From Brush to Bait: Jenks Community Education’s One-of-a-Kind Classes
By Elle Simons
It’s a place where curiosity and community come together, where the pursuit of knowledge takes on an exciting twist. If you haven’t heard of Jenks Community Education, you’re in for a unique surprise. A hidden gem designed for Jenks’ lifelong learners, Jenks Community Ed. serves as an opportunity to visit the district buildings after hours to participate in fun, collaborative-driven activities.
Special Programs Coordinator, Debbie Killingsworth oversees everything Jenks Community Ed. From Trojan Hoops to Planetarium visits, Killingsworth helps monitor a vast array of programs that are offered. In her experience, she notes the different ways that JCE opens doors to exploring skills at a reasonable cost for all. The motto, ‘educate, enrich, and inspire,’ represents the program's core values and ultimate goals to serve the community.
“Our programs provide a way for people in the community to enjoy lifelong learning opportunities,” said Killingsworth. “It allows them to develop skills or hobbies while making new friends.”
After discovering the many programs offered, I was eager to try a select few that promised a unique experience. The first course that caught my eye was ‘Cookies and Canvas.’ Tailored for kids seven and older accompanied by a parent, it’s an experience that is filled with painting lessons and various yummy treats. Led by Shelley Olds, an art teacher at Jenks High School, classes are guided in a step-by-step painting tutorial that gives the families a chance to awaken their inner artist, accompanied by the aroma of cookies to sweeten the deal.
“Watching families come back every year is my favorite part,” said Olds. “I don’t just get to see them grow up in age but I also get to see them develop their art skills.”
I decided to volunteer and fully immerse myself in the fun. I couldn’t help but be swept away by the contagious enthusiasm that filled the room. Families gathered, kids clutched onto their paint brushes, and cookies scattered next to every easel. It was evident from the start that the kids took the task of painting very seriously. The theme of the painting was ‘Boho,’ a simple, earth-toned picture suitable for every room. Determination filled the air as the painting ensued and the cookies were eaten. The intense concentration of the kids was unmatched as they listened to Mrs. Olds’ tutorial. It was remarkable to see what the families could create with a paintbrush and a canvas, as well as some treats.
In the front row sat a set of twins that were wearing matching pink shirts, of course. The twins had an older brother who was approximately four years older, who guided them with every step. He was proud of his instruction and took pride in his painting wisdom. The twins were constantly curious, shooting their hands up after every brush stroke. The twins and the older brother huddled around the paintings, leaning on the table, pondering what subtle changes could be made to perfect these masterpieces. Our counsel of artists produced some of the best paintings by far. Their sense of accomplishment showed as they held up their finished products, absolutely beaming with satisfaction.
Young painters creating their "Boho" art pieces.
My experience with Cookies and Canvas showed the family values of Jenks Community Ed. and the way that these enrichment classes create a fun environment for young children and young spirits. My next journey was one of over 50 courses that hooked me. This new adventure was filled with splashing waters, the anticipation of a cast, and fish meeting air. With his unique skill for fishing, Scott Hood, a Member of Oklahoma’s Trout Unlimited Chapter, allowed me to trudge through the waters in his new fly fishing course offered at JCE.
As I walked through the doors of the Jenks Aquatic Center at nine in the morning, I immediately noticed that I heavily underestimated the passion of Fly-Fishers. Met with heavy vests and bait buckets, it struck me that I was more of a beginner than I thought. Instructed by the wisest of Fly-Fishers, Hood took the class of 15 through the crash course of everything fish-wise. When I say everything, I mean everything. Did I know the 5 main different types of flies and their unique uses before this? Of course not. My newfound knowledge gave me a dangerous confidence to finally tackle the treacherous waters of the Aquatic Center.
After the long instruction, I was itching to test my learnings. Compared to the experts around me, clutching notebooks and personalized poles, I was silently anticipating how naive I would look. However, I realized that after the crash course of fly fishing that Hood provided, I was caught off guard by how much I had learned. Here I was, amateur fisherman, knowing the correct way to cast a line, and feeling the burn in my arm as I reeled it in. If you’re wondering, the pole was a staggering nine feet long, which I quickly learned was harder to harness than I predicted.
Although the session tested my strength, mentally and physically; I can confidently say that I know a lot more about the difficult trade than before. The precise knowledge one has to have to master this skill is frightening, and I am amazed at how Hood managed to give me some of that wisdom. If you plan on taking this course, expect an abundance of fishing puns (many that I embarrassingly did not understand) and a thick passion for the sport that made learning about bait for five hours actually quite insightful.
“They say, ‘every minute fishing extends your life by ten,’” said Hood. “When I’m fishing, I don’t think about anything else except fishing. At this rate, I may live to be 150.”
In Jenks Community Education, the classes demonstrate how knowledge comes hand in hand with community. From ‘Cookies and Canvas,’ filled with paintbrush-yielding sweet tooths to Fly-Fishing, reeling in the community with charming fishing lessons flooded with knowledge Community Ed. redefines learning as a fun adventure. Whether you’re searching for creating art or casting lines, Jenks Community Ed. allows education, enrichment, and inspiration to flourish with a plethora of unique programs for all.
To try something new, take a look at these fun programs offered by Jenks Community Ed.
