the Carmen Fantasy and the Romeo & Juliet Suite, with flutist Juliana Overmier at the helm. Finally, the season will conclude on April 12, with a concert aptly named “Transcendence.” The performance will feature Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 and Roger Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis.
Now in her second year as Executive Director, Moeira is looking forward to the road ahead for ESO. She and Artistic Director Douglas Newell are especially excited about continuing to forge relationships with other organizations in Enid. Last year, for example, ESO worked with Enid Public Schools in bringing Carnegie Hall’s “Link Up” program to elementary students. ESO also hosted a group from Leonardo’s Children’s Museum, where “we had them come in, and we’d play a bunch of toy instruments, and it was awesome,” said Moeira. This year, she and Newell wanted to figure out how to do something in connection with animals, and so at the October concert, ESO will be hosting the Enid SPCA. “We’re doing an adoption event with the SPCA in our parking lot the morning of the concert, because it’s all animal themed!”
Moeira encourages everyone to come experience the ESO. “We really want these concerts to be an experience, an evening out. Our box office and bar open at 6:30. People can check in for concerts and have a drink, and then the concerts start at 7:30, and they’re about an hour long. And then we have the reception afterwards.” Season and individual tickets are available at the Enid Symphony office or at www.enidsymphony.org.
INTEGRIS Health Welcomes New Family Medicine Physician
INTEGRIS Health Medical Group welcomes Larin McMartin, D.O., a family medicine physician with INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Enid Medical Plaza.
She has special interests in mental and behavioral health, substance use disorder, birth control and sexually transmitted infection prevention and treatment, LGBTQIA gender-affirming health care, pediatrics and preventive medicine.
McMartin earned her medical degree at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She then completed her family medicine residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.
McMartin is an Oklahoma native excited to return to her home state to provide primary and preventive care. As an osteopathic physician, she takes a holistic approach to health and understands the importance of the mind-body connection. She offices at INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Enid Medical Plaza, located at 620 S. Madison, Suite 204 in Enid, Oklahoma. For more information, call 580-977-1965.
Adult Book Review: The Secret Hours
Author: Mick Herron
Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa
If you’ve ever wondered, yes, booksellers are human – we fall into reading slumps too. Lately I just haven’t been as motivated to pick up a book or stick with one. So, I turned to my tried-and-true remedy to break out of the rut: a spy thriller. The Secret Hours, by author Mick Herron, is out this month in paperback and is part-standalone, part-prequel in the Slough House series. While it doesn’t have the short, snappy chapters that I had in mind, the opening scene is certainly a thrilling enough hook and the deeply dry humor kept me going throughout.
The Secret Hours has two timelines, one of present day MI5 in Britain and one of Berlin shortly after the Wall came down. In the first, two civil servants have been tasked with Monochrome, an inquiry to find any misconduct in the Secret Service’s history. The mission seems to be going nowhere at all until someone anonymously leaks an important case file. When a witness is called to testify, she recounts what happened in Berlin all those years ago, when an agent’s cover was blown and an operation went very wrong.
In typical fashion, this spy thriller is full of code names and secret identities and falsified records. I felt a little lost for much of the book, meeting all the different characters but having no clue how they were connected. Readers’ patience will be rewarded by the end, though, because it’s brilliant when all the pieces come together. Herron has created such a sharp, entertaining world with the most memorable characters, and I’m really excited now to go back and start the series from the beginning.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of The Secret Hours today!
Head Back to School Healthy: Vaccinating Kids and Teens
The start of school is an exciting time of year for students and families. As students go back to school, it is important that they are up to date on their immunizations.
Rebecca D. Lewis, DO, FACOFP, family medicine physician with St. Mary’s Physician Associates, talks about the importance of vaccines and the ones that should be given prior to the beginning of school.
Why are vaccinations important?
Vaccinations protect students from diseases and help keep them healthy. On-time vaccinations help provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.
What vaccinations does my child require?
- School age: kindergarten vaccinations for ages 4-6 include: DTap (which is diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis [whooping cough] booster), polio and 2nd doses of MMRV or measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox).
- Prior to entering 7th grade or for ages 11-12: Tdap (tetanus booster and pertussis) and first dose of Meningitis vaccination (MenACWY).
- Ages 11-16: eligible for HPV vaccination (Gardasil). The second dose of meningitis (MenACWY) and the first dose of a second meningitis vaccine (MenB) are available at 16 and highly recommended for any child that will be in a large group situation such as staying in dorms, and team sports.
- Annual flu vaccinations are important and typically available September of each year.
- Please talk to your child’s physician about the vaccinations that are recommended for your child.
What are the recommendations for the COVID vaccine for children?
For the best protection, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older. A COVID-19 vaccine and booster, updated to the most common strain of the virus that causes COVID-19, might prevent your child from getting the COVID-19 virus or becoming seriously ill or hospitalized due to COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can help your child more safely participate in sports and other group activities too.
Does insurance cover vaccinations?
Most insurances cover scheduled vaccinations. If you don’t have health insurance, or if it does not cover vaccines, there are programs that may offer financial help.
To make an appointment with a St. Mary’s Physician Associates provider online, visit stmarysphysicianassociates.com. For physician referral assistance, call 580-599-6391.
For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.
After 553 days, long-time resident Jaye teaches us not to give up on our best life!
Author: Megan Lavicky
Our community, comprised of dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters, is the backbone of the ESPCA program. Together, we make a solemn promise to every pet that enters our care. We pledge to provide them with the best possible care and love, as if they were our own. Our shared goal is to find them a loving home where they can thrive and be cherished.
Jaye walked into the ESPCA bright-eyed and a generally happy dog over 550 days ago. Kennel life is as pleasant as possible, but it’s no long-term place for an animal. The staff and volunteers are excellent. There are walks, lots of pets, treats as someone passes by, and playtime in the yard, but it can’t substitute for life in a home and outside of those walls.
We hold on to the belief that the right person is out there for every adoptable pet. But finding that person can be a challenge, and hope can sometimes feel like too much to ask the team each day. Then, there’s the moment when the “One” walks through the door, ready to give a long-stay resident a chance at life outside the ESPCA. It’s these moments that fill us with hope and optimism for the future.
Jaye’s adoption post at https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=324995320692040&set=a.113498771841697 is heartwarming to read. Sonya, ESPCA’s kennel supervisor writes, “Oh, Jaye Jaye! For the past week, as I let you roam the work area, I told you we were going to get you adopted. You worked hard on your kennel manners and interacting with little people. You were always the go-to dog that we could dog-test the new arrivals with. I’m beyond happy for you and have cried over every comment. I hate that I wasn’t able to say goodbye, but maybe that’s best since I’m ugly-crying typing this comment. I hope your new mama shares this with you! Love you Jaye, and I thank your new mama for seeing you for you.” Ann writes, “I promise we will come for visits. He is the sweetest boy. He is already settled in and is relaxing and actually watching TV right now.”
For the ESPCA team and the animals in our care, some days are tougher than others. Despite facing lean donation months and constant requests to take in more animals, our team’s spirit remains unwavering. Jaye’s story serves as a powerful reminder that life can change in an instant, and that hope for a brighter future is always present. From all of us, we hope you’ll find joy in each day and not give up on your best life!
*Jaye is pictured above with his new sister Riley.
Included are other long-stay residents looking for the “One”.
Life is Back in Session
As August rolls around, it marks the beginning of the end of summer. Kids gear up for a new year of school, sports, and other extracurricular activities. Parents get back into a routine of a consistent schedule for work-life balance (cue taxi mode!) Corporations tend to increase marketing efforts and set tall goals for third quarter initiatives. People, in general, regain a sense of control over their lives as fall approaches to complete their annual ambitions before the year ends in the upcoming months. So, why not use this time to utilize momentumHQ as a tool to help connect these dots for your business? Take advantage of our summer deal by joining with a member fee of $50 in August!
The Flex Space at momentumHQ is the perfect space to host a large event, class, or training session as you regroup your business’s fall goals. One of our members has hosted a series of classes teaching skills on website development and SEO strategies. Other members have created a monthly networking group: The Working Women Breakfast Club. A Business Book Club was introduced in July and will be held on the third Thursday of each month in this space. On August 23rd, we will host a Friday Night Football Ladies Night: a basic introduction to America’s game for women who want to learn more about the sport. This class will highlight the positions of all players and general rules of the game for moms, grandmas, and wives to better understand what it is that makes this game so exciting each fall. Tailgate finger foods will be provided and those who attend are encouraged to wear their favorite team apparel. Register at www.momentumHQ.org today for a chance to win door prizes!
Do you have an idea of a group you’d like to begin? Maybe a class you’d like to host monthly or quarterly? Let momentumHQ provide a space for your sessions as well as marketing to help spread the word! Learn more at www.momentumHQ.org or drop in at 1909 W. Owen K. Garriott.
mHQ Member Highlight
Ricochet Roofing
This company’s home office is based in Moore, OK. The recent storms created an opportunity for them to expand into the northwest region of our state, and they found their Enid office at momentumHQ was a perfect fit for their business. As a roofing contractor, their staff is primarily in the field, but their project managers needed a place to call “office” to conduct necessary paperwork and coordinate professional phone calls with insurance companies for their clients. momentumHQ was able to fill that need by providing desks to fit their 3 project managers in a shared office space at an affordable rate where they can conduct their business successfully.
Indian Hills Plaza Business Spotlight
Midwest Music is ready to help your student prepare their instrument for the upcoming school year. Whether your student is new to band or orchestra and needs to purchase their instrument to start practicing right away or if your child already has an instrument in need of repair or tuning, Midwest Music is the best place to fill your musical needs. Located at the west end of the shopping center, stop in and let the professionals get you set up for the new school year!
Leonardo’s Children’s Museum Launches New Discovery After-School Programs: Drone Legends™ and Art in Action
Enid, OK – August 12th, 2024 – Leonardo’s Children’s Museum is excited to announce the launch of its new Discovery After-School Programs: Drone Legends™ STEM Fundamentals and Art in Action: Perspective in Art. These programs offer enriching and interactive learning experiences for children in Enid and surrounding communities.
The Drone Legends™ program revolutionizes STEM education with its Turnkey Curriculum
Systems, designed by educators to align with the highest educational standards. The program aims to inspire students by embedding the mantra “Inside Every Child Lives a Legend” and encouraging a passion for STEM and Career and Technical Education (CTE). Highlights from the program include ten drone-themed STEM missions that foster teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation. Additional classes feature real-world drone pilots and learning opportunities.
Art in Action empowers students with a robust art curriculum that encourages creativity, critical thinking, self-expression, and resilience. This year’s theme, “Perspective In Art,” invites students to explore artistic techniques and cultural understanding through the works of renowned artists like Maurice Utrillo, Paul Cezanne, and Johannes Vermeer. Students will learn about art perspective, highlighting and shading, form, and 3-D perspectives. In addition, this program integrates with subjects like science, language arts, and social studies.
“We are so excited to once again fill our Education Annex with students that are excited about STEAM! We hope to continue to expand our educational offerings this school year and years to come,” said Charlet Ringwald, Leonardo’s Executive Director.
Drone Legends™ is scheduled for Tuesdays and recommended for students in grades 3rd through 6th, while Art in Action is scheduled for Thursdays and recommended for students in grades 2nd through 5th. Both programs run for 12 weeks starting the first week of September.
Full Scholarships and Partial Scholarships are available. These programs are made possible by a generous donation from the Whetstone Family Foundation. To find out more visit
Leonardos.org.
Leonardo’s Children’s Museum is a non-profit organization that has been serving the Enid
Community for more than 30 years with the mission of enriching and inspiring children of all ages with fun learning opportunities. Located at 200 E. Maple in Downtown Enid with regular business hours of 10am to 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
To plan your visit or to learn more about Leonardo’s visit www.leonardos.org or look them up on Facebook or Instagram.
