Aviation and local schools

Tristar

Tristar

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Tristar
Hey everyone,

I was talking with some of our instructors the other day about talking with the local schools on what it's like to be a pilot, what it takes, etc. It would be fun to show a presentation or talk with the career classes or science classes. Does anyone have any experience in this? How would I present the idea to high schools? I know I would have eaten aviation up but I do wonder how teenagers over all would react.
 
i did a 'career day' presentation once or twice at the Nevada, IA high school while I was working in Ames. We also would occasionally have students come out for a day through some sort of work study program where they checked a box that said they wanted to be a pilot so they spent a day seeing what it was like working at the airport.

The career day thing was interesting. I mostly talked about what it took to get training and what sort of jobs were possible. You could tell the difference between the kids who checked the aviation box because they were interested and those who just needed something else to fill that time slot. no worries though i remember doing that during career day when i was in school.

Usually the kids who came out to the airport were pretty interested. we usually had them spend half their time in the shop with the mechanics and the other half with pilots. sometimes we'd try to work it out that they could ride along on a lesson or at least got them a short flight.
 
When I was in the 8th grade, the teacher's fiancé came in and made a presentation about flying. Showed us " cool pilot stuff", a whiz wheel and some charts. To raise money for a class trip, he offered to raffle off a ride in his 182. I didn't win, but it was the start of a lifelong love affair for me. Otherwise, I probably would never have been exposed to GA.
 
Tris,

Why not suggest they add a ground school to their curriculum? Schedule permitting, you could teach it and get those who are interested much farther along than they'd get with a single-day interaction. It'd get the students more engaged with STEM, and maybe help keep them out of trouble too.

Good luck and have fun!
 
AOPA has a package of materials that is designed to be provided to such as these, and I believe that hey will provide them gratis...

http://www.aopa.org/path/

Available to download, and you can order printed copies.
 
I've been a BSA Avitation Merit Badge Counselor in the past. I work with the local BSA Troops and present the Aviation Merit Badge when they do their White Wings projects. We bring in a glider and either set it up outside or in the gym if there is one handy where they meet.

Normally about 4-5 of the older scouts will sign up to complete. The badge requirements.
 
I worked with the Physics teacher at our local challenged high school. He did a module on the physics of flight for his honors students, and then we arranged Young Eagle flights. For most of them, it was their first time in any airplane.

Paul
 
Like any (guy) teacher could say "No" to Tristan...
 
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