Stanford Spokes with a couple of happy campers at Inclusion Connections!
Light seeped through my blinds. A thought lingered, as that same light crawled up my bed and into my eyes like critters that hide beneath my bed in order to let me sleep, where am I? The sheets felt familiar, but in the same way a friend from elementary school would. They knew me in a time before now. I was home. In my bed, again. I had come home early to surprise Asia which afforded me an extra night in a real, down to earth, no strings attached, bed as in my apartment I sleep on the floor due to technical issues. The morning moved quickly as the team became like a rapids running through Steamboat Springs. They scarfed down a hastily made breakfast, loaded the car in a matter of seconds, and while I was still slipping my mismatched socks onto my toesies Asia peeked her head into my dim, blue-shaded room informing me that it was time to go. Teaching at Inclusion Connections! A camp for people with developmental disabilities of all ages to learn life skills in order to become self-sufficient, a camp I had volunteered at for many years while living in the grand and illustrious city of Olathe. Upon arrival, I felt as though I were Lemon Volcano, energy and bubbles festering inside, excited to share part of my old life with my new one. We divided up the room into five stations and I joined Asia in teaching Chemistry. We made Ooblek and (surprisingly) Lemon Volcanoes (miniature Colins) and some of the campers left rather unimpressed and others in amazement of the fantastical world of chemicals. My favorite moment, however, was when Nick said he would love to show his Niece the Lemon Volcano. An excitement for the world transforming, much like a chemical reaction, into inspiration to teach others is always beautiful. Nick also lambasted Asia for how boring Ooblek was. Another reason why he provided me with some of my favorite moments teaching that day. (Boooooooringgggggg zzzzzzz) After teaching and a quick clean up we made dawg treats and saw how they teach the campers important life skills. Some of the spokes members tasted the peanut butter treats too, Ruff!
Colin forces Asia and Anna to show KC pride.
Anna, Travis, and Cole love apple cider!
After Inclusion COnnections (hope Spokes returns next year!!!! Please do it ahaha!!) I became Kansas City Sacagawea and took my biking team full of Lewis and Clarks to a few popular breweries that the ol’ KC is known for (Shoutout to the Louisiana Purchase). While the bros enjoyed some brews, Anna, Asia, and I went to go see some of the murals that dress up old buildings in the area.
Once that wrapped up we came home to the best BBQ feast the world has to offer and I got to show Asia the luxury of QuikTrip, it is like the Bugatti's of gas stations, and my favorite ice cream shoppe (ooo british). I went to bed still with a feeling of excitement in my gut, happy, that I was able to experience these moments. The light creeped back under my bed, waiting to startle me away from my world of Dreams to help the team at aSTEM tomorrow.
Colin